Tuscany Cycling Grand Tour

Day 1: Florence

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

Day 2: From Florence to Greve in Chianti 

Your adventure starts with a ride through the heart of the Tuscany, a land rich in art, scents and traditions. Leave Florence and head to Impruneta, the caretaker city of the terracotta art, here you can visit ancient villas and the Basilica.  Continue on to Mercatale, a small town surrounded by the Chianti hills.  Rest here while you taste wine and other local products at the wine cellar in Palagio castle.

Overnight in Greve in Chianti (standard cat) or Greve countryside (Deluxe cat.).

Approx Distance 27 miles (44 km) ↑ 2198 ft (670 m)  ↓ 1640 ft (500 m).

Day 3:From  Greve in Chianti to Radda in Chianti 

Today, discover "the road of wines", one of the best known areas in Tuscany. Leave Greve in Chianti with its irregular triangle shaped, public square. Continue through the fortified medieval village of Montefioralle dominating Greve and then, after the splendid village of Panzano, you arrive in Radda in Chianti. Situated between Florence and Siena this Classic Chianti countryside, is hilly, varied and colourful. Here the famous wine was born during the Etruscan age. In Radda in Chianti, admire the Pretorio Palace and the remains of its walls and of the medieval towers.

Overnight in hotel Radda in Chianti countryside (standard cat.) / Radda village (Deluxe cat.).

Approx Distance 19 miles (31 km) ↑ 2297 ft (700 m)  ↓ 1772 ft (540 m).

Day 4: From Radda in Chianti to Siena 

Today the tour moves from Radda in Chianti to Siena. The first stop is Meleto’s Castle, an ancient fortification transformed into a magnificent typical Tuscan villa. Cycle through the fortified village of Castagnoli to the famous Brolio Castle . Here you can sample wines from the Ricasoli wine cellar. In the afternoon, set off for Siena, famous its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race held twice a year. Exploring the city reveals some of the most remarkable monuments in Italy, the Piazza del Campo and the Public Palace, Buonsignori Palace with the National Pinacoteca (where you can admire pictures of Duccio, Lorenzetti, S. Martini etc), the Cathedral built in the XII c and covered in white and dark-green marble and also the Piccolomini Library, the Baptistry and the Museum of the Metropolitan Work.

Overnight in Siena.

Approx Distance 25 miles (41 km)↑ 2001 ft (610 m)  ↓ 2329 ft (710 m).

Day 5: From Siena to Colle Val d’Elsa

Leave Siena and cycle through rolling hills passing tiny villages such as Sovicille. From here, take the ancient Francigena Way which flanks Mount Maggio. Along the way are views of Monteriggioni’s castle, whose "cerchia tonda", approximately 570 m its diameter, were written about by Dante. Then its on to Abbadia a “Isola”(“Island”) whose name comes from its geographical position in the past.  The town was an important place of rest along the Francigena Way and it was famous also for its church, similar to the entrance of the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Continue then to Colle Val d' Elsa, the so-called Bohemia of Italy. It has seen a great development from 1400 when the production of the glass began, taking advantage from the engine force of river Elsa. Today the town is the producer of nearly all the crystal manufactured in Italy. To learn about the tricks and admire the art of glass-blowing, you can visit the Museum of Crystal or enjoy a demonstration during some of the events held in the historic centre.

Overnight in Colle Val d’Elsa.

Approx Distance 17 miles (27 km) ↑ 558 ft (170 m)  ↓ 1181 ft (360 m).

Day 6: Colle Val d’Elsa to Volterra 

From Colle val d’Elsa, cycle to San Gimignano. Sitting on a hill the town dominates the Val d' Elsa.  It is a well-preserved example of a Medieval city is famous for the eleven towers adorning it, and for this reason it has been placed on the Unesco World Heritage List. The village, locked within its walls, is bisected by two axes. The axis from east to west goes from the Hill of the Tower to the Hill of Montestaffoli and the axis from north to south goes from Saint Giovanni Door to Saint Matteo Door and this is where the Francigena Way passes through. In the late afternoon you’ll arrive in Volterra, a city with about 3000 years of history. Volterra is well known for its laboratories where alabaster is worked and you can visit the Acropoli, the roman theatre and the walls around the historical centre.

Overnight in Volterra.

Approx Distance 28.5 miles (46 km) ↑ 3248 ft (990 m)  ↓ 2034 ft (620 m).

Day 7: Volterra to Pisa 

The last day cycling through Tuscany, slow tourism at its best.  Leave Volterra for Ghizzano, the village surrounded by vineyards and then onward to reach Calcinaia and Pontedera. From here it’s a transfer by train to Pisa, the city of the leaning Tower.

Overnight in Pisa.

Distance approx 33.5 miles (54 km) ↑ 459 ft (140 m)  ↓ 2067 ft (630 m).

Day 8: Pisa

After breakfast the tour ends. Free time to visit the city: the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the famous leaning Tower.

Cat B: Standard Hotel Category: 6 nights 3*** and 1 night 4**** hotels
Cat A: Deluxe Hotel Category: 7 nights 4**** hotel

Grading: ***
Terrain characteristics: Hilly, 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 27 to 54 km per day.
Roads: 70% asphalted, few country roads not asphalted
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
2020 Departures: 

Cat A departures Saturdays from April until October

Cat B departures any day from April until October
Number of participants: Minimum 2
Luggage transport: Yes

Briefing: at 09.00 am on 2nd day customers get route book , practical information on the tour and bikes
(if rented)..

Florence
Siena
San Gimignano
Volterra
Pisa
The Chianti region and of the Val d’Elsa.
Villages in the Chianti region including Greve, and Radda  in Chianti
Brolio, Castagnoli and Meleto castles

By Rail – It is possible to get between the UK and Florence or Pisa by train, just make it part of the holiday.

Breakfast in London, lunch in Paris, dinner in Italy...Travel to Italy in a single day, London to Paris by Eurostar then Paris to Turin or Milan by high-speed TGV train with a glass of wine to hand and not an airport security queue in sight.  Great scenery, room to breath, loads of legroom, no baggage fees, no airport taxes, no seatbelt signs, no 2-hour check-ins at remote airports and under 4s go free.  It's much more environmentally-friendly too.  Next morning, Italian Frecciarossa high-speed trains whisk you from Milan to Florence in 1h40.

The Man in Seat 61 may help you to plan your journey.

Here is the trainline website.

By Bus – It is possible to get between the UK and Florence or Pisa by bus.

This website can help you plan your journey.

By Car – Florence can be reached by car using ferries or Eurotunnel and well maintained roads.

Parking:

Cat. B - private parking in Florence from about € 130 per week
Cat. A - private parking in the nearby area about € 24 per day per car, no reservation required

Here is the AA route planner website

By Air –  Fly either to/from Florence or Pisa airports

You may be able to fly into Florence and return from Pisa

Florence airport (FLR) is called Amerigo Vespucci and is situated on the north-west outskirts of Florence, just 4 km from the city centre. The centre can be reached in about 15 minutes by taxi, and in about 20 minutes with the Busitalia SITA Nord "Vola in Bus" bus shuttle operating between the airport and the central railway station of Santa Maria Novella that you can take to the central Santa Maria Novella train station (SMN). It takes about 20 minutes. The service runs daily, including Sundays and holidays. Departures from the airport are every 30 min between 5.30 am to 8.30 pm, then every hour until 11.45 pm. The last shuttle is at 1am. Departures from the city center (SMN train station) are every 30 min between 5.00 am to 8.00 pm, then every hour up until 11.00 pm. The last shuttle is at 12:30am.

 Pisa Airport is called Galileo Galilei.  For transfer to the start of the tour see Getting to/from Florence on your own from Pisa below.

Return transfer: Private transfer from Pisa to Florence is possible on request. Pisa to Florence centre or airport costs £70.00 per person (min 2 pax, own bikes included).

Transfer must be requested with the reservation and paid in advance.

Getting to/from Florence on your own from Pisa

Trains go from Pisa Centrale to Florence's SMN train station throughout the day, and the journey takes about an hour.

Here is the Skyscanner website to help you plan your flight.