Mantua / Mantova

After a very comfortable night onboard Ave Maria, we enjoyed an excellent breakfast and then prepared for our very sedate 35 km ride around this area. Today was really a 'shake down' ride so our Guides, Francesco & Fabrizio, could see how well people coped with pack riding and electric bikes (for some, their first time on an EBike).
We stopped at a beautiful cafe / patisserie at a village called Marmirolo.
On this trip we pack lunch after our breakfast. We stopped near a lake and enjoyed our roll and a cold drink (!!) before returning to the Barge.
Later in the afternoon we went to the Old Town and were given a guided tour by a very knowledgeable woman. She really brought Mantua alive for us and helped us realize the historical importance of the UNESCO World Heritage City.
Dinner wasn't provided onboard so we went to a riverside festival - we think a multicultural celebration. There were some exciting Hispanic musicians playing. The last couple of hours were spent on the top deck of the barge chatting. The weather is starting to heat up, so riding may not be as idyllic as it has been. Still, it's a wonderful way to have a holiday!Read more