Tuscany Bike Tours – Cycling In Italy

I may be going out on a limb here but I’m going to suggest that this may be the only place you should see in a first visit to Italy; Tuscany and Florence

If time is limited to two weeks or less and it so often is, then this city should be seen with perhaps a side trip to the countryside. Florence is busy but does have bike lanes and pedestrian paths.

It tends to be a better trip in the spring and fall but museum hopping at least is good in the winter too.

Equipment

I’m going to further to suggest that the first thing that should be done on the bicycle tour of Italy is hook up with a good bike shop. I’m going to strongly suggest Bike Florence (www.bikeflorence.com).

I’ve looked at a lot of these shops in a lot of locations and this one seems to have a really good selection.

They even have city bike rentals for the shorter in town paths which are of great interest to visitors to the beautiful city of Florence. Additionally they offer a bike purchase with buy back option for those who would rack up a lot of rental fees otherwise.

Tuscany landscape

Tour Tuscany

It’s possible to start a tour from the area of Florence (Firenze) and bike through the roadways of Tuscany to the Mediterranean Sea shore and then loop back north see the Pisa area and return to Florence. This would be especially advantageous for the traveler who is accompanied by an art lover who doesn’t want to leave Florence.

This is a strenuous route for the well conditioned mountain rider although a hybrid or even racing bike might be a better choice. Count on about four days to a week to travel this route depending on how avid your tendency to sightsee.

It is about 200 miles (320 km) from Florence (Firenze) looping south to Grosseto back up the coast to Pisa and returning to the starting point. Take S429 over rolling hills through Tavarnelle, Poggibonsi, and Monteriggioni. The hills will become more strenuous leading to San Dalmazio. Watch for the signs leading to Sienna avoiding the major roads.

Continue toward Grosseto on either S223 or S73. Catch S1 toward the coast. Stay with the road through Cecima, Livorno and on to Pisa. Enjoy the sights awhile in Pisa; they have a tower that leans. Continue on S12 into the area of Lucca. Follow S435 through Montecatini, Terme, Pistoia, Prato and the back to Florence.

For those with less enthusiasm for riding in the hills a trip which leads only to Sienna and back to Florence would take 88 miles (140 km) roundtrip on route S429. Take two days or longer for the trip allowing for some sightseeing.

This will be less strenuous and will lead through the Chianti district. This is the picturesque agricultural region famous for wine and olives.

Sienna has plenty to see, great places to eat and good accommodations.

The famous bridge in Florence, where people practise free fall diving

What to See: Florence

I’ll leave you to your own devices to find your way around Florence. There are numerous sources of tourist information. My tour book lists four pages of shopping interests alone so….

Let’s just say that art is in the eye of the beholder. Here’s hoping that everyone finds time to enjoy the art of the Early (Donatello ca. 1386-1466), High (Botticelli ca.1444-1510), and Late (Michelangelo ca.1475-1564) Renaissance.

This is where it all happened and is one of the most important places on earth for fine art.

Montpulciano in Siena

Sight Seeing: Siena

These two cities, Siena and Florence were rivals during the medieval times. Italy was at the time run by competing rival families–the source of much of the plot of Romeo and Juliet. Siena is still in a physical condition similar to that of its medieval history. Touring it would give a pretty good aid to the imagination trying to place Shakespeare in context.

These might be a good starting point to exploring Sienna:

• Duomo, west of Piazza del Campo, the Italian approach to Gothic architecture.
• July 2 and August 16 catch the 700 year old horse race–Palio.
• Pinacoteca Nationale, art gallery highlighting local artists.
• Palazzo Pubblico has been the local town hall since the 1300′s.
• Wine tasting in this very old and expert Chianti vineyards region.