CYCLING WEEK CASTELLO SANTA CRISTINA
A FULL WEEK OF CYCLING, AN INCREDIBLE HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER, IN ONE OF THE REGIONS LESS INHABITED OF ITALY. S. CRISTINA CASTLE WILL BE YOUR HOME AND YOUR BASE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, ALLOWING YOU TO EXPLORE ALTA TUSCIA A STRIP BETWEEN TUSCANY, UMBRIA AND LAZIO. EXPERT GUIDES WILL LEAD YOU ALONG UNBEATEN PATHS AND ANCIENT TRAILS.
Day 1: arrival in the evening, check in and guided tour of the castle. Briefing about the next day excursion and bikes control if rented. Dinner in the cosy tavern and overnight, in the comfortable, stylish farmhouses below the castle, restored recently. Dinner in the cosy tavern and overnight, in the comfortable, stylish farmhouses below the castle, restored recently. Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 6 Day 7: around 9.00 am after a good breakfast, we take the trail to do one of the excursions, chosen by the guide according to weather conditions and physical conditions of the riders. Day 5: Breakfast and a free day to relax the weak legs, an excellent opportunity to visit the area or a visit to the thermal baths in Viterbo, or in Sorano. Day 8: Breakfast, check out and departure time.
COST: Euro 835,00 for a person, minimum number 2 people. 15% discount for groups of more than four people. The cost includes: Seven nights in a double bedroom (March June, September October) Full board with six picnic bags for lunch during the rides out. 6 guided tours on MTB of approx 4/5 hours with an expert guide on trails and side roads. SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: euro 100,00 for person. EXTRA BIKES RENTAL: for day for person euro 25,00\30,00 Insurance required, mandatory.
Lake Bolsena and ancient hilltop towns Tour This ride follows the natural contour of enchanting Lake Bolsena, so after leaving the castle in the morning, we descend along the crater of this ex volcano crossing the village of Gradoli with its beautiful Renaissance palace built by Pope Paulus 3rd Farnese around 1500. After a few km we reach the water following a beautiful road running parallel to the shore among olive trees and cultivated fields. The road bordering the beach reaches the charming little harbour of Capodimonte dominated by a medieval fortress. After Marta the fishermen village, the road climbs from the shore to the top of the crater along a steady uphill road, for about 3\4 km. At the top, a fantastic view of the lake and surroundings in any direction is the special prize for the effort. The old Roman road, Via Cassia will lead us down along the hills to the town that gives the name to the lake: Bolsena. An ancient Etruscan and then Roman centre, Bolsena is also famous for the miracle of Corpus Christi providing one of the first Christian holidays. Following the same road after about 10 km of flat, we arrive below the town of Grotte di Castro where again our legs and lungs will have to make an effort to reach the top of the crater, from there following constant up and down after about 5 km we will reach our castle again. Total km 80
Umbria: Orvieto town tour Passing through the hills between Castel Giorgio and Castel Viscardo, you descend into the valley where the beautiful city of Orvieto stands over a big volcanic rock. A steep hill road leads us inside the massive medieval walls. At the top, we follow narrow streets until the magnificent Duomo appears dominating the scene over the square with its incredible façade. Tower of Mauritius, the Moro Tower, St. Patrick's Well, are just some of the other wonders you can enjoy in this beautiful town. Beside this is a wine heaven, and the hills around covered with vineyards and olive trees. In the many wine bars around here, you can taste the famous Orvieto Classico wine, and olive oil accompanied by local hams, cheeses and salami. A steady uphill road climbs twisting along the side of the volcanic plateau. Once at the top, we will follow the path to the plateau direction east watching the mountains, time for speed if you still have energy in your legs. After crossing Grotte di Castro with an enchanting view of Lake Bolsena in the background, we finally enter the last ups and downs before our home: S. Cristina Castle.
Tuscany: Pitigliano, Sovana, Sorano: fortresses in the rock Northwest of our castle going through the ups and downs of the southern hills of Grosseto province, in Tuscany you reach the "tufa rock fortress towns". Pitigliano is the first one we reach, also known as the Little Jerusalem because it used to have a tiny juice ghetto now abandoned, still an enchanting fortified village dominated by the Orsini Castle: what a place to explore following with our bikes the narrow streets inside. Then Sovana considered one of the most beautiful villages in our area and defined as the fortified rock of Tuscany. It had built on the side of a gorge, along a path in the archaeological Park of Tufo, an area characterized by the Vie Cave: a network of narrow routes carved into the rock by the Etruscan who lived here many centuries before Christ. These are incredible pieces of engineering trapped between blue and steep walls of rock. The road we follow is quite challenging and undulating, with frequent changes of gradient. After a few km of relief where we are allowed on a slightly flat stretch, the road climbs again with a few ramps to negotiate to reach the top at S. Valentino. From here the continuous undulation gets more regular less challenging. Onano and its medieval castle are the last village before the castle. Total km 71
Tour of the Farnese duchy of Castro From the castle direction west, we head towards the sea, the land slopes down and we enter what around year ad 1500\1600 was the Duchy of Castro. The first part of the tour is easy, and the road follows a long valley in between hills inside what once was a big caldera a volcano now extinguished. Suddenly the road turns right, and you find the towns of Ischia di Castro and Farnese, where the domain of the powerful Farnese family is still evident after many centuries in the impressive buildings, streets and squares. The view of the area is incredible, and the road starts a challenging up and down through woods, gorges and hills climbing slowly on the way home. The scenarios around us are so beautiful though the road is unforgiving slowly but steadily going up, then the climb increases along the border of the crater of Lake Mezzano at 650 m. From the top, we can stop for a well deserved panoramic view of the region. The final descent on the opposite side of the crater brings our wheels towards home, but not after having coped with those last hills before the castle. Total around km 90