A special offer reserved for all cycle tourists comes from Villa Paradis , a logistics facility in the Lecco area that is looking with ever-increasing interest to the world of two wheels.
By booking on the hotel website and entering the code V1 after your last name, you'll receive a 5 percent discount on the rate . This promotion is specifically designed for cycling tourists, whether you're bringing your own bike or renting one on site.
Villa Paradis is a truly unique property, offering a unique experience thanks to its exclusivity. It has found its ideal target audience in the world of cycling tourism, as owner Maurizio Sella explains : "Villa Paradis is a 70s-style villa built by my parents. My daughters went off on their own, and I decided to convert part of the villa into a bed and breakfast.
The commercial villa consists of four rooms with access to the garden. Each room is individually furnished in the style that was popular during its construction, a true nod to the 70s, so it has a tasteful, historical feel. It's also equipped with every modern convenience: a refrigerator in the room, a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, a kettle, a coffee maker—everything you'd want in a modern room.
Outside?
Since I have a fairly large garden, over 2.000 square meters, I've set aside a large portion of it for guests' use. So much so that in the summer I put out deckchairs and umbrellas, but not the pool because I consider it dangerous, as recent news reports confirm, and I don't want to have any problems. Furthermore, a lifeguard would be needed, which would be too costly. After all, we have beautiful facilities—the lake, the river, all close to us.
Is there space for bikes?
In this large garden, I've built a wooden shed to store my brand-new bicycles, three women's and three men's, which I make available free of charge to my guests . The shed also has a wooden rack where guests' bikes can be stored, complete with a steel ring to secure them. They're kept safe, thanks to the CCTV system that monitors the bikes at all times.
Is your clientele more connected to cycling or is it more of a casual clientele?
Some come with their own bikes, others take advantage of the free rental offer, but I have to say it's varied—let's say 30 percent are bicycle-related, the rest are by car, motorbike, or train, because some come because the train station is right in town, so it's very convenient for Milan—40 minutes and you're in Piazza Garibaldi.
What are the most characteristic places in your area that can be visited by bike?
From the Villa, a three-minute bike ride takes you to the Adda River , in the municipality of Airuno. From there, you can cycle towards Brivio, Imbersago, and Paderno d'Adda, all the way down to Trezzo d'Adda, where it intersects with the Martesana. I had a Swiss cyclist who came with his bike and rode all the way to Milan, to Piazzale Loreto, circling the entire city and returning by train thanks to intermodal transport . You can also reach Montevecchia, a beautiful peak, the first hill arriving from Milan, where there's a splendid sanctuary and lots of little restaurants nearby.
And the lake?
This is one of the most popular destinations. You can circle the lake starting from Airuno. It's a loop that can be done in both directions, each time passing through different beaches and towns. It's a 25-kilometer round trip, and it's all flat, a wonderful ride according to those who've done it.
Besides bike rental, are there other services available to cyclists?
Yes. Under the cabin there is an area equipped with electricity for those who arrive with their own e-bike and they want to recharge their batteries. Then we have a breakfast buffet with savory and sweet options. If cyclists have any special requests, we always try to accommodate them.Sometimes they ask me if they can bring their bikes up to their room, and I never refuse because I know the value of these bikes, which sometimes exceed 10.000 euros. They just need to be cleaned of dirt before being brought up.
Is your clientele more Italian or foreign?
I'd say it's a good 60% foreign and 40% Italian. They come mostly from Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Slovenia—in short, all the neighboring countries, including France, but especially a lot of Switzerland . We'll see if the offer we made, by sending out hundreds and hundreds of invitations around the world, will further expand our business, considering that we're seeing less travel these days due to the international situation.
