Southern Tuscany Bike Tour - LifeCycle AdventuresFounded in 1313 the Abbey’s cloisters and , frescos alone make it a great stoppingoff - point. However, the real charm is in the

Introduction

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CUSTOMIZE ITINERARY

ur Tuscan bike tours are about simple pleasures perfectly executed. Like Tuscan

cuisine we use only the very best ingredients: vineyards, olive groves, warm weather and a visible history that dates back to before the Roman Empire.

I may be biased (Italy was where I led my first bike tour and my first son was born here), but for me there are few destinations that can offer such a complete cycling vacation.

Trip highlights include:

− The medieval hilltop towns of San Gimignano, Montalcino and Montepulciano,

− The postcard-perfect World Heritage Site of Val d’Orcia,

− And, at the end of the day, the food and wine.

In crafting your itinerary, our aim is to match your dates, your accommodation preferences,

your riding style, and incorporate any special requests you may have.

I hope you like this itinerary but please tell us how we can change it to make it closer to your ideal trip – custom itineraries and personal service is what we’re all about.

Once you are happy with your itinerary, I would be delighted to help

with restaurant reservations.

I look forward to welcoming you and sharing one of my favorite places to ride a bike.

Tony Blakey

Founder

O

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.lifecycleadventures.com/contact-us-2/

http://www.bbb.org/greater-san-francisco/business-reviews/sightseeing-tours/lifecycle-adventures-in-san-francisco-ca-204010

http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/outfitter_profile/id156

Why LifeCycle Adventures?


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What We Do Our unique blend of custom itineraries and personal service creates the perfect cycling vacation for those who want to explore on their own terms rather than being part of a large group.

From the moment you contact us until the end of your trip you will find us responsive, attentive and totally focused on ensuring you have the perfect cycling vacation.

Our expert guides live in the areas in which they operate and have the passion and dedication to deliver superior service and exceptional insight.

LifeCycle Adventures gives you the freedom, flexibility and knowledge to enjoy a more authentic travel experience.

How We Are Different

FEATURE LIFECYCLE ADVENTURES

TYPICAL GROUP TOURS

TYPICAL SELF-GUIDED TOURS

CUST

OM

ITIN

ERAR

IES

Routes Customized Some choice Some choice

Dates and Duration You choose Set Fixed

Accommodation You choose Set Some choice

Lunches and Dinners You choose Set On your own

Non-cycling activities You choose Some choice On your own

PERS

ON

AL S

ERVI

CE

Group size Your group 12 to 24 Your group

Ride Briefings At start in person, daily by phone Daily in person No

On-Route Support Van on call Van(s) trailing and guide on bike Limited

Private Excursions Yes No No

Pre- and Post-trip Transfers Yes Sometimes No



Itinerary


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Day 1 – Asciano to Montalcino he jewel in the crown for today is the abbey at Monte Oliveto Maggiore.

Founded in 1313, the Abbey’s cloisters and frescos alone make it a great stopping-off point. However, the real charm is in the bucolic setting. To get there you ride across a mix of open farmland, olive groves, and forests of pine, oak and cypress.

Your journey then continues across the Crete Senesi and into the breathtaking Val d’Orcia – an area so iconic of Tuscany that in 2004 the Valley was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Your route takes you close to Murlo – a tiny ring of houses that form a fortified village that has been faithfully restored. Buonconvento (“Happy Place”) makes for a good lunch stop. The town has a perfect walled medieval village at its center. From here it is a steady climb past bucolic swathes of vineyards to the archetypal hilltop town of Montalcino.

Those looking for more mileage will head south – through the Renaissance town of Pienza – and then deep into the Val d’Orcia to Radicofani. Radicofani has, perhaps, the most imposing fortress in Tuscany.

Montalcino is your overnight destination and is little-changed since the 16th century. The car-free center is a delightful maze of narrow streets and pleasant plazas. Through every archway you get glimpses of the surrounding pastoral countryside. It is also home to the esteemed Brunello di Montalcino – one of Italy’s best red wines.

Ride Options Highlights

Easy (with van transfer to Murlo) 15 miles with 1,700 feet of climbing

Intermediate 27 miles with 2,200 feet of climbing

Epic 70 miles with 7,200 feet of climbing

14th-century abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore

The restored, medieval hamlet of Murlo

The “happy” village of Buonconvento

Arriving – triumphant – into Montalcino

A glass (or two) of the renowned Brunello di Montalcino with dinner

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Itinerary


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Day 2 – Montalcino Loop Rides f you rode up to Montalcino yesterday, you may want to spend today relaxing and

enjoying the commanding views, the restaurants, cafés, churches and museums in this restful town.

For a change from cycling, you could hike down to the 12th-century abbey of Sant'Antimo. Its famed Gregorian chanting as well as its stonework and setting make it one of the most evocative abbeys in Tuscany.

For those who want to ride a little, the town of San Quirico is a pleasant 10 miles from Montalcino. San Quirico is a peaceful, rambling village surrounded by mostly intact 15th-century walls. As such it makes an excellent lunch stop.

For an intermediate ride, you will continue south from San Quirico to Bagno Vignoni. In the center of this tiny hamlet is an arcaded Renaissance pool fed by bubbling hot springs. Nearby, there is a public hot springs complete with soothing waterfalls.

Epic riders will head southwest onto the slopes of Monte Amiata where you “enjoy” a 15-mile climb up the shady slopes of Monte Amiata – Italy’s second highest volcano. To mix in a little culture, you can visit the 11th-century abbey of San Salvatore on the return loop.

You stay overnight in Montalcino.


Easy 20 miles with 2,000 feet of climbing



or

50 miles with 7,400 feet of climbing (up Monte Amiata)

12th-century abbey of Sant'Antimo

Peaceful San Quirico

Exploring Montalcino

Thermal springs at Bagno Vignoni

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Itinerary


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Day 3 – Montalcino to Montepulciano oday you ride between hilltop towns across countryside so stunning it’s listed as a world

heritage site.

There are a number of great sites on the way from peaceful San Quirico to the rurally idyllic Montichiello. The latter is a fantastic place for lunch: after strolling around the quiet streets and visiting the leaning watchtower of this walled village, enjoy a leisurely lunch at a restaurant with a terrace looking south across the bucolic Val d’Orcia.

From lunch in Montichiello, it is a very manageable seven miles to Montepulciano – so there’s no rush to finish your food.

For intermediate riders, Bagno Vignoni is a practical side trip. In the center of this tiny hamlet is an arcaded Renaissance pool fed by bubbling hot springs. Nearby, there is a public hot springs complete with soothing waterfalls.

If you need to ride more miles to be able to enjoy an outstanding lunch, you will head south into the volcanic mountain of Amiata. Here you can ride mile after hilly mile between tiny villages with both scenery and hills that will take your breath away.

Montepulciano is your overnight destination. The town is stunningly attractive from both afar (a cluster of red-brick buildings perched on a hilltop) and from within, where the main street runs almost a mile along a narrow ridge. The topology of the town provides outstanding views of the surrounding countryside down alleyways and from the back windows of its many cafés and restaurants.


Easy (with van transfer to San Quirico) 20 miles with 1,600 feet of climbing



Lunch on the terrace at Montichiello – a walled village with a leaning watchtower

Peaceful San Quirico

Thermal springs at Bagno Vignoni

Exploring the lanes of Montepulciano

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Itinerary


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Day 4 – Montepulciano Loop Rides ou might very reasonably choose to spend the day in Montepulciano. This

car-free town is perfect for strolling. Many cafés have terraces with fantastic views across the valley and beyond into Umbria. And there is no shortage of interesting sights: palaces, churches, piazzas and a cathedral.

For a relatively short ride, you might choose to visit the nearby town of Pienza. Conceived as a utopian “new town” by Pope Pius II, Pienza is a model Renaissance town. Pienza is also renowned for its Pecorino sheep’s-milk cheese.

An intermediate ride takes you back into the Val d’Orcia with its picture-postcard-perfect views of large rolling hills and cypress-lined driveways. In spring the fields are bright green, in summer they are full of golden wheat, and in fall the rich ochre clay is exposed by deep ploughing. At any time of year it lifts the spirits to ride across this terrain.

For a final epic ride, you might head down to Trevinano. The destination is not that remarkable in an area filled with beautiful villages. This ride is more about the journey – through forests, across farmland and past multiple small villages. You also get bragging rights to say that, in one day, you cycled through the regions of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio.

You stay overnight in Montepulciano.





The model Renaissance town of Pienza

Tasting 20 varieties of sheep’s-milk cheese

Cycling along the cypress-lined lanes of the Val d’Orcia

Touching down in Umbria and Lazio (epic)

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Itinerary


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Day 5 – Montepulciano to Siena fter enjoying the morning in Montepulciano (or after enjoying a

morning ride) you will be met by your guide for your transfer back to Siena or Florence – as specified on the logistics page earlier.

If you choose to ride, there is a fantastic short ride under the walls of the city. This ride takes you past San Biagio – a 16th-century church and High Renaissance masterpiece. Inside there is a painting of the Madonna that has been designated the Madonna del Buon Viaggio (the Madonna of the Good Journey), said to protect those touring in Italy!

After your transfer, both Siena and Florence have treasures enough to entertain for a day or more.

This is the last day of your tour with no overnight accommodation unless explicitly listed in the logistics page earlier.


Really Easy 3 miles with 250 feet of climbing




Strolling around Montepulciano

A morning cappuccino on a balcony with views across to Umbria

Riding (or walking) on small lanes under the walls of Montepulciano

Exploring the next stop on your trip: Siena, Florence or further afield

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Accommodations


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e spend much of our time visiting and revisiting accommodations. We then choose the properties with the best facilities and warmest welcome across a range of prices.

The Prices section explains how the star rating determines the cost of the trip. We typically book standard rooms with upgrades available on request.

Montalcino

Castello di Velona

(with some Exceptional Luxury rooms)

This resort, spa and winery sits at the end of a ridge above a bend in the Orcia River. Based around a military fortress that dates back to the 11th century, the hotel is an exercise in refined ambience and modern comforts. All the rooms face the breathtaking landscape of the Val d’Orcia.

NOTE: The resort is seven miles beyond (south of) Montalcino but has an excellent restaurant and beautiful spa.

Canalicchio Di Sopra

In an extremely beautiful setting – in the Val d'Orcia Nature Park – this estate is one of the most relaxing places to stay. All the apartments are nicely furnished and have fantastic views from their terraces. There are two outdoor saline pools. The estate also produces its own wine, including an excellent Brunello Reserva.

NOTE: The hotel is three miles before town and has an excellent, small restaurant.

SI Montalcino Hotel

This very recently renovated hotel is less than a mile outside of the medieval walls along a country lane. The hotel is perched on the side of a hill with fantastic views across to the hilltop towns of Pienza and San Quirico. Rooms are clean, comfortable and modern. There is a pleasant pool and terrace.

NOTE: The hotel is a mile from the center of town but has a good restaurant. There are also other restaurants nearby.

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Accommodations


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Il Giglio

In the historic old town, within the city walls, this family-run hotel is perfectly situated for exploring Montalcino. The rooms are small, comfortable and furnished in the Tuscan style: wrought-iron beds, beamed ceilings and tile floors. Many of the rooms also have outstanding views of the town and countryside beyond. The hotel has a good restaurant, though you are also just yards away from several other great eating options.

Montepulciano Villa Cicolina

Previously, this property was the country residence of a noble family of Montepulciano. The 16th-century building is now a charming hotel with views that will make you want to break out your oil paints. The infinity pool under the olive trees is perfect for relaxing after a day’s cycling. This is an outstanding choice if you are comfortable being a little outside of town.

NOTE: The hotel is one and a half miiles north of town but has a great restaurant that has a typical Tuscan menu. The handmade pasta and dessert are prepared fresh every day.

Villa Poggiano

Poggiano means “rest” in English and you would be hard pressed to find a more restful place than this beautiful boutique hotel just outside of Montepulciano. The property was restored by the current owner, who is also a gracious host. The hotel oozes Tuscan charm: from the cypress-lined drive to the marble pool with statues.

NOTE: The hotel is one and a half miles from Montepulciano and does not have a restaurant, so it is necessary to take a taxi into town for dinner (€15 one way). However, there are cooking classes at 4:00 PM Mon-Fri by arrangement that end with you enjoying what you have cooked for dinner.



Accommodations


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Meuble il Riccio

Previously both a palace of a noble family and an Episcopal seminary, this historic building is now an elegant inn right in the heart of the historic old town. All five bedrooms are elegantly and tastefully furnished. The owners could not be more accommodating, making this a perfect oasis for those who want to stay in the center of Montepulciano.

La Terrazza

Within the medieval wall, this inn makes a great base for exploring Montepulciano. The house is charming and the rooms simple, clean and comfortable. Your hosts are very welcoming and you are a stone’s throw from the Piazza Grande and many great restaurants. Breakfast is served in a pleasant garden terrace.



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Southern Tuscany Bike Tour - LifeCycle AdventuresFounded in 1313 the Abbey’s cloisters and , frescos alone make it a great stoppingoff - point. However, the real charm is in the