Tuscany Guided Group Bicycle Tours

• Day 1 – Arrival and transfer to Monte San Savino
  
  On arrival at Arezzo Railway Station you will be met by a representative of the Iron Donkey and transferred to your first night’s accommodation in Monte San Savino. After checking in, there will be an introductory talk on the itinerary. Then there is a warm-up ride to the fabulous Castle of Gargonza, with an ascent to the castle, a descent to the valley on a dirt road and a level ride back to Monte San Savino. Drinks and dinner are in a local “Osteria” with a mouth-watering array of typical Tuscan fare on offer. After dinner you can soak up the true Tuscan atmosphere with a stroll through the historic town.
  Accommodation: Hotel Logge dei Mercanti
  
  
• Day 2 – Monte San Savino to Cortona
  
  Today’s ride is on generally easy terrain with some gentle rolling hills – and there are short sections on the white strade bianche so typical of rural Tuscany. The route offers magical views of the Val di Chiana and visits the beautiful town of Castiglion Fiorentino which occupies the site of an ancient Etruscan settlement. At the end of the route there is a stiff climb to the impressive heights of the town of Cortona, of “Under the Tuscan Sun” fame. The town is a paradise of arcade-lined squares, narrow alleys, fine mansions and and steep paved streets.
  Accommodation: Italia
  
  
• Day 3 – Cortona to Montepulciano
  The day starts with an exhilerating descent from Cortona back to the valley floor, the prelude to some glorious riding through typically enchanting Tuscan countryside. The destination, Montepulciano, is one of the most beautiful hilltop towns in Italy. The town, which provides the accommodation for the next two nights, produces the famed ruby-red Vino Nobile, one of Italy’s finest wines. A visit to one of the wineries is a must on the list of things to do and see. There is a route extension available for those looking for an extra challenge in the hills around the town.
  Accommodation: Duomo
  
  
• Day 4 - Montepulciano Loop
  The ride is a circular route from Montepulciano,taking you thropugh beautiful vineyrds and olive groves. There are visits to Monticchiello, a medieval walled village, and Pienza, the Utopian town designed byPope Pius II, where you can shop for ceramics and sample the delectable local pecorino cheese. A section of this ride is on strade bianche. An optional extension takes you to Bagno Vignoni where you can have a relaxing soak in the hot springs.
  Accommodation: Duomo
  
  
• Day 5 - Montepulciano to Montalcino
  Leaving Montepulciano, we ride west along one of the most beautiful of Tuscany’s strade bianche, undulating gently through vineyards and olive groves. En route lies the parish of Sant’Anna, a14th century Olivetan monastery with frescoes by Sodoma. The location features extensively in the film of “The English Patient”. The day’s destination is Montalcino. This hillside town, which still has part of its 13th century walls and its fortress, is known throughout Italy for its excellent red wine, Brunello, a particularly high quality vintage from a restricted wine-growing area. Every autumn during the Thrush Festival, the four districts of the town recall the past with a parade in medieval costume and an archery contest.. There is an extension ride available today.
  Accommodation: Giglio
  
  
• Day 6 – Montalcino Loop
  The last day of riding is another glorious circular route with more exhilarating sections on the white roads. The far point of the ride is the honey-stoned medieval abbey of Sant’ Antimo. Lying at the foot of the village of Castelnuovo dell’Abate the abbey has preserved its solitude and peace in the depths of the delightful Tuscan landscape. An inspiration to painters and poets over the centuries, it is the perfect spot for a picnic lunch. The lovely road back to Montalcino offers a final chance to revel in cycling through the special beauty of the Tuscan landscape.
  Accommodation: Giglio
  
  
• Day 7 – Transfer and departure
  After breakfast there is a transfer to Arezzo Railway Station (en route we can have a stop in Buonconvento and the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore) to catch a train to your departure airport, or on to another part of the country to continue your vacation.

Views on a Tuscan BicycleTour

I contemplated my forthcoming Iron Donkey bicycle tour with mixed emotions. I was looking forward to the freedom of cycling amongst the breathtakingly beautiful surroundings of the Tuscan landscape whilst at the same time feeling slightly apprehensive about my ability to meet the physical challenge. As it transpired, I needn’t have worried.

I flew to Pisa and took the opportunity to spend a couple of days enjoying the cultural and historical sights of Florence before joining the bicycle tour. The journey from Pisa to Florence was a simple one hour trip by airport bus. The first assault on my thighs began when I climbed the 460 steps to the top of Brunelleschi's enormous dome of the cathedral. The magnificent views across Florence from the top were definitely worth the effort.

From Florence I took the train to Arrezzo (one hour, 7 Euros) which was the meeting point for the tour. The other cyclists in the group turned out to be a diverse and interesting group of people from various parts of the globe. There were a few seasoned cyclists, whilst others, like me, were relatively new to the cycle touring experience. There were couples, singles and friends. They turned out to be a friendly and supportive group of people with the common aim of spending a week enjoying the magnificent surroundings of the Tuscan countryside in the best possible way - on a bicycle!

After loading the luggage onto the coach we were given a short walking tour around the beautiful town of Arezzo where we sampled some local cheeses, salamis, hams and bread from a small market stall in the town before taking the coach ride to Monte San Savino.

On arrival, we checked into our hotel and were then fitted with our bicycles and equipment and given an initial briefing by our fabulous tour guides, Giovanni and Luca. These two were exceptional! Firstly they knew the region intimately, they really knew the best restaurants (often off the beaten track) and they knew the best locations, the most beautiful vistas and the best local wines. Secondly they were genuinely passionate about what they were doing; they were passionate about the region in which they lived and its rich cultural heritage and they were passionate about the food and wine and eager to share their knowledge with unremitting patience and enthusiasm.

The bicycles were top quality, Cannondale hybrids with a choice of dropped or straight handlebars. Each bike came with a useful handlebar bag with a map case for our route notes and directions. By the end of the week I had become quite attached to my bike and would have liked to have taken it home with me.

Each morning of the tour, after feasting on a typical (and substantial!) Italian breakfast, the guides outlined the cycling routes for the day. There was always the offer of ‘the shorter route’ or ‘the longer route’. I usually gritted my teeth and went for the long route, although different people in the group chose different options from one day to the next. All of the routes were spectacularly beautiful on roads and paths that carried very little traffic. I soon learned that ‘undulating’, in cycle touring speak, is a euphemism for ‘hilly’! However, every uphill pull was invariably followed by an exhilarating downhill ‘freefall’ to take your breath away (or to recover it!). There were also long, relatively flat stretches when I could take in the scenery and enjoy the sunshine. There was usually a restful coffee break in some Italian village late morning and a further stop for a light lunch. Some days the lunch stop was a picnic, consisting of local fare purchased in one of the small shops or supermarkets. On other days we would lunch at a small Italian café, basking in the sunshine and enjoying freshly made paninis and a glass of the local vino rosso.

The hotels in which we stayed were all extremely comfortable and tasteful, usually in ancient buildings which oozed a sense of history and culture. They were located in typical Etruscan hill top villages which crowned the rolling landscape. The villages offered panoramic views of olive groves and vineyards or fields of sunflowers. These vistas have been immortalised in the works of some of the worlds’ greatest artists (as well as in films such as The Gladiator and Under the Tuscan Sun). The final climb to our destination was always rewarded by a well earned glass of beer.

The tour guides had selected some fantastic local restaurants for our evening meal. Tuscans take their food very seriously and the delicious dinners included fresh local produce, lovingly prepared. There was always plenty of it! The restaurants offered a good selection of the best local wines – wines for which the Tuscan region is justifiably famous. Several of the group purchased cases of their favourite vintages along the way.

The final day’s cycling was relatively short – although equally as spectacular – and gave everyone the opportunity to indulge in a spot of retail therapy. No chains or multinationals here though, only small and tasteful, individual shops with some great bargains in leather goods (handbags, belts, coats and shoes) plus some exquisite silk scarves and handmade jewellery. Local pastas, cheeses and olive oils were also popular purchases.

My body had adapted very quickly to the daily cycling regime and sadly, by the end of the tour, I wasn’t really ready to stop. I couldn’t have enjoyed a holiday more – the heady mixture of great cycling through wonderful scenery, fabulous food and wine, perfect weather and convivial company made for a perfect vacation. The question is – where will the next one be?

Dr Susan Faulkner
Cardiff, Wales.
Iron Donkey Guided Bicycle Tour of Tuscany 7th – 13th October 2005