Classic Tuscany Tour Facts Sheet

Home , Cerreto Guidi, Piazza dei Miracoli, San Gimignano, Siena

Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Classic Tuscany Cycling from Florence to Pisa

Self-Guided Bicycle Tours in Italy: Classic Tuscany Tour Facts Sheet

The best way to explore one of Italy's most famous regions, Tuscany, is to cycle through it while enjoying the perfect blend of culture, cuisine, history, and rolling scenery. Tuscany is known for its earthy wines, rich art history, architecture, and its welcoming people. Walk through living history in the vibrant cities of Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa. From Piazza della Signoria in Florence to Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, through Siena, San Gimignano and Lucca. This bicycle tour starts at the heart of Tuscany, along the "wine route", where you'll see the production of Chianti and other wines. Enjoy a wine tasting in one the numerous wine cellars of this area. After Siena our bicycle tour continues to San Gimignano, famous for its adorning towers, and Lucca, known for the well-preserved Renaissance walls encircling its historic city center. Lastly, you'll visit Pisa and its leaning tower. Join us and experience Tuscany by bicycle.

Renaissance Florence, wines and vineyards of Chianti, a stroll in the majestic Piazza del Campo in Siena, San Highlights Gimignano and its medieval towers, the leaning tower of Pisa, great views from world-famous hills €1270 per person sharing a double room Single supplement: €290 (solo travelers pay €800) Price GROUP DISCOUNTS 5% (6 people or more) Please note that a High-Season Supplement fee

may apply for May and September

7-night accommodation in 3-4 stars hotels or Includes farmhouses; all breakfasts; roadbook and map; GPS with preloaded tracks; luggage transfers

Countries Italy Begin/End Florence/Pisa

Arrive/ Florence Airport (FLR) / Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA) Depart Visit our website for tour dates, price and Total full itinerary description at 348 - 352 km (217 - 220 miles) Distance Cycleeurope.com. Daily 48 - 68 km (30 - 42 miles) Do you need more information? Read our Distance Self Guided Tour FAQ Sheet here. Tuscany at its best, vineyards and wineries, castles, What to medieval villages and the best renaissance cities in the Expect region. 3 – View Tour Rating Descriptions Rating Mostly hilly with some good climbs, average daily elevation gain of about 500m (1500 feet). Few unpaved country roads

Terms Terms & Conditions

Tour’s Dates:

Suggested starting day: Thursday. Other tour start days may be available, with a possible supplemental fee - please inquire.

Your Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Florence Mileage: your option Highlights: Renaissance Florence, Uffizi Gallery, and Ponte Vecchio Bridge

Arrive in Florence today and take in the city’s rich history: climb up Giotto's tower for a Accommodation: stunning view of the city and the Duomo; visit the Uffizi Gallery, or walk the Ponte Hotel Silla or similar Vecchio bridge for a different striking view of the city. We'll fit bicycle today and suggest you a number of restaurants for dinner.

Day 2: Florence to Radda in Chianti Mileage: 61 km Highlights: The Chianti region (38 miles)

As you leave Florence, you’ll climb some of Chianti’s famous hills on your way to Radda Accommodation: in Chianti, your home for the night. Stop in Greve in Chianti for a short visit of the main Hotel San Niccolò or square and the famous Macelleria Falorni, producer of local salumi. Radda is a delightful similar gem of a small town and was an important junction for travelers heading north and south.

Day 3: Cycle to Siena Mileage: 48-52 km Highlights: Medieval town of Siena, Piazza del Campo (30-32.5 miles)

Cycle the southern part of the Chianti Region, then take the afternoon to explore Siena. Italy's best-preserved medieval city, Siena rivaled Florence for dominance in Tuscany Accommodation: during the 1300s. You'll be transported back in time as soon as you enter the city walls. Chiostro del Carmine or similar

Short option:

Long option: Day 4: Ride to San Gimignano Mileage: 50 km Highlights: The jewel village of Monteriggioni, San Gimignano (31 miles)

Your bike ride today takes you into the heart of Tuscany. You will pedal past vineyards, Accommodation: 17th century villas, and small towns on your way to San Gimignano, one of the best- Hotel Bel Soggiorno or preserved medieval villages in Italy and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. San Gimignano is famous for its many towers, remnants from the 13th and 14th centuries. similar

Day 5: From San Gimignano to Vinci Mileage: 68 km Highlights: Olive groves and vineyards, Leonardo da Vinci's birthplace and museum (42 miles)

Your ride takes you through the rolling hills peppered with small towns along the way. Accommodation: Your destination is Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo. Here you'll have a chance to visit Hotel Monna Lisa or the house where he was born and a museum with scale models of his inventions. similar

Day 6: Bicycle to Lucca Mileage: 58 km Highlights: Medici villa, bicycle countryside of Tuscany, 17th century wall (36 miles)

Climb the stairway to the Medici villa in Cerreto Guidi today for a great view as you continue west to Lucca, where you'll stay the next two nights. Lucca was a Roman town Accommodation: and one of medieval Italy's most prosperous city-states. Today, Lucca retains its medieval Hotel La Luna or similar charm with its small shops and sidewalk cafés, as well as the beautiful 17th-century wall that surrounds the town.

Day 7: Loop ride to Pisa Mileage: 70 km Highlights: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Piazza of Miracles, Lake Massaciuccoli (44 miles)

Your last day of cycling takes you to Pisa, where you can visit the Leaning Tower and the Piazza of Miracles. Our route to Pisa takes you by Lake Massaciuccoli, where Puccini Accommodation: wrote many of his operas. After a stroll through Pisa, head back to the less-touristy town Hotel La Luna or similar of Lucca to enjoy an evening passeggiata along the main pedestrian way.

Lucca-Pisa (40 km):

Pisa-Lucca (30 km):

Day 8: Tour ends Arrivederci!

After a breakfast buffet in your hotel, you're ready to continue your adventure, wherever it may lead. We hope you enjoyed cycling with us! Thanks for joining us and "buon viaggio"!

NOTE: This hotel itinerary is subjected to changes according to availability.

GTA: How to get there and away

Starting point: Hotel Silla - Via de' Renai 5 – Firenze You can fly into Florence or Pisa, which is connected to Florence by train.

Ending point: Hotel La Luna - Via Fillungo, Corte Compagni 12 - Lucca You can fly out from Pisa or from Florence, which is connected to Pisa by train or ask for a private transfer from Lucca to Florence Airport.

Once you book the tour we will send you detailed information and different options on how to get to the starting point and away from the ending point of the tour.

Luggage Transfers

Luggage transfer is included in your package. Normally, the luggage is collected from 09.00 at the reception of the hotel and is delivered at the following hotel by 16.30. Every piece of luggage must be marked with a visible luggage tag. Please make sure yours have correct tags.

If your luggage is not ready by the time the driver comes to collect it, you may need to have to pay directly a local taxi for the service.

Please consider that the luggage is not insured during the transport. You need to have your own insurance. Do not leave valuables or fragile items in your luggage.

Normally you cannot use the luggage transport service to skip the stage. In case you need help to skip the stage, please contact our emergency number.

Services available at an additional cost (ask for prices and availability)

Private transfers (subject to change depending on flight time and delays)

Florence airport - Florence: € 60 (1-3 pax) € 65 (4-6 pax)

Lucca - Pisa airport: € 80 (1-2 pax) € 90 (3-6 pax)

Lucca – Florence airport € 130 (1-2 pax) € 140 (3-6 pax)

Extra nights at tour start and end (please inquire about adding nights along the itinerary) Prices for double rooms:

Florence € 155/room/night

Lucca € 145/room/night

Extra meals and activities (please inquire about price and availability):

Day 1 - Dinner in Florence

Day 2 – Snack at local shop (1 glass of wine, local cold cuts and

cheeses)

Day 3 – Dinner in Siena

Day 3 – Guided visit of Siena

Day 4 - Dinner in S. Gimignano

Day 5 – Wine tasting in Vinci (closed on Monday) Starting from €12 / pax

Day 6 – Dinner in Lucca

Cooking class (*) available in more than one location along the way €80 / pax for at least 2 people. (includes tasting meal at the end) Supplement of €25 for solo travellers

(*) The Cooking class is run by Le Cesarine, a company that organizes culinary experiences at local people’s houses. Your class will last about 3 hours, during which you will help the Cesarina prepare 3 courses. In the 4th and final hour, you will enjoy a meal (lunch or dinner) made of the courses you prepared during the class. Water and one bottle of house wine every 3 people are included.

The Dinners you book through us consist of 3-course set menus (some restaurants allow multiple choice menu). Drinks are not included. Please check the scheduled time of your dinner, as some restaurants in Italy open for dinner as late as 7:30 or 8:00 pm.

Room upgrade: Please inquire about availability and price.

Bike Rental (for a standard 8-day tour. Please inquire about longer tours)

- Aluminum hybrid: €160 - Titanium road or hybrid: €240 - Tandem: €280 - E-bikes: €240 - Tag-along or kid trailer: €80

For detailed specs and photos of our bikes, see our website - Bike Rentals Italy.

Your roadbook

Here below you’ll find a snapshot as a sample of what you’ll have in your roadbook day by day. As you can see you will find the map with the marked itinerary, the elevation profile, maps for entering and leaving a towns and step by step instructions. Together with this we’ll provide cultural information, lunch and dinner suggestions, list of bike shops and taxi numbers.