Florence and Beyond
Tour Details
- Destination:Toscani, Italy.
- Duration: 10 days.
- Arrives: 06/28/2024
- Departs: 07/10/2024
- Days of cycling: 6
- Usual daily distances: 60 km average.
- Terrain: Rolling hills
- Support vehicle: Rescue car for emergencies
- Tour staff: Guide/Mechanic.
This tour is featured around a predominantly Canadian Pro Tour team and the Tuscany region of Italy. But it has been drastically revised since the Hamas attacks on Gaza and what seems to be an escalating war in Israel and these safety issues raised red flags for me. The safety of our clients is of paramount importance.
However we have put in a lot of work on this project and feel that Florence being the center of the renaissance era has so much to offer beyond the start of a bicycle race. The Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature and art.
Why is it known as the Renaissance? European societies underwent huge changes in the 15th century, and so did art. In the 14th century, Italian artists began to revive the heritage of Greek and Roman Antiquity. This is why this period is called the “Renaissance”, a word which comes from the Italian Rinascita, which was first used in the 14th century. This tour will start in the city of Pisa in order to visit the tower, a UNESCO heritage site.
You will possibly have traveled from the eastern seaboard of North America and jumping onto a bicycle with such a jet lagg will not be idea. Give yourself time to become accustomed to local time by taking in Pisa and Florence before we ride in Tuscany. There is a certain romance to what we imagine 19th century train travel in Europe might have been like, but there is no denying the benefits of modern technology on Italy’s rail infrastructure. The country’s high-speed trains connect Italy’s major cities It is only one hour to Florence via the Frecciarossa another cultural experience to be had on this great tour.
Moving onto our villa in Tuscany you will experience 6 days of easy cycling tours through the quiet roads of the Tuscany
region, with guide and ride support. Steeped in Italian culture, of the city and country towns. This tour has much to offer
TOUR GALLERY
DAY BY DAY SCHEDULE
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1
Friday, Jun 28, 2024.
Arrive in Pisa by air. Bus to hotel B&B. Evening welcome dinner. Visit the Pisa Tower.
– Cycling: 0km.
– Accommodation: Hotel B&B.
– Meals Included: Dinner/ Breakfast.
2
Saturday, Jun 29th.
After breakfast take the Red Arrow train to Florence. Visit the statue of David. Bid a fond farewell to our Canadian riders. Visit the famous Gino Bartali Museum. Take the train to Faenza. Travel by small van to Locanda and fit the bikes there.
- Cycling: 0km.
- Accommodation: Hotel Locanda Camera con Vista.
- Meals Included: Dinner/Breakfast.
3
Sunday, Jun 30th.
Ride to Monticino 43 k. A bike track suitable even for those who are not super fit. It’s still a rewarding ride on so many levels because it will let you discover the ancient medieval village of Brisighella throughout its landmarks, especially the Torre dell’Orologio (the Clock Tower) and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Monticino and Pieve di Tho.
Brisighella’s landmarks all located on top of three hills challenging steeps climbs that are also part of an amateur race that is taken here annually, the Antica Via degli Asini Granfondo.
– Accommodation: Hotel Locanda Camera con Vista.
– Meals Included: Dinner/Breakfast.
4
Monday July 1st.
After breakfast ride to Rocca di Montepoggiolo 43k. Passing by the beautiful countryside of Santa Lucia delle Spianate and San Mamante, just before entering the very challenge steep called “the Sabbioni” that will get to Terra del Sole, a very nice village near the Thermal city of Castrocaro, characterized by a massive wall from the XIV century. That’s when you face the steep of Montepoggiolo, that on top, will lead you to its Rocca (fortress), a beautiful medieval archeological site.
– Accommodation: Hotel Locanda Camera con Vista.
– Meals Included: Dinner/Breakfast.
5
Tuesday July 2nd.
After breakfast ride to Ravenna 82k. Although this bike track, it’s a very easy one, with no steeps to climb and relatively short, it is also true that it’s ideal for trained cyclists who decide to partially rest their legs after the fatigues of previous biking days and at the same time, admire the beauty of Ravenna, rewarded and enshrined in recognition of early Christian monuments on UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.
Once in town, there’s also the possibility to leave your bicycles in custody in order to let you freely walk and enjoy the town.
– Accommodation: Hotel Locanda Camera con Vista.
– Meals Included: Dinner/Breakfast.
6
Wednesday July 3rd.
After breakfast ride to, Bertinoro 70k. This Bertinoro’s route is basically a completely flat bike track because it has only one little series of steep slopes at the end of the route, when we reach the Cesubeo Mount and before enter the small town of Bertinoro, a charming medieval village characterized among other things by the main square, Piazza della Libertà (Freedom Square) from which during a well-deserved break you can enjoy a unique panorama that includes the Cesena‘s Malatesta Fortress as well as the Adriatic Coast.
– Accommodation: Hotel Locanda Camera con Vista.
– Meals Included: Dinner/Breakfast.
7
Thursday July 4th.
Monte Maggiore 65 k. After passing through the village of Villagrappa and then Castrocaro Terme you get to the village of Dovadola from where we start climbing Monte Maggiore, a beautiful road with a remarkable view of the valley below.
From Castrocaro we get to Terra del Sole, a dense forest vegetation before facing the Piccolo Stelvio, a short steep (Piccolo means “short” named after the famous, and much longer, Alpine climb) with very challenging slopes and a series of turns typical of the climbs in Northern Italy.
– Accommodation: Hotel Locanda Camera con Vista.
– Meals Included: Dinner/Breakfast.
8
Friday July 5th.
Santa Maria in Castello 74k. This track follows the so-called “modiglianese”, a road that links the small city of Modigliana with the surrounded villages, and in particular with the very challenging steep of the fortress of the Count Guidi also known locally as “Roccaccia” or “Trebbio”.
On top of this climb there is also a monument to the cyclists. Leaving this hill, we pass by Dovadola and the mountain village of Rocca San Casciano from which you start climbing gradually toward the church of Santa Maria in Castello, an ancient medieval church built at the end of last century on the ruins of a castle “Trebbio”
– Accommodation: Hotel Locanda Camera con Vista.
– Meals Included: Dinner/Breakfast.
9
Saturday July 6th.
Bus to Pisa, stay at hotel B&B with evening meal included.
– Accommodation: Hotel B&B.
– Meals Included: Dinner/Breakfast.
10
Sunday July 7th
After breakfast, small bus to airport in Pisa. Depart Italy.
Cycle Rental
Road bikes are appropriate for this event, and they are available for renting at B&B Locanda Camera con Vista. Bike rental price: 6 days rental, 180 euro per bike.
Customize This Tour
With a group of 10 or more riders, Bicycle Breeze can offer the ability to customize a tour to suit your needs. Contact us to start planning your next great adventure.