Duration: 8 Days/7 Nights
Departures 2012: May 13 only, and private departures: please contact us for more information.
Departing from: Florence, Sun, May 13, 9:30 a.m., Day 1
Tour finishes: Chiusi train station
Price 2012: €2,420 per person based on double occupancy and minimum of 6 people. Single supplement €250.
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This Tuscany bike tour features an upgrade and extension to our regular itinerary to make it an even more special experience. In addition to our usual high standard of accommodation we will stay two nights at the very special Villa Casabianca near Asciano and add one more day of biking in the beautiful rolling hills south of Siena. Of course, the tour highlights Tuscany’s natural beauty, rich culture, and centuries of history. During the trip you will stay in a variety of accommodations: an 18th century country villa, a renovated 19th century hotel in the beautiful Gothic city of Siena, the historic and elegant Villa Casabianca, and finally in a renovated 16th century monastery within the walls of Pienza. The trip is also suited for people who really like to bike. Tuscany is hilly and therefore the riding is challenging but also extremely rewarding, as each hill provides a view more beautiful than the last. There are optional extensions for each day of riding so keen riders can get as much mileage as they want, while less experienced riders have the reassurance of our support van which is available to assist when needed. Of course, the van also moves your luggage.
Day 1- Sunday, May 13, : Meet your guides at 9:30 in front of the Hotel Ritz, along the Arno river in Florence. You will have a bike fitting and safety talk before leaving directly from Florence on your bikes. We know the city well, so have a great way to get out of town and into the Chianti hills while avoiding the city traffic. Our destination is the village of Panzano in Chianti, where we stay at the hotel Relais Fattoria Valle, a beautiful 18th-century Tuscan manor house. Once home to a noble Florentine family, it has been restored and transformed into a lovely country hotel. The views from the garden and pool area are gorgeous, and it’s a great place to kick back and relax after a challenging day of riding the Tuscan hills. We dine in the hotel garden beneath a leafy canopy of plane trees. Hotel and dinner included.
Day 2 – Monday May 14: Today we explore the hills and historic villages of Chianti, beginning with Radda, one of the cities in the Chianti League that helped Florence defend its territory from the Sienese during the Middle Ages. After a coffee break and some window-shopping, we continue on to Gaiole where we have lunch in the main square. Stop for a visit of a local ceramics producer on the way home, then return to your hotel. Late this afternoon we will visit the winery of Fattoria Le Fonti, a small, family-owned boutique winery owned and operated by my friends Guido and Vicki. After this special visit we will have dinner nearby. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 - Tuesday, May 15: Today’s ride takes us through the tiny hamlet of La Piazza to the village of San Donato where we can enjoy a mid-morning cappuccino before a long climb to Castellina in Chianti. Don’t worry, it’s a long but gradual climb and the view is great! Your uphill efforts are then rewarded by a fantastic downhill into the valley below. We have lunch at the 12th century fortress of Monteriggioni, which so impressed Dante that he mentioned it in a stanza of the Inferno. Choose a long or short ride after lunch into Siena. Our next hotel is situated just outside the medieval city walls, so you can head into town to explore on foot or just relax by the pool. Tonight is a “free night,” so you are free to have a quiet night on your own or discover the city’s gourmet delights with friends. Hotel and breakfast included. Dinner not included.
Day 4 - Wednesday, May 16: This morning we offer a guided visit of Siena which explains the history and culture of the city as well as the importance of its Palio horse race. After lunch in Siena we change into our bike clothes and start our ride to Asciano. We head into a terrain that is completely different from what we have seen so far, and enter the clay hills of the Crete Senesi. Those who have seen the films Stealing Beauty or The English Patient will recognize this starkly beautiful landscape of barren rolling hills punctuated by solitary cypress trees. We stay near the charming and authentic village of Asciano, an ancient walled town whose inhabitants have ingeniously incorporated the old defensive walls into their homes. Upon arrival at the elegant Villa Casabianca you might like to relax with massage and a whirlpool in their “wellness centre”. Tonight we conduct a wine tasting, followed by dinner. Overnight at Villa Casabianca. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5 – Thursday, May 17: This morning we ride to the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, founded in the 1300s by wealthy yet pious Sienese merchants. It became a hermitage for the élite, who built an impressive Renaissance Abbey, church and gatehouse decorated with Della Robbia ceramics. The Great Cloister (1426-74) is endowed with 36 frescoes depicting scenes for the life of Saint Benedict. After the visit, stop at the little café tucked away in the gatehouse for a cappuccino or cold drink before continuing your ride. We cycle through a string of hilltop villages and then stop in Montisi for lunch. From there we cut back through the wheat fields and sail back down into Asciano. Overnight at Villa Casabianca. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 – Friday, May 18: Today we have a gorgeous ride to the striking hilltop town of Montepulciano via Montefollonico. We take small roads that wind their way up, over, around, and in between tiny villages set amidst olive groves and vineyards to Montepulciano. Founded by the Etruscans 2,500 years ago, it continued to be a vital and important city well into the Renaissance. It sits high on a hilltop, so was the perfect location for the Medici to expand their power into south-eastern Tuscany. We have lunch here, and you have time to explore the main squares, back alleys and shops before we meet up again to continue our ride back to Pienza. Needless to say, the van will rendez -vous with you before you get on your bike, just in case you have bought something special at one of Montepulciano’s many artisanal shops.
Our destination is Pienza. In 1459 Pope Pius II, a local boy, decreed that Pienza be a centre of art, learning, and architecture. Almost entirely built in the ensuing 20 years Pienza is a Renaissance jewel. Our hotel is an elegant renovated 16th century cloister located inside the city walls and has spectacular views over the countryside. Tonight is a free night dinner so you are free to dine where you want, when you want, and with whom you want. Our guides will give you suggestions ranging from the local pizzeria to gourmet restaurants. Overnight Pienza. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 7 – Saturday, May 19: Our final day of cycling in Tuscany ends with a fantastic ride that takes us to the hilltop towns of the Orcia Valley. A sweeping downhill(and then uphill!) takes us to the imposing medieval fortress town of San Quirico d’Orcia. Lunch is in the walled village of S. Quirico d’Orcia. Aftewards, you can choose to return to Pienza or ride to Montalcino, famous for it’s Brunello wine, or enjoy a challenging ride via Castelmuzio. Tonight we get together for a final aperitivo and dinner together in the village. Overnight Pienza.. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 8 – Sunday, May 20: 9:00 transfer to Chiusi for 10:00 trains to Rome, Florence and beyond. Breakfast and transfer included.
The biking in Tuscany is hilly! We sometimes ride sustained climbs of 6-8 kms, with some steep grades. We ride 40 – 65 km a day, with optional extensions as well as van support, which allows you to relax off the bike for a while. We have designed the trip so that there is always some free time in the late afternoon so you can relax, read, or explore the towns where we stay. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region.
Useful Links –
The City of Florence: everything you need to know about the city.
The Accademia: home of Michelangelo’s David and other world-famous works
The Uffizi Gallery: one of the greatest collections in the world. We recommend you make reservations ahead of time.
The Duomo: one of the wonders of the Renaissance, Florence’s cathedral.
Siena Tourist Authority: this site has interesting links to areas within Siena province, like Chianti, the Val d’Orcia, & the Crete Senesi
Chianti Classico wine corsortium: a site devoted to this world-renown wine and its group of producers
Chianti History: concise article on the history of this famous region
Monteriggioni: more information on this fascinating hilltop fortress
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Italy has more sites listed than any other country!
General Information
Qualifications: This trip is rated Challenging. Tuscany is very hilly, so you must enjoy biking — including up hills! The daily distances are between 45-65 kms (28-40 miles), or about 3-5 hours of riding divided between morning and afternoon.Trip Cost Includes: All accommodations in three and four star hotels (2 nights Panzano, 1 night Siena, 2 nights Asciano, 2 nights Pienza); 7 breakfasts and 5 dinners; bilingual guide or guides; support vehicle; guided tours as noted in the itinerary; all luggage transfers, final transfer to Chiusi train station at the end of the trip; bikes (quality 27-speed hybrid-style touring bikes with front handlebar bags and rear racks), detailed written route notes and highlighted maps so you can ride at our own speed and choose to do longer or shorter options.Getting there(this will redirect you to our “Getting to the Trip” page)Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the “Reservation” page).Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend “Travel Guard” to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here. Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.
 Come join us for the trip of a lifetime! |
