Cycling
Grand Tour of Tuscany

Welcome to the city that is famous throughout the world for its Leaning Tower: Pisa. Once you have settled in at your hotel, you can head to the scenic Piazza dei Miracoli to take a closer look at this bizarre bell tower, the city’s Cathedral next to it, the Baptistery, and the Campo Santo. This entire complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers, in addition to its valuable monuments, the friendly and lively atmosphere of a university town.

Today’s route is almost completely flat (25 km, difference in altitude +130m/-115m): an easy stage that takes you northward, pedaling along the Serchio River and through the Pisan countryside until you reach the village of Ripafratta and then the city of Lucca. For a more challenging ride, you can choose a slightly longer and more demanding route that skirts the eastern side of the Monti Pisani and then runs along Lake Massaciuccoli. Once you arrive in Lucca, you have the rest of the day and the entire evening to explore the city’s beautiful architecture and gardens. Don’t miss the Duomo with its beautiful bell tower, the imposing Piazza Anfiteatro, and the incredible roof garden on the Guinigi Tower, a corner of green that soars into the sky.

Shorten the stage You can shorten the stage by taking a train to Lucca from the Ripafratta station.

Today’s ride begins along the Serchio River bike path and then heads into the peaceful Tuscan countryside amid a landscape of hills, vineyards and olive groves. The route takes you to the ancient historic residences of Lucca’s nobility, inhabited over time by aristocratic families, cardinals and wealthy merchants. You’ll pass Villa Reale, Villa Grabau and Villa Mansi: architectural treasures that can still be visited today, along with their beautiful gardens designed as true works of art. Taking a scenic road, you then reach the small village of Collodi, where the author of Pinocchio spent his childhood. Here you can visit the famous Pinocchio Park, as well as the historic garden of Villa Garzoni. A bit more pedaling and you reach the town of Pescia, where you can stop for a stroll among Renaissance churches and mansions or for a visit to the original Hesperidarium botanical garden, the Citrus Garden. At the end of the day, the spa town of Montecatini, with its beautiful pedestrian-friendly old town and lively nightlife, welcomes you for an overnight stay.

Shorten the stage You can shorten the stage by taking a train to Montecatini from Pescia station.

Today’s itinerary is a bit more challenging than the others, but if you prefer a “softer” day, you can shorten the ride with a short train transfer to Pistoia (total length 50 km, elevation gain +240m/-250m), a city rich in Romanesque and Renaissance monuments and with one of the most striking squares in Italy: Piazza del Duomo. The first kilometers out of Montecatini are the most challenging, with the climb of Monsummano, a scenic climb among olive trees that leads you to the medieval village of Montevettolini. Descending along the plain of the Ombrone stream, the route then joins the main one coming from Pistoia. Immersed in the Tuscan plain, you pedal along country roads between crops until you reach the Arno River, which accompanies you into the heart of Florence. The capital of the Renaissance hosts you for the night, you just have to decide how to spend your time in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

Shorten the stage If you’re not up for a challenging ride, we strongly recommend shortening the stage by taking a train to Pistoia, thus shortening the stage by 15 kilometers, and avoiding the first 6 kilometers, which are very hilly.

Say goodbye to Florence, and a few kilometers away you can admire “La fonte della Fata Morgana”, a small edifice of Bernardo Vecchietti built between 1573 and 1574 in the garden of his villa on the slope of the hill called Fattucchia. The spring was enriched with the marble statue of the Fata Morgana, the popular witch of Celtic mythology and legends. Then, you reach the town of Grassina, for centuries also known as The Washerwomen’s Village. The River Ema flows through it and along these banks is where the Florentine aristocracy would have its laundry washed. A monument in Grassina’s piazza remembers the gruelling work of the laundresses, who practised their trade here until as late as the 1960s, when washing machines became common. Continue cycling through the iconic Tuscan landscapes, until you reach the little village of Mugnana. Here you find the Mugnana Castle, which is now a historic residence. Greve in Chianti is up next, where the famous Chianti Classico Wine Festival is held every year in September. A sip of the local wine will fire up your senses.

Today’s stage is filled with charming historic villages. Just a few kilometers away from Greve, you find the small and peaceful village of Panzano, with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, waiting to be explored. Panzano’s historic centre rises on a hill enclosed within a medieval fort, which is still intact. At the top, where the castle once stood, we find the Church of St Mary of the Assumption, built in the XIV century. You will then come across the classic village of Radda in Chianti, which is nestled in the hills and boasts Etruscan-era remains. If you wish, you can make a small detour to Gaiole in Chianti, home to the world-famous cycling race, L’Eroica. After, you can admire the Castello di Brolio, home of the Ricasoli family and now also a well-run wine cellar. Today’s goal is Siena, a superb medieval town, easily distinguished by old brick buildings and the crown of Torre del Mangia. After exploring the city, you can recharge your batteries with a delicious dinner of authentic Italian dishes at one of the many eateries in the city center. Savor the rich flavors of tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms, classic pici, Cinta Senese, sweet cantucci, and ricciarelli, all of which are best enjoyed with a glass of Chianti.

Say goodbye to Siena and get in the saddle: the ancient paths of the Via Francigena lead you to the charming walled village of Monteriggioni, which is famous for its typical Italian architecture. The almost intact village walls stretch over a length of 570 meters and consist of 14 towers and two gates. Colle Val d’Elsa is worth a stop along the way: the city is famous for its production of iron and, notably, glass and crystal. Toward the end of the stage, keep an eye out for medieval towers. San Gimignano boasts 14 of them now, but in the past, the town’s noble families had built 72 of them to demonstrate their power. San Gimignano has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still retains its original medieval-style urban architecture, which is a true representation of the past.

Once you leave San Gimignano, your bike tour continues through the picturesque Tuscan countryside, passing by olive groves and vineyards, until you arrive at the final destination of the day: Casciana Terme, the “city of wellness.” Casciana is famous for its Etruscan roots and regenerating thermal water, which was discovered by Countess Matilda of Tuscany in the 12th century.

As you ride, the hills give way to plains near Pisa. Accompanied by the Era river, you will reach Pontedera, a well-known industrial center located inland from Pisa. The Piaggio headquarters and the excellent Amedei chocolate factory are located here. The Arno river guides you along the last kilometers until you reach Pisa. The university town awaits you for the last night of the tour. Enjoy a traditional Tuscan dinner with a glass of wine and take the time to say goodbye to the city and Tuscany.

End of the tour after breakfast.