cycle the via francigena - siena to rome A UTracks active holiday is all about exploring Europe your way. It’s about walking or cycling the incredible trails of Europe and becoming completing immersed in your travel experience. Since we began in 2006, UTracks has been the leader in active European holidays. Our itineraries have always been creative, rewarding, and very affordable. With over 450 active trips across the continent, UTracks offers unique opportunities explore europe your way to discover an untrodden Europe that spans postcard‑perfect landscapes, centuries‑old cultures, rural lifestyles and tempting gastronomic delights. You can choose to set your own pace on a flexible self guided journey or enjoy the benefits of an experienced local guide on a small group tour. We cater to all fitness abilities with our honest graded system that defines our trips from introductory to challenging. Plus we offer exceptional value with many inclusions on all our trips, allowing you more freedom to enjoy the natural and cultural wonders of Europe. Whether you prefer cycling or walking, 2‑star or 4‑star, small group or self guided, land, river or sea – UTracks helps you explore Europe exactly the way you want. TRIP COST TRIP NAME: CYCLE THE VIA FRANCIGENA Joining Siena from : $2700 ‑ SIENA TO ROME Siena Trip Concludes: Rome TRIP CODE: VF3 All prices are per person TRIP DURATION: 9 DAYS Viterbo OPTIONS & GRADE: MODERATE ‑ 3 Rome SUPPLEMENTS Italy H - high season surcharge: $41 ACTIVITY: 7 DAY SELF GUIDED CYCLE Electric bike ACCOMMODATION: 8 NIGHTS IN 3 STAR supplement: $240 HOTELS AND B&BS single supplement: $560 DATE DETAILS: DAILY FROM 1 APR TO 31 OCT single traveller surcharge: $620 highlights As the trip price is based on twinshare, Exploring the renowned cities of Siena and Rome a single supplement is payable if you are not sharing with a friend / Admiring the sunset over Lake Bolsena family member ‑ or a single traveller Walking barefoot on the Via Cassia in Montefiascone and visiting the Rocca for great views supplement if you are travelling solo*. Discovering the thermal pool in Bagno Vignoni, the amphitheatre of Sutri, and the pilgrim district Please refer to the price options for costs or ask our office for details. in Viterbo Note regarding single rooms ‑ The single supplement guarantees the privacy of your own room, however, rooms can at times be small and in the trip some places may not enjoy the same As you cycle this section of the Via Francigena you will feel like you’re cycling in a postcard. Each facilities as double/twin rooms. day you will marvel at the passing scenery ‑ from the vineyards and rolling hills of Tuscany, to the *The single traveller surcharge is only available on trips deemed suitable fascinating villages of Umbria, to the beauty of Lake Bolsena, and finally the magnificent Eternal City for solo travellers. It is usually more of Rome. Beginning in the historic town of Siena you will cross the Val d’Arbia and the Val d’Orcia, expensive than the single supplement due to the extra cost for luggage both icons of the Tuscan landscape. You will continue to Bagno Vignoni, with its enormous thermal transfers and organisation. pool in the centre of the square, and Radicofani, whose fortress dominates southern Tuscany. As IMPORTANT NOTES you make your way towards Rome you will be amazed by the beauty of Lake Bolsena, and charmed by the ancient paving stones of the Via Cassia, still intact after 2000 years. You will be enchanted H - High Season DN1 - High season is 1 Apr to by the medieval center of Viterbo, which has an entire district dedicated to the pilgrim. You will 30 Jun and 24 Aug to 31 Oct cycle to the ancient Etruscan roads and to the Roman amphitheatre of Sutri. The last cycle day and a supplement applies. brings you along a beautiful cycle path straight into the heart of Rome, to your final destination of St. Peter’s Square. You will also be able to appreciate the true Italian flavours, sampling delicacies of the vineyards of the Brunello di Montalcino, the cheese produced in the zones of the cacio di Pienza, and the famed extra‑virgin olive oil produced between Bolsena and Montefiascone. © World Expeditions Travel Group - Dana Garofani 12/6/2019 12:52:49 PM Page 1 cycle the via francigena - siena to rome itinerary at a glance Day 1 Arrive Siena Day 2 Cycle to San Quirico d’Orcia past vineyards and fortified towns (54km/33.5mi) Day 3 Enjoy fabulous views of the Val D’Orcia enroute to Radicofani (37km or 42km/23 or 26mi) Day 4 Cycle along the old Via Cassia to Lake Bolsena (55km/34mi) Day 5 Continue through woods and olive groves to Viterbo (33km/20.5mi) Day 6 Cycle to Sutri and its Roman amphitheatre (38km/23.5mi) Day 7 Continue to Formello past the Mount Gelato Waterfalls & the Veio Nature Park (34km/21mi) Day 8 Final stage across the countryside of Lazio to Rome (34km/21mi) Day 9 Trip concludes in Rome detailed itinerary DAY 1 Arrive Siena Make your own way to the first hotel in Siena. Siena is one of the most beautiful towns along the Francigena. You will be able to spend the day walking through its paved streets, looking for coats-of-arms on the walls of the contradas, or climbing the Torre del Mangia to enjoy a unique view over the town. A visit to the Duomo is not to be missed and you will marvel at its black and white columns. If you are lucky you will be able to witness a festival in one of the contradas, and see the work of the skilled flag-throwers, before sitting down at a table in Piazza del Campo to enjoy a plate of pici all’aglione for dinner, admiring the illuminated Palazzo Pubblico square. meals: NIL DAY 2 Cycle to San Quirico d’Orcia past vineyards and fortified towns (54km/33.5mi) The cycle today over the Crests of the Val d’Arbia offers unforgettable views. You will start the day cycling along the typical dirt roads of Siena, pedaling as far as the fortified village of Lucignano, with its fine Church. At the gates of Monteroni d’Arbia you can admire the impressive Grancia di Cuna, a fortified farm which held the reserves of wheat for the republic of Siena. From Lucignano continue through the Valle dell’Ombrone to the well preserved 14th century village of Buonconvento, the most important centre in the Val d’Arbia. You will cross the gate of the walls and enter the fine town centre, discovering why its name translates to “happy fortunate place”, before getting back on your bike and cycling to San Quirico over a mix of dirt and asphalted roads. The final section includes beautiful views of the Val D’Orcia, and the route is scattered with vineyards and cypress trees. Arriving in San Quirico you will be enchanted by the gate of the Collegiata. This evening you can enjoy a rest among the hedges of the Horti Leonini, a 16th century classic Italian garden. Ascent 650m/2132ft, descent 490m/1608ft meals: B © World Expeditions Travel Group - Dana Garofani 12/6/2019 12:52:49 PM Page 2 cycle the via francigena - siena to rome DAY 3 Enjoy fabulous views of the Val D’Orcia enroute to Radicofani (37km or 42km/23 or 26mi) Today your journey continues with fabulous views of the Val D’Orcia. Just beyond San Quirico you will enter a timeless world, visiting Vignoni Alto. You can also enjoy a reinvigorating dip in the thermal waters of Bagno Vignoni. You will test your strength with a short but demanding section which will take you to Radicofani. Stick it out, because when you admire the view from the Radicofani Fortress, tired but satisfied, you will be thankful for your efforts. You can also visit the Pieve di San Pietro, a little jewel dating from the 13th century, and take an evening walk in the old town centre, admiring the magic of the illuminated Fortress. Ascent 650m/2132ft or 650m/2132ft, descent 455m/1493ft or 650m/2132ft meals: B,D DAY 4 Cycle along the old Via Cassia to Lake Bolsena (55km/34mi) From Radicofani you will head towards one of the most exciting sections of the Via Francigena, leaving the Fortress behind you and travelling along the old Via Cassia, surrounded by scenery of infinite hills dominated by Monte Amiata. You can walk in silence in the Romanesque crypt beneath the Basilica del Santo Sepolcro, among decorated capitals and arches where, according to tradition, some stones bathed in the blood of Christ have been kept. Your journey will continue gently as Lake Bolsena starts to come into view. From here you descend into a volcanic crater and continue along dirt tracks. Your surrounds will alternate between thick woods and meadows scattered with olive trees, as you head towards Bolsena. If you are curious to see proof of the miracle of the Corpus Domini, for which Bolsena is famous, visit the Cappella del Miracolo where some marble slabs stained by the blood pouring from a Host in the 13th century are kept. If, instead, you are more interested in the typical cuisine you can try some local delicacies, including the Sbroscia, a typical soup made from lake fish and tomatoes. Ascent 620m/2034ft or 840m/2756ft, descent 610m/2000ft or 610m/2000ft meals: B DAY 5 Continue through woods and olive groves to Viterbo (33km/20.5mi) Today you will cycle through woods and olive groves, on a route that will offer constant views of the lake.