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Pedaling through the hamlets and hilltowns of Southern Tuscany...terracotta rooftops, swaying cypress and golden valleys. No other region of Italy conjures up such classic Italian images. Known by the locals as the Terra di Siena, we bike through a landscape of lush greens, rusty reds and golden ochres. From Cortona to Lake Trasimeno, from Pienza to Montalcino, our routes head into the valleys and through the hamlets of an untouched Toscana. This is a land where farmers tend their fields, the locals gather in the piazza every afternoon, and the simple way of life is still treasured. Our biking is complemented by genuine Tuscan cucina: fruity green olive oil, panzanella and the smooth Brunello wine that has made Tuscany so famous.
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• Aperitivi in the gardens surrounding our 16th century villa
• A dish of homemade pici and parmigiano
• Tour and wine tasting at Avignonesi in their centuries old cantina
• Wandering the narrow streets of Pienza and Montalcino
• Biking along the cyprus lined paths of the Sienese Crete
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Day 1 & 2 Cortona & Val di Chiana
Transfer to Cortona, an ancient Etruscan hilltown that lays undiscovered along the edge of Tuscany and Umbria. Cortona boasts an historic piazza with Roman gates and Renaissance churches. As we bike under the Tuscan sun, we pass stone farmhouses and Renaissance villages that have been preserved with time. A private tasting of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is followed by a gentle ride along the shores of Lake Trasimeno, where Hannibal defeated the Romans in 217 b.c.
• Two nights at Villa di Piazzano, an elegant 16th c. manor hotel.
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Day 3 & 4 Pienza & Sienese Crete
Bold cypress trees line our route through the Val d'Orcia, where we cycle through a landscape that inspired Renaissance painters from Piero della Francesca to Raphael. Next, the town of Pienza, a sophisticated Renaissance gem designed by Pope Pio II. The following day is a dazzling ride through the Sienese Crete to the Abbey of Sant'Anna in Camprena. Optional routes through Monticchiello and Montepulciano or the Roman baths at Bagno Vignoni .
• Two nights at Relais La Saracina, an impeccably restored villa that we have reserved just for us. Amenities include a beautiful pool and superb views of the Tuscan countryside.
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Day 5 & 6 Montalcino
A winding gravel road leads us past a 15th c. castle before the chime of church bells signals our arrival into Montalcino. Rows of red grapes radiate from town and merchants shops line the streets, displaying their precious Brunello. Stop by anenoteca for a tasting before our farewell feast at Poggio Antico, an excellent restaurant with creative renditions of Tuscan favorites such as papardelle pasta al ragu' and wild boar in aromatic herbs.
• One night at La Vecchia Oliviera, a small inn built along the Roman walls of Montalcino.
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"Our sixth bike trip...this was the best. Excellent food, guides and hotels."
Steven & Dorothy Korshak
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Dates: May 11-16, Sep 7-12, Sep 21-26, Sep 28-Oct 3, Oct 19-24
See Tuscany Guest Chef Biking for additional departures.
Length: 6 days/5 nights
Level: 1 B
Daily Mileage: 15-38 miles on gently rolling to rolling terrain, some climbs.
Cost: $3780
Single Supplement: $800
Meals: All breakfasts, all dinners but 1; picnic lunch.
Hotels: 4 star Tuscan manors and country inns.
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