Aida: Susa- Milano Italy by bicycle: individual journey in Piedmont/Lombardy

Aida (High Italy to Cross) is a FIAB (Italian Federation of Environment and Bicycle) project, which is part of the Bicitalia network (the large Italian network of cycle routes), to connect the cities of northern Italy using 50% of the cycle paths already built: Turin, Milan, Verona, Venice, Trieste, a 900 km route.
In this proposal of the first 286 km you will find the first part of the route, which starts from the Susa Valley and precisely from the mountain town of Susa, to reach Turin and then, crossing the Po Valley and the Vercelli rice fields, up to Milan. It can also be done in the opposite direction, the ideal is always to stop an extra day to discover these two fantastic cities.

1st day  Individual arrival at the hotel in Susa
Allow yourself the time to visit the city and the famous Arch of Augustus.

2nd day  Susa -Turin approx. 79 km
Delivery of bicycles at 8:30 am in case of rental. Leaving Susa you pass under the Arch of Augustus, built in the first century BC, to arrive at the foot of the famous Sacra di San Michele, a monastery that dominates the passage from the valley to the plain. We then continue towards the natural park of the lakes of Avigliana and leave the mountain behind us: we pass through Orbassano and enjoy the Royal Hunting Lodge of Stupinigi: a UNESCO site, designed by Filippo Juvarra for the Savoy family. Heading north, we finally reach the Po, the longest river in Italy, which caresses Turin. Following the river on the left bank to the city center: Ponte Vittorio Emanuele I. In front of you, a beautiful round church: the Gran Madre. Turin was the first capital of the Kingdom of Italy: you can still feel its heritage by visiting the National Cinema Museum inside the Mole Antonelliana or strolling through San Salvario, the Murazzi and the central Piazza Castello.

3rd day  Turin – Crescentino approx. 53 km
Say goodbye to Turin on the Vittorio Emanuele I bridge. You will follow the route of a famous cycle path called VenTo, which connects Turin to Venice (680 km) along the Po, the longest river in Italy. Pass next to a beautiful dam in San Mauro Torinese and continue north along the green Po River Park to Chivasso: you will meet VenTo again near Venice. Chivasso is famous for two things: Nocciolini and the mouth of the Cavour Canal. The Cavour Canal is a remarkable hydraulic engineering infrastructure: it was inaugurated in 1866 after three years of work, under the brand new Kingdom of Italy (est. 1861) thanks to the initiative of the Prime Minister Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour. We will follow this canal to Verolengo, and several times again to the Ticino river. These lands are flooded with water, necessary for the rice fields: you will discover a surprising variety of birds, such as herons. Overnight stay in a farmhouse with swimming pool in Crescentino.

4th day  Crescentino – Novara approx. 78 km
Leaving the small village of Crescentino, cross the Dora Baltea river to the ancient Bosco delle Sorti della Partecipanza of Trino and Ronsecco. Continue to Lignana Larizzate and head towards Vercelli, a Roman city, famous for being the European Rice Pole. In the central Piazza Cavour, under the statue of the statesman, cross the Via Francigena cycle path, which connects the Gran San Bernardo pass with Rome (km 967). Eat the Bicciolani biscuits and continue east, cross the Sesia river and continue west, towards the rice fields of Torrione and Vinzaglio. Now we can see from afar the tower of San Gaudenzio in Novara, near Casalino: follow it to the Agogna river. Then you will follow a parallel road that will take you to Novara. Novara is the capital of eastern Piedmont, dedicated to Gorgonzola and Paniscia, a typical rice dish to be served hot in winter: enjoy your meal!

5th day  Novara – Milan approx. 76 km
Leave the Novara railway station on the right, towards the North. After a while you cross the Cavour canal again to follow it on the right to the Ticino river. In the meantime, you can take a look at the vast rice fields that surround you and the variety of birds that live in this countryside. Cross the river, leave Piedmont and enter the pretty village of Turbigo in Lombardy, an important crossroads for cyclists: the Naviglio Grande and the Villoresi canal pass through it, which you can follow to enter Sesto Calende up to Lake Maggiore, the lively Pavia and the quiet Abbiategrasso. In reality, you will follow the Naviglio Grande to Nosate, and then take the cycle path on the Villoresi canal, which will take you slowly to Milan and Monza: the canal was built in 1890 to guarantee fresh water in the northern plains of upper Milan. You will cross beautiful towns such as Castano Primo, Arconate, Parabiago. When you arrive in Lainate, remember to visit the magnificent Villa Litta, very close to the canal: you will find a refreshing nymphaeum with many water games and pleasant gardens. Continue to Garbagnate and cross the Villoresi canal for the last time: you are entering the Groane Park, heading south. You pass through the courtyard of Villa Arconati, a noble palace that hosts summer concerts and a labyrinth. You are approaching the outskirts of Milan, such as Arese (home of Alfa Romeo cars) and Rho, the city that hosted the famous Expo 2015. You will circumnavigate the Expo Area itself, up to the entrance to the borders of Milan (km 66), near the M1 metro stop of Molino Dorino, crossing the districts of Cascina Merlata, Bonola and Monte Stella, an artificial hill built with the remains of the Second World War by Piero Bottoni. The height is 100 meters and is the setting for the memorial park of the Garden of the Righteous, which enters the city, a stone's throw from the park of the Three Towers and the beautiful fountain of Piazzale Giulio Cesare. After the last kilometers you finally reach the Arco della Pace Trionfale: one of the ancient entrance gates to the center of Milan.

6th day  Milan
After breakfast, end of the holiday.

It is possible to visit the city with a guided tour or continue to Venice (Aida: Milan – Venice)

Travel type  Self guided

Departures  minimum 2 people; every Saturday from March to November; other dates of your choice: with a minimum of 4 people 

Duration 6 days/5 nights

Difficulty level easy; cycle paths and low traffic roads and dirt roads in good condition.

Total km  286

Type of bike  city bike or touring bike

Luggage transport  yes

Information meeting/briefing in the first hotel   yes

Tour price per person  € 999.--

The price includes

Overnight stays in ***/**** hotel with breakfast
Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
Gpx tracks
Briefing in the first hotel (on the morning of the 2nd day in case of bike rental) 
Medical/luggage insurance 24 hours a day
Emergency telephone support  
Registration fee

The price does not include

The journey to reach the meeting points and back

Lunches and dinners

Drinks at meals

Visits and entrances

Tips

Personal extras

Anything not specified under "the price includes"

On request

Tour cancellation insurance
Additional nights bookable in every town along the route
Bike guide

To book, fill out and send the registration form; pay 25% of the participation fee; pay the balance approximately one month before departure.