Day 1| Firenze

Highlights [top]

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Description [top]

Here is a winning proposal to discover one of the most famous Italian regions, Tuscany. An area which is famous earth for its wines, its cities of art and the warm welcome of its inhabitants: the right combination of emotions, scents and traditions to be discover by bike.

From Piazza della Signoria to Piazza dei Miracoli through Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra. After a short visit of Florence, the first part of the tour brings you in the heart of the Tuscany, along the "road of wines", area of production of the famous Chianti, where you will be able to have a break during the stages with tastings in the numerous wine cellars of the zone.

After Siena the tour continues in Colle Val d' Elsa, the "Bohemia of Italy", then San Gimignano, famous for its towers adorning it, and Volterra, the city of the alabaster. Lastly, you finish in Pisa, the city of the hanging Tower.

Tour Map [top]

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Days detail [top]

Day 1 | Firenze, Tuscany, Italy

Individual arrival in Florence, true jewel of the medieval and renaissance art, one of the most important of the world. Overnight in Florence.

Day 2 | Passo dei Pecorai, Greve in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Florence – Passo dei Pecorai - 32 km
Today your adventure has beginning through the heart of the Tuscany, earth of art, scents, and traditions. Departure by bike from Florence to Impruneta, the caretaker city of the terracotta art, where is possible to visit ancient villas and the Basilica. After approximately 10 km you will reach Mercatale, small town surrounded by Chianti hills, you will willing to taste three wine varieties and other native products of the area at the wine cellar of the Palagio castle. Overnight in a tipical hotel in Passo di Pecorai.

Day 3 | Radda in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy

Passo dei Pecorai – Radda in Chianti - 41 km
Today you will cover one of the best know areas of the Tuscany : "the road of wines". Departure from Greve in Chianti: the main public square with its original shape of irregular triangle, delimited by beautiful gallery, is still today an important exchange point. In particular in occasion of the Extension Market of the Chianti Classic, that every year take place here. You continue across the fortified medieval village of Montefioralle that dominates Greve, and then, after the splendid villages of Panzano, you reach Radda in Chianti. The Chianti Classic, situated between Florence and Siena, appears like a hilly landscape varied and colourful.

Day 4 | Siena, Tuscany, Italy

Radda in Chianti - Siena - 39 km
Today the tour moved from Radda in Chianti until Siena. The first stop of the day will be at the Meleto’s Castle, an ancient fortification transformed in the XVIII sec. in to a magnificent typical villa of the Tuscan countryside. Cycling over the fortified village of Castagnoli you’ll continue until the famous Castle of Brolio, Ricasoli baron property, rich of suggestions from the other times. Here you can have a tasting in the Ricasoli wine cellar. In the afternoon you’ll reach Siena, famous for its Palio and that lays down on a cross road of hills creating a colourful scenery.

Day 5 | Colle di Val d'Elsa, Tuscany, Italy

Siena – Colle Val d’Elsa - 28 km
Leaving from Siena and cycling through sweet small hills you’ll cross little villages like Sovicille. Before reaching Abbadia a Isola, the ancient Francigena Way flanks the Mount Maggio. Along the way you can have a sight of Monteriggioni’s castle, whose "cerchia tonda", of approximately 570 m of diameter erected in the 1213, was already noticed by Dante. Then you’ll arrive at Abbadia a “Isola”,(which means “Island”) whose name belongs to its geographical position in the past. The town was an important place of pause along the Francigena Way and famous also for the church with two portals on the main facade, similar to the entrance of the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Day 6 | Volterra, Tuscany, Italy

Colle Val d’Elsa - Volterra - 47 km
From Colle val d’Elsa you’ll cycle to San Gimignano. The town rises high on a hill to 324 m.s.l.m. and dominates the Val d' Elsa: it is a splendid example of Medieval city remained intact in its urbanistic order and must, without doubt, its tourist fortunes to the numerous towers that still adorn it. For its particularity it has been declared universal patrimony from the Unesco. The village, locked up in its walls, structure on two aces that are intersected to cross: from east to the long west the axis that goes from the Hill of the Tower to the Hill of Montestaffoli, from north to long south the axis that goes from Saint Door Giovanni to Saint Door Matteo where pass through also the Francigena Way.

Day 7 | Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

Volterra - Pisa - 51 km
Departure from Volterra for Ghizzano, village encircled from vineyards and centre of numerous wine companies. After approximately 2 hours cycling you’ll reach Calcinaia, anciently called Vico Vitri, cause the working of the vitrificated pottery. Later the village changed name in to Calcinaia in reference to the numerous lime furnaces. Still some kilometer and you arrive at Pontedera. Train transfer for Pisa, the city of the hanging Tower. Overnight in Pisa.

Day 8 | Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

After breakfast end of the tour. Time free to visit the city: Cathedral, the Baptistry and the famous hanging Tower.

Trip notes [top]

Period [top]

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec

Included [top]

• Accommodation in hotels or farmhouses ***/****, as detailed in the programme, in double room with private facilities
• Bed and Breakfast service
• Luggage transport
• Detailed description of the itinerary (road-book)

Not included [top]

• Journey to/from Italy
• Lunches
• Dinners
• Drinks
• Bike rental
• Transfer by train Pontedera-Pisa
• Entrance fees
• Insurance
• Every extra and everything not explicitly indicated

Notes [top]

• Terrain characteristics: hilly land, with some sweet climbs and descents (last stage mostly in descent). Global height of the tour: between 100 and 550 mt a.s.l., average duration of the stages: from 32 to 51 km per day.
• Roads: 70% asphalted, few country roads not asphalted
• Departures: on Saturdays from April to October
• Bike: city bikes
• Luggage transport: yes
• Parking: customers can park in the hotels private parking in Florence at about € 50/70 per week depending on the hotel
• Briefing: at 09.00 am on 2nd day customers get route book and practical  information of the tour and bikes if rented.
• Return transfer: private transfer from Pisa to Florence is possible on request. Pisa to Florence centre or airport costs  € 35,00 for pax (min 2 pax, own bikes included).
• Transfer must be required with the reservation and paid in advance.
• Rental bike: aluminium bikes (men and women) with 21 speeds, free wheel, 1 big pannier bag, frontal road books support.

Equipment [top]

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