Mount Amiata - Cycling the Etruscans' sacred mountain 4 days guided cycling tour October 11-14th, 2018 ATWS 2018 Montecatini Terme Pre-Summit Adventure www.s-capetravel.eu Summit a dormant volcano, unearth ancient civilizations and relish in vibrant art, food and wine This trip revolves around Mount Amiata (1738m), Central Italy’s largest dormant volcano, that dominates the Maremma and Val d’Orcia areas. Its monumental presence influences its surroundings as well as the local climate. Because of its mineral and mercury deposits, hot springs and geothermal energy, for millennia it has been revered as a holy place, attracting people of many faiths that have settled here. Our base, almost at the top of the mountain, is in a quiet setting, surrounded by a beech and chestnut forest. The ever-present giant is a challenging friend as we ride its winding roads discovering its many sides: ascending from Montalcino (North), riding its west flank towards Montecucco through thick forests that give way to breath-taking vistas (West) and speeding down its south side into the Maremma and the Etruscan settlements of Sorano and Pitigliano. Conquering the summit we are rewarded by incredible views on the surrounding lowlands and the sea and islands that shimmer in the distance. Descending westwards we immerse ourselves in the mysterious fascination of an ancient people that lived here 2500 years ago. Riding through narrow “Vie Cave” -mysterious dug out roads- and hilltop hamlets, where alchemical symbols carved in the stone we bear witness to the passage of Knights Templars and the resilient people that have always lived here. This tour is a real ode to the beauty of the mountain, and its people, the simplicity, energy and spirituality that comes from living in such a place. www.s-capetravel.e2u Dates: October 11th - 14th TRIP Duration: 4 days SUMMARY Group size: 4-14 participants Difficulty: 5 out of 5 Dates Meals Technical info Arrive in Montecatini Terme, Day 1 briefing and Feldenkrais method class. dinner - 11th Oct. Overnight in Montecatini Transfer to Buonconvento. Bike fitting and ride to Prato delle Macinaie, not far from the Mt. breakfast Amiata Summit. Stop on the way at Abbazia di Km 56 Day 2 brunch Sant’Antimo and later at Daniel Spoerri’s M up: 1.957 12th Oct. picnic Modern art Sculpture Garden where we have a M-down: 855 dinner at hotel late picnic lunch. Overnight Mount Amiata Loop ride Mount Amiata West: descend until Arcidosso and ride on to Monticello Amiata, breakfast Km 85 Day 3 Montenero and Castel del Piano, from where lunch M-up: 2.247 13th Oct. we ride back to hotel. dinner at hotel M-down: 2.247 Lunch in local trattoria along the way. Overnight Mount Amiata After conquering the top of the Mount Amiata, Day 4 descend to Sorano for lunch and a visit of the breakfast Km 56 14th Oct. Fortezza Orsini. Continue to Pitigliano and visit lunch M up: 916 with local guide. Tranfer to Montecatini M down: 1.981 HIGHLIGHTS . Cycle on minor roads with an almost total absence of traffic . Pristine and intimate landscapes . Locally sourced culinary specialties, indigenous olive oil production and different wine areas: Brunello di Montalcino, Montecucco and Bianco di Pitigliano . Ancient Etruscan gems such as Sorano and Pitigliano . Conquer the summit of Mount Amiata at 1738m . Admire Sant’Antimo Benedectine abbey and visit Daniel Spoerri’s open-air modern art landscape garden 3 Day 1 Arrival in Montecatini The trip begins in Montecatini Terme, an 18th century Spa town famous for the healing properties of its drinking waters, which acquire beneficial mineral-salts on their way to the surface. In the afternoon, we gather for a short briefing and then a Feldenkrais class that will help you stretch, relax and prepare for the trip. Strolling through town the parks of the 18th century Spa town of Montecatini we reach the old funicular tram that goes to Montecatini Alto, an ancient hamlet where we have dinner. OVERNIGHT MONTECATINI Day 2 Ride Pieve a Salti to Amiata An early morning transfer brings us South to a beautiful farm near Buonconvento. After a hearty breakfast, meeting the guides and bike fitting we hop on our bikes, direction South. We ride mostly on secondary roads along the rolling Tuscan hills towards the hill-top village of Montalcino, home of Brunello red wine. We continue on to the Benedictine Abbey of Sant’Antimo: legend says that it was founded by Charlemagne in 781 DC on his way back from Rome along the Via Francigena, giving it the state of Imperial abbey. Further on we rest at the Giardino Daniel Spoerri, a 16-hectares botanical garden full his contemporary pieces of art. Here we enjoy a picnic before the last long climb to our accommodation on Monte Amiata. OVERNIGHT PRATO DELLE MACINAIE 4 Day 3 West Amiata loop ride Today we explore the western side of Monte Amiata, an area completely off the tourist grid. The area is cultivated with noteworthy olives and vines: the olive is the olivastra seggianese, an indigenous wild variety that can resist the Amiata cold winters; the wine is the Montecucco DOC, made from Sangiovese grapes just like its more famous “brother”, the Brunello di Montalcino. Cycling through this green and gentle landscape feels light and fast as we pass by Arcidosso, a hilltop town known for its fortress and the templar and alchemic symbols carved in the walls of its stone houses, then on to Cinigiano, Porrona and Montenero, where we stop by for a visit and a tasty lunch at a local trattoria. Full and recharged we hop back on the saddle and head back to the mountain, facing a challenging but rewarding climb on our way to the hotel. OVERNIGHT PRATO DELLE MACINAIE Day 4 Summit Amiata. Ride south to Pitigliano Final ride, final real challenge: the climb to summit the Mt. Amiata, where our efforts are rewarded with panoramic views on far away mountians, seas and islands. With a full sense of achievement, it’s a fast descend on the South side riding through the Pigelleto Natural Reserve, home of the silver fir, quite rare at this latitude. Reaching Sorano we immerse ourselves in the Etruscan history, riding through the “Vie Cave”, narrow passages carved in vertical tuff cliffs. After lunch we ride the last 10km to Pitigliano, with its stone houses rising dramatically from a tufa ridge surrounded by a deep ravine. And yes, what better way to end the tour than with a gelato? 5 “We move according to our perceived self-image.” (M. Feldenkrais) The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education uses gentle movement and directed attention to help people learn more effective ways of living the life they want. By increasing sensitivity and awareness, the Feldenkrais Method assists you to live your life more fully, efficiently, and comfortably. You can increase your ease and range of motion, improve your flexibility and coordination, and rediscover your innate capacity for graceful, efficient movement. 6 About S-Cape Travel S-cape Travel is an Adventure Holiday specialist with over 20 years’ experience operating unique FIT and small groups in Italy and the Mediterranean. Our local offices in Italy, France, Spain, Greece and the Netherlands personally designs walking, cycling, cultural and food & wine tours. We have a vast selection of self-guided adventures and guided tailor-made experiences and our programs feature gourmet food, hand-picked accommodations, stunning natural areas interspersed with jaw roping culture Local adventurists and hosts Frank Houtstra, S-Cape Holland director At the age of 14, Frank did his first complete tour around IJsselmeer on his newspaper loop bike, and from then on the cycling bug gripped him. Several times he devoured Wim Dussel's book 'What did I hang on my bike' telling the story of a group that in 1976 crossed America coast to coast by bike. After finishing his studies in 1992, Frank came by chance on a job at the Bicycle Shop and guess what ... the owners had participated in the famous cycling adventure. It was meant to be! Frank’s first job was his dream job: to work with a fantastic team, with pleasure and confidence in the future! 7 Accommodation In this tour, we use 3-star hotels. At Prato delle Macinaie, you will be accommodated at Hotel Le Macinaie for 2 nights. Since the hotel is not that large, you might be accommodated in the hotel’s dependance, which is only 150mt from the main building. 11 Oct. Montecatini - Hotel Massimo d'Azelio 3* 12 and 13 Oct. Prato delle Macinaie, Hotel Le Macinaie 3* 8 Prices sharing twin single room per person Euro 990,00 Euro 1.050,00 Included Not Included . 3 nights in 3* hotel on bed and . Flights and public transportation breakfast basis; to/from the event and when not specified . 1 brunch, 1 picnic and 1 lunch in a in the programme local restaurant; . Travel insurance . Admissions and entrance fees not . 3 dinners including wine, water and specified in the programme coffee; . Tips and gratuities for guides and driver . Return Cable car to Montecatini Alto; . Personal expenses such as drinks, phone . Feldenkrais Method lesson; calls, extra transfers etc... 2 English speaking bike guides/leader; . Any items that have not been . E/F to Garden Daniel Spoerri; specifically mentioned in the programme . E/F and guided visit Fortezza Orsini in Sorano; . Guided visit Pitigliano; . Road bike rental for 3 days (pedals and helmet on request); . Support van during all rides; . All transfers from day 2 to day 4; . Luggage transfer between the hotels (1 piece max.