Floating Hotel Vita Pugna

The barge

About the barge

After many years as cargo boat Vita Pugna has been totally renewed in the beginning of the 1990s in order to start her new life as floating hotel along the Dutch canals. After a famous long journey from Holland to Italy, this charming Dutch lady has been sailing with great success between Venice and Mantova since 2008.

It is a small barge capable of passing under low bridges and navigating on shallow water, typical of Italian waterways.
Why getting on board? For the cozy atmosphere, small size and charm of sleeping on a historic Dutch barge.

• where: North-East Italy
• barge size: 36 m long and 5.4 m wide
• cabins: 10
• capacity: 21 guests in low beds
• air conditioning in the whole barge
• WiFi available in common areas
• comfort Silver

About the navigation

The Vita Pugna has been specifically designed to sail along uncrowded waterways parallel to the Po river, not on the Po itself.
Dry spells happen more and more often in large rivers (Po, Rhine, Danube…). However, since 2008 we have never had a day’s stop due to drought: the “Fissero-Tartaro-Canalbianco” canal that runs parallel to the Po River is regulated by a system of 6+3 locks, which guarantees a constant level of water, thus enabling navigation all year round, all the time.

Charter Request this barge exclusively for you group Get a quote

Cabins

Layout

Cozy and typical wooden furniture design.

10 cabins

• 9 lower deck twin cabins 7-8 sq.m (B)
• 1 lower deck twin/triple cabin 7-8 sq.m (C)
• one cabin can accommodate 3 people (3 low beds)

 

Features

• Comfortable low beds (1.90/2.00 m x 0.75/0.80 m)
• En-suite facilities
• Portholes that can be opened
• Individually controlled air conditioning
• Safe deposit box
• Under at least one of the two beds there is an empty space for luggage storage: H40cm x W150cm x D75cm
• Sheets and towels
• Hair dryers (to request on board)
• Courtesy kit with eco solid soaps (hand + body + shampoo) and shower cap
• Mid-week cabin cleaning service and towel change
• Schuko bipolar sockets (220V – 50Hz, Europlug and other plugs compatible)

Common areas

Restaurant and lounge

You can enjoy breakfasts and dinners in the cozy air-conditioned restaurant/lounge with large panoramic windows.
Here you can relax with a wide selection of board games, books and travel guides, a 47” multimedia screen, and free WiFi.

Sundeck

The sundeck with tables and chairs is the perfect spot to enjoy sailing and chatting with you new travel companions.

Bike storage

Bikes are stored in a separate part of the sundeck and are available to passengers at all times. E-bikes can be recharged here.

Food and beverages

Onboard kitchen

Fresh local ingredients and traditional recipes are prepared by the chefs with care and passion (very limited use of frozen and industrial food). Some of their dishes have made it into a cookbook by popular demand. Browse through a preview of the cookbook.
A selection of Italian wines accompanies the courses, and the wait staff will be able to advise you on the best pairing.
And as well as the wine, the coffee is also carefully selected: a professional machine, running h24, serves guests a blend of artisanal coffee (50% robusta, 50% Arabica) sourced from Italian roasters. Produced according to the ancient Neapolitan tradition, the blend is packaged by Cooperativa Lazzarelle, a women-only cooperative established in 2010 inside the largest women’s prison in Pozzuoli (Naples).

 

Breakfast

rich buffet

sweet and salty

coffee and hot drinks

juices

fresh fruit

Lunch

packed lunch prepared by you

fresh ingredients

Afternoon snack

a yummy snack, like a slice of cake or fruit

coffee or tea

Dinner

3 course

typical dishes of the traditional Italian cuisine

fresh ingredients

selection of Italian wines

 

If you are vegetarian, gluten-intolerant or allergic to some specific ingredients/substances please indicate it at the moment of booking.

Non-contamination during the preparation of meals cannot be guaranteed.

Amenities

Included in the price

WiFi in common areas (limited quality depending on the 4G/5G connection. We suggest buying one of these popular international weekly e-sim: Airalo, Holafly, Maya Mobile…)

Air conditioning in the whole barge

Welcome drink

Free coffee and hot drinks h24

Water on board is drinkable and there is a still and sparkling water dispenser (room temperature or cold water)

Ice dispenser

Board games

Books and travel guides

A 47” multimedia screen

On request for groups or charters

Private transfers (by bus or water taxi)

Cooking classes

Wine tastings

Open bar

Events on board

Not included in the price

Drinks, such as wine, beer, and soft drinks are available for purchase on board (cash and credit card payments are accepted)

There is no laundry service on board, however in Mantua and Venice laundries are available at a short distance

To discover

Art cities

Mantua, Ferrara and Venice are the best known: your floating hotel is a perfect starting point for discovering their masterpieces of art and architecture. The itinerary also takes you to smaller towns, such as Adria, an ancient Roman port on the Adriatic, and Chioggia, a fishing town that is a fascinating web of alleys and canals.

Water landscapes

Rivers, lakes, the sea: water is the undisputed protagonist of the journey between Mantua and Venice, and the landscape is very varied. Dense, lush vegetation on the banks of the Mincio and Po rivers, as well as irrigation canals inland form a sort of watery mirror of the Venice Lagoon.

The hinterland

Ave Maria’s river itinerary crosses the Po Valley, with its wealth of production, culture and history. You’ll visit a dairy that produces the famous Grana Padano cheese, the unusual Museum of Amusement rides and Popular Entertainment in Bergantino with jousts and carousels from the 1800s, the tiny village of Zelo, and the fishing valleys of Chioggia.

Tours

Bike and barge

From March through October you can hop aboard for weeks by Bike and Boat from Mantua to Venice (or vice versa). Departures every Saturday with a tour leader and international group or with the option to cycle independently following our App that contains maps, roadbook, points of interest and GPS tracks. The itinerary combines easy cycling with overnight stays on the barge.

Bike and Barge

The waterways of Venice

from Mantua to Venice

Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

from 1470 €

8 days / 1 person

Tailor-made programs

Reserve this barge exclusively for your group and plan a special vacation for your club, association or family members. You can select a date from the tour calendar or request a personalized departure for greater flexibility. Please be aware that chartering a ship is contingent on availability, and we highly recommend booking in advance.