Cycling on Venice Lido

• Venice

For the sportier members. A ten minute walk to collect our bicycles before setting off to discover the Lido and its history.

Before the World War 1 the Lido was the pinnacle of Belle Epoque fashion, so brilliantly evoked in Thomas Mann’s novel and Visconti’s film version of Death in Venice.

Cycling down the Lungomare south to the Malamocco, a peaceful fishing village dating back to the 12th century.

Next is the small resort of Alberoni, home of the Lido Golf Course to take the ferry to cross over to the island of Pellestrina, an island reef even thinner than the Lido.

It has two little fishing villages, S.Pietro in Volta and Pellestrina where one can admire the Murazzi, or sea walls. Built following increased flooding in the 18th century, the 4km long Murazzi are constructed of huge, white Istrian blocks and kept out the water until 1966, when Venice was hit by terrible floods! A stop will be made for refreshments on route.

Lunch will be taken in one of the typical trattorias of Pellestrina, before returning by ferry to Lido and cycling back along the lagoon road to deposit bicycles and proceed on foot to hotel.