Bike Across Tuscany

Highlights: Test ride on Renaissance walls

Meet in Renaissance Lucca, a short train or bus ride from Florence or Pisa airports. We’ll fit bicycles and enjoy a fun 4 km test ride around the most well-preserved fortified walls in Italy. If you arrive early, make sure to stroll through the city center, visiting the amphitheater (originally built by the Romans and transformed over the ages), the unique Torre Guinigi (with a tree growing on top of the medieval tower), and the marble-faced majestic Duomo. A welcome dinner tonight in a local trattoria starts off our tour together.

Daily distance: 4 km (or more!)

Accommodation: Hotel La Luna, or similar.

Highlights: The Leaning Tower and “Square of Miracles”

A roundtrip ride to Pisa following the nearby river takes us into the center of this fascinating city to visit the impressive medieval "Square of Miracles", which was built to represent everything a human would need: the Romanesque Baptistery, the Cathedral, the "'civic" bell tower (which began to lean and now is the most famous building here!), and, at life's end, the Monumental Cemetery. After a stroll through Pisa, head back to Lucca to enjoy an evening "passeggiata" along the main pedestrian way or explore its countless amazing alleys and piazzas. 

Daily distance: 59 km (36.8 miles) 
Elevation gain: +330 m (1080 ft) 
Terrain type: rolling hills

Accommodation: Hotel La Luna, or similar.

Highlights: Leonardo’s birthplace; Night in a Tuscan farmhouse

Leave Lucca for the small village of Vinci, birthplace and home to the world-famous genius Leonardo da Vinci. A highlight here is a visit to the small town centre, including the town's museum with wooden models of many of Leonardo’s inventions (many of which were never built in his lifetime). Not only a painter, Da Vinci was also an engineer, creating hydraulic machines, war machines and several other fascinating artifacts (like the bicycle!) that show how ahead of his time he was.
Tonight's lodging is another tour highlight - the chance to sleep in a Tuscan farmhouse (called an "agriturismo" in Italy), set on the Montalbano hills in the Chianti wine region, surrounded by vines, cypresses and olive groves. The farm produces extra virgin olive oil, Chianti DOCG wine as well as white wine and the local vin santo (a sweet wine enjoyed with dessert). Our tour leader will host a group dinner tonight.

Daily distance: 60km (38 miles) 
Elevation gain: +560 m (1830 ft) 
Terrain type: rolling hills

Accommodation: Agriturismo Il Piastrino, or similar.

Highlights: Picture Perfect Tuscany

We’ll leave the province of Florence to enter its historic rival's territory: Siena, on the way passing through the charming ceramics town of Montelupo Fiorentino. A climb takes us up to a ridge road which we’ll follow to tonight's destination. We are in quintessential Tuscany here, with cypress trees, olive groves and vineyards spread out across the surrounding landscape. This evening’s destination, Colle di Val d’Elsa, is a classic walled medieval Tuscan town on a hill, still full of charm and history. You’ll enjoy exploring its cobble-stoned streets and alleyways.

Daily distance: 72 km (45 miles) 
Elevation gain: + 1030 m (3300 ft) 
Terrain type: rolling hills

Accommodation: Palazzo Renieri, or similar.

Highlights: Optional loop ride

An optional loop ride to the nearby town of towers - San Gimignano. Once home to dozens of tower-homes, the twelve or so that have remained are still striking to the eye as we approach. Enjoy a stroll through the center of this compact, walled medieval town and perhaps a taste of its signature wine, Vernaccia. We'll point out a few of our favorite osterie, or local restaurants, before we return to our own medieval town of Colle di Val d'Elsa.

Daily distance: 36 km (23 miles) 
Elevation gain: + 517 m (1696 ft) 
Terrain type: rolling hills

Accommodation: Palazzo Renieri, or similar.

Highlights: Postcard Tuscan landscapes; Siena

We continue pedaling south to reach Siena, considered by many to be the most striking Tuscan city (even more so than the Renaissance capital, Florence). After cycling through classic Tuscan scenery and plenty of rolling hills, we’ll settle into our hotel and then enjoy some of the famous sights – like the Romanesque-Gothic Cathedral and the unique shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, which twice a year becomes a tightly-packed horse race field for the annual "Palio". You’ll want to explore the countless alleys and tight streets that bring surprises at every turn. If you prefer to take a break from the bike today, transfer by public bus directly to Siena.

Daily distance: 48 km (30 miles) 
Elevation gain: + 843 m (2760 ft) 
Terrain type: rolling hills

Accommodation: Hotel Italia, or similar.

Highlights: Rest day - exploring Siena and Florence

After a few morning hours exploring the marvelous alleys and piazzas of Siena, we will travel to its historic rival city and today’s Tuscan capital, the mighty Florence (private shuttle included). Once in Florence an informal walking tour in the city centre will take us through some of the landmark sights, such as the Piazza Santa Croce, the Palazzo della Signoria, and the stately and jaw-dropping Duomo. You can spend more time exploring on your own, or even visit some of the world-famous museums nearby. We'll celebrate our bike tour with a goodbye group dinner!

Accommodation: Hotel Vasari, or similar.

Highlights: Farewell!

We say goodbye this morning. For those wishing to continue their time in Tuscany, Florence provides a great base for further exploration, as well as the perfect place to close your dream Italian holiday. If your travels end today, we will provide suggestions for arriving to the nearby Florence airport.
Breakfast at the hotel this morning.

PLEASE NOTE : The final itinerary, including hotels and/or activities described here, are subject to changes according to availability. 

Tour starting point: Lucca

We recommend flying into Pisa International "Galileo Galilei" Airport (PSA), but you can also fly into Florence "Amerigo Vespucci" Airport (FLR)

Options for getting to the starting hotel:

- By taxi: taxis from Pisa "Galileo Galilei" Airport (PSA) to Lucca take about 45 minutes. The taxi stand is in front of the airport on the arrivals side
- By train: Once you arrive in Pisa "Galileo Galilei" Airport (PSA), you will find the People Mover to get to the Pisa Centrale train station in less than 10 minutes. From Pisa Centrale to Lucca, trains run approximately every 30 minutes and take about 30 minutes.
- If flying into Florence "Amerigo Vespucci" Airport (FLR), you can reach Lucca taking a bus from the airport that will take you directly to the Lucca bus station, then you can take a taxi or have a 15 minute walk up to the hotel.

Final arrival and departure instructions along with other detailed pre-travel documents, will be e-mailed prior to your travel, with information specific to your departure (including the actual hotels used on your tour dates, which may vary from the hotels listed above.)

Tour ending point: Florence

We recommend flying out of Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR). It is also possible to fly out from Pisa International "Galielo Galilei" Airport (PSA).

Options for getting to the starting hotel:

-From the hotel, take a taxi to the airport. Agree on a fare before entering the taxi. Travel time to the airport is about 15-20 minutes, depending on the traffic
-From the hotel, you can take a 20-minute walk (or public transportation) to the train station. From there, you can catch a bus to Florence airport, it’s a 20 minute trip that close to the Santa Maria Novella Train Station
-If you are flying out of Pisa "Galileo Galilei" Airport (PSA) you can reach Florence main train station (Firenze Santa Maria Novella) with a 4-minute walk, then take a regional train to Pisa central station. Once you arrive at Pisa station you can take a taxi to the airport, or you can use the People Mover or bus.

Final arrival and departure instructions along with other detailed pre-travel documents, will be e-mailed prior to your travel, with information specific to your departure (including the actual hotels used on your tour dates, which may vary from the hotels listed above.)