Italy Tuscany - Gran Tour from Florence to Siena to Pise Bike Tour 2019 Individual Self-Guided 8 days/ 7 nights Here the winning proposal to discover one of the most famous Italian regions, Tuscany. This area is famous for its wines, its cities rich in art and the warm welcome you get from its inhabitants: the best combination of emotions, scents and traditions perfectly combined and ready to be discovered by bike. From Piazza della Signoria to Piazza dei Miracoli passing Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra. After a short visit of Florence, the first part of the tour brings you in the heart of Tuscany, along the "road of wines", the production area of the famous Chianti, where you will be able to have a break during the stage and have a tasting in the numerous local wine cellars. After Siena the tour continues towards Colle Val d' Elsa, the "Bohemia of Italy", then San Gimignano, famous for its towers adorning it, and Volterra, the city of the alabaster. Finally you join Pisa, the city of the Hanging Tower.
Day 1: Florence Individual arrival in Florence, jewel of Medieval and Renaissance art. Overnight in Florence. Day 2: Florence Greve in Chianti 44 km Today your adventure leads you through the heart of Tuscany which is rich in art, scents and traditions. Departure by bike from Florence to Impruneta, the city of Italian terracotta art, where you can visit its ancient villas and the Basilica. After approximately 10 km, you reach Mercatale, a small town surrounded by the Chianti hills; you will be able to taste three wine varieties and other products at the wine cellar of Palagio castle. Overnight in Greve in Chianti (Standard category) / Greve countryside (Deluxe category). Day 3: Greve in Chianti Radda in Chianti 31 km Today you will discover one of the best known Tuscany areas: "the road of wines". Departure from Greve in Chianti with its main public square irregular triangle shaped. You continue across the fortified medieval village of Montefioralle dominating Greve, and then, after the splendid village of Panzano, you reach Radda in Chianti. The Classic Chianti, situated between Florence and Siena, appears like a hilly landscape varied and colourful. Here the famous wine was born during the Etruscan age. In Radda in Chianti it is possible to admire the Pretorio Palace and the remains of its walls and of the medieval towers. Overnight in Radda in Chianti countryside (Standard category) / Radda village (Deluxe category). Day 4: Radda in Chianti - Siena 41 km Today the tour leads you from Radda in Chianti to Siena. The first stop will be at the Meleto Castle, an ancient fortification transformed into a magnificent typical villa immersed in the Tuscan countryside. Cycling over the fortified village of Castagnoli, you will continue towards the famous Castle of Brolio which is rich in suggestions coming from ancient times. Here you can have a tasting in the Ricasoli wine cellar. In the afternoon you ll reach Siena, famous for its Palio and laying down on a cross road of hills creating a colourful scenery. While visiting the city you will meet some of the most remarkable monuments in Italy: 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 from the XII century and covered with white and dark green marbles, (and also) the Piccolomini Library, the Baptistry and the Museum of the Metropolitan Work). Overnight in Siena.
Day 5: Siena Colle Val d Elsa 27 km Leaving from Siena and cycling through sweet small hills you ll cross some little villages as Sovicille. Before reaching Abbadia a Isola, the ancient Francigena Way flanks the Mount Maggio. Along the way you can have a sight of Monteriggioni s castle, whose "cerchia tonda", approximately 570 meters in diameter, was already noticed by Dante. Then you ll arrive at Abbadia a Isola, (which means Island ) whose name belongs to 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 Sepulcher in Jerusalem. You ll continue then until Colle Val d' Elsa, the so called "Italy s Boemia". Colle val d Elsa is an ancient Etruscan city allied since 1100 to Florence against Siena. It has seen a great development from 1400 when the most flourishing fabrication of the glass began, taking advantage from the engine force of River Elsa. Possible visit to a handicraft laboratory of crystal manufacturing. Overnight in Colle Val d Elsa. Day 6: Colle Val d Elsa - Volterra 46 km From Colle val d Elsa you ll cycle to San Gimignano. The town, up on a hill, dominates the Val d' Elsa: it is a splendid example of well-preserved medieval city; its fame is mostly due to the numerous towers still adorning it. For its particularity it has been declared universal patrimony from the UNESCO. The village, locked up in its walls, consists of two aces that are intersected to cross: from east to the long west the axis that goes from the Hill of the Tower to the Hill of Montestaffoli, from north to long south the axis that goes from Saint Giovanni Door to Saint Matteo Door where also 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. Day 7: Volterra - Pisa 54 km Departure from Volterra to Ghizzano, the village encircled with vineyards. After approximately 2 hours of cycling you ll reach Calcinaia, then continuing towards Pontedera. From here, transfer by train to Pisa, the city of the Leaning Tower. Overnight in Pisa. Day 8: Pisa After breakfast the tour ends. Free time to visit the city, with its Cathedral, the Baptistery and the famous Leaning Tower dominating Piazza dei Miracoli.
Route Technical Characteristics: Tour Profile: Moderate. Hilly land, with some sweet climbs and descents (last stage mostly in descent). Global height of the tour: between 100 and 550 meters above sea level, average duration of the stages: from 27 to 54 km per day. Roads are 70% asphalted, few country roads not asphalted. Distance: 243 km Travel Dates: Departures Saturday April 1 to October 31, 2019 Low season: July 16 to August 31, 2019 High season: April 1 to July 15; September 1 to October 31, 2019
Price per Person: Standard Category Deluxe Category Double Occupancy Room 764.00 1088.00 Supplement Single Room 260.00 560.00 City Bike Rental 100.00 E-Bike Bike Rental 250.00 Transfer Pisa Florence D8 (minimum 2 person) 78.00 Standard Category Deluxe Category All Seasons Low Season High Season Extra night in Florence B&B 3* hotel double room 76.00 98.00 140.00 Extra night in Florence B&B 3* hotel single room 94.00 180.00 258.00 Extra night in Pisa B&B 3* hotel double room 72.00 86.00 Extra night in Pisa B&B 3* hotel single room 102.00 115.00 Accommodation: Standard category : 6 nights hotel 3* + 1 night hotel 4* Deluxe category: 7 nights hotel 4* Included: Accommodation according to the chosen category, in double en suite room 7 breakfasts Luggage transport App with tour map and itinerary (with points of interest, services and GPS position. The App provides GPS tracks that can also be used offline) One handlebar mobile holder For Deluxe category ONLY: roundtrip taxi ride Hotel Greve in Chianti city centre. Not included: Meals, except for breakfasts Drinks Bike rental Transfer by train Pontedera-Pisa Entrance fees Paper road book is available with supplement of 15 (to be booked in advance) Every extra and everything not specified as Included
Bike rental: Aluminum bikes (men and women) with 21 speeds, free wheel, 1 big pannier bag, water bottle, GPS with tracks of the itinerary. Assisting people in realizing their touring dreams worldwide is our passion. www.okcycletours.com THIS IS A PARTNER TOUR FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT OK Cycle & Adventure Tours Inc. 666 Kirkwood Ave - Suite B102 Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1Z 5X9 Toll Free 1-888-621-6818 Local 613-702-5350 TICO Ontario Registration No: 50022848