Highlights:
- Stays at exclusive four-star hotels and family-run B&Bs
- Authentic Tuscan cooking demonstrations
- Memorable ride along the historic Sette Ponti Road
- Stop at a Tuscan olive press
- Visits to Siena, Volterra, and Medieval San Gimignano
Like an otherworldly Renaissance painting, Tuscany envelops the senses. Golden sunlight bathes the rolling green hills, ripe olive groves and bountiful vineyards blanket the countryside. Delve into Etruscan history along ancient Roman roads that wind from the simple elegant villas near Florence, through Chianti’s domain of wildflowers and grapevines, to the arid moonscape of Volterra. Our ultimate reward: the glorious island of Elba with its pristine white beaches and rocky landscape awash in cacti and desert blooms.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: San Donato
Shuttle to a hotel built by friars in the 1400s and take a short warm-up ride to Reggello, where you'll find great pastry and ice cream shops. Take your time today to get used to your bicycle and the gentle rhythm of the Tuscan landscape. If you prefer a good work out, you can also climb to Vallombrosa.
Day 2: Loro Ciuffena
Ride the panoramic Sette Ponti (Roman Road of Seven Bridges) and zigzag through medieval villages. The road dates back to the Etruscan period. This area was also an important religious center in the 13th c. The dozens of pieve (parish churches) here attest to its religious past. Gorgeous vineyards, olive groves, and mushroom-rich forests which surround you on this ride mark the region as an agricultural hub.
Day 3-4: Siena
Pass through the heart of the Chianti Classico wine region, with panoramic views of vast vineyards and dense forests. We'll stop in villages along the way, for cappuccino and gelato. The ancient stone farmhouses which dot this landscape add to its rustic beauty. Day 4 will be a rest day in Siena; you can choose to cycle, take tours, or enjoy a casual stroll through the town to see its many architectural gems.
Day 5: Volterra
Today we'll ride through the vast and open landscape of the Volterrana, passing horse farms and quiet pastures. The variety of natural beauty on this route will take your breath away. Following a picnic, head up the steep climb to Etruscan Volterra... you'll be rewarded with outstanding views of the entire region.
Day 6: San Gimignano
Discover Volterra’s amphitheater and Etruscan museum, or ride to San Gimignano to see the 15 medieval towers that make it the “Manhattan of Tuscany.” You may enjoy strolling through the streets, shopping, or climbing the Rocca, a ruined fortress which dates back to the mid-14th c.
Day 7-8: Elba
Embark on a 5-mile descent from Volterra, where you'll want to take plenty pictures of the cascading hills. Once we reach La Maremma, we'll take a one-hour ferry ride to Elba, our island paradise, where mountains rise out of the sea and olive groves and cacti nestle into white-sand beaches. During our stay at a charming four-star villa, you may choose to cycle an unspoiled coastal road along craggy red cliffs, rich in iron.
Day 9: Arrivederci!
After breakfast, we'll provide a group shuttle to the port, so that you can catch a ferry back to the mainland. If you would like to explore Italy further, we are happy to assist you with your plans!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Single Supplement: $550
Distance:
Total: 240 Miles
Daily Average: 30 Miles
Bike Rental Included!
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Italy
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Bicycle Touring
Cultural Journey
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