Cycle Tuscany

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Florence

Arrive in Florence at any time.Explore the Tuscan capital that inspired the fathers of Italian Art - Cimabue and Giotto. It is the birthplace of the Italian language (Dante Alighieri) and the Italian Renaissance.

Day 2 Florence

Florence (Firenze in Italian), was founded in the first century B.C., and personifies all that is beautiful in Italian civilization. It is the capital of the Tuscany region with a population of approximately half a million people. The fathers of Italian painting, Cimabue and Giotto lived here, along with many other prominent artists. It is the birthplace of the Italian language (Dante Alighieri) and Europe’s richest cultural period, The Italian Renaissance. Florence’s cultural and historical impact attracts thousands of international travelers each year. In the summer, life in Florence can be found in the streets and squares. Outdoor cinemas, music, dance and theatre enliven most squares every evening. Your days can be filled with visiting the marvelous multicolored Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, the medieval Ponte Vecchio or the Medici Chapels. Take a break at Piazza della Signorina with a gelato or a coffee before hitting the vivacious Piazza San Lorenzo to bargain for discounted woollen and leather goods. Florence has much to offer.

Day 3 Cortona (L)

Estimated Travel Time: 1 hourIn the morning we will take an amazing bike ride through olive groves and historical sites and have a break at Fiesole. It’s a must for any visitor to this part of Tuscany and on a sunny day the view over Florence is spectacularly beautiful.Of Etruscan origin, as may be seen from the remains of its ancient walls, Fiesole was probably founded in the 9 C BC. In 283 BC the Romans conquered Fiesole and under their rule, it became the seat of a famous school of augurs, and every year twelve young men were sent here from Rome to study the art of divination. Rome typically drew heavily on the Etruscans for priests and augurs. It was an independent town for several centuries in the early Middle Ages, no less powerful than Florence in the valley below, and many wars arose between them; in 1010 and 1025 Fiesole was sacked by the Florentines, before it was conquered by Florence in 1125, and its leading families obliged to take up their residence in Florence. A considerable number of interesting finds from the Etruscan period - urns, bucchero, clay and bronze statues - together with other objects from Roman times are to be found in the Museum near the archaeological zone. We will stop for lunch with some local Tuscan wine at a beautiful hilltop restaurant, before heading onwards to a local winery and finally back to Florence in the afternoon.In the afternoon, we will pick up our luggage and travel by train to Cortona. Sitting 600 meters above sea level, high on a Tuscan hill above terraced olive groves Cortona is a perfect place to unwind and hike the gentle mountain paths. Cortona’s foundation is lost in numerous legends dating back to the classical era. The Etruscans took over in the eighth century BC, four centuries later the city fell to the Romans. After being destroyed by the Goths, several centuries later Cortona became a free commune before changing hands several times again, then being appropriated by the Kingdom of Naples and finally sold off to the Florentines, who held onto it. In the last 400 years, Cortona has changed very little due to limited space.

Day 4 Cortona

Go for a hike in the morning up to Fortezza Medicea, the highest point of Cortona and explore the quieter part of Tuscany, the stunning countryside south of Siena. On top of the hill take a deep breath and enjoy the magnificent views over the Chiana Valley, stretching south to Lago Trasimeno.Back home, spend a relaxing afternoon in Cortona discovering this authentic Italian village. This medieval town is a labyrinth of narrow winding streets with gorgeous palaces and several superb churches. Its museums are full of native and national pieces and for history lovers the Maec (Museum of the Etruscan Academy) is a must. In search for a souvenir? Excellent wine shops and boutiques will offer the appropriate gift for you.

Day 5 Siena

Estimated Travel Time: 2 hoursNow that you are well-rested, jump back onto your bike and explore a handful of medieval villages located in Arezzo. Pass through Val D'Orcia, Pienza, where there will be time for lunch, and Bagno Vignoni. Make sure to explore the sites, enjoy the thermal springs and spas and don't forget to sample the famous wine!Pienza – with the Val d'Orcia, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and World Cultural Landscapes – is a ‘touchstone of Renaissance urbanism’.Birthplace (1405) of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, a Renaissance humanist who later became Pope Pius II and who rebuilt the entire village as an ideal Renaissance town, Pienza represents the first application of humanist urban planning concepts, creating an impetus for planning that was adopted in other Italian towns and cities and eventually spread to other European centers.The Duomo (Cathedral), which dominates the center of the piazza, has a façade that is one of the earliest designed in the Renaissance manner. Though the tripartite division is conventional, the use of pilasters and of columns, standing on high dados and linked by arches, was novel for the time. The bell tower, however, has a Germanic flavor, as is the layout of the ‘Hallenkirche’ plan, a triple-nave plan where the side aisles are almost as tall as the nave. Pius, before he became pope, served many years in Germany and praised the effects of light admitted into the German hall churches in his Commentaries. Artworks in the cathedral include five altar paintings from the Sienese School. The Baptistery, dedicated as usual to San Giovanni, is located next to the apse of the church.Visit also Palazzo Borgia and Palazzo Communale, and don’t miss the Piccolomini gardens with a marvelous view over Val d'Orcia.Finally plunge into the warm natural water of Bagno Vignoni (Piscina val di sole), known since Roman times. Rest under a waterfall and enjoy relaxing hydrothermal treatments as you ponder on the unforgettable impressions of the day.

Day 6 Siena

Siena, built on three hills and surrounded by well-preserved walls, is filled with fine examples of Gothic architecture. It has one of the world's most unique main squares – the Piazza del Campo. This shell-shaped square houses the Palazzo Pubblico, the Torre del Mangia, and many other architectural treasures. It is also world-renowned for hosting the Palio, the famous horse race, which is an important part of Sienese identity, history and culture.Siena's cathedral, the duomo, begun in the twelfth century, is one of the great examples of Italian Romanesque architecture. Its main façade was completed in 1380. Its campanile and baptistery make a fine group. Inside is the famous Gothic octagonal pulpit by Nicola Pisano supported on lions, and the labyrinth inlaid in the flooring, traversed by penitents on their knees. Within the Sacristy are some perfectly preserved renaissance frescos by Ghirlandaio. Beneath the duomo, in the baptistery is the marvelous baptismal font with bas-reliefs by Donatello, Ghiberti, Jacopo della Quercia and other 15th-century sculptors. The Museo dell’Opera del Duomo contains Duccio's famous Maestà and various other works by Sienese masters. More Sienese paintings are to be found in the Pinacoteca. The Palazzo Pubblico, itself a great work of architecture, houses yet another important art museum.In between, take a rest at a local café and enjoy the gastronomic delights.

Day 7 Florence

Estimated Travel Time: 1.5 hoursToday, setting off from Siena, we explore the famous Chianti Country on our bikes, made famous for producing Chianti Classico. Riding through hills with amazing views of this gorgeous countryside, we pass through historical villages such as Castellini in Chianti and Diavole. In the evening we will travel back to Florence for a final night on the town.CastellinaThe origins of Castellina in Chianti go back to the 7th century B.C. A whole series of Etruscan villages and hamlets once existed along a major route following the crest that passes through Castellina and provided a link between the great cities of maritime Etruria – Vulci, Vetulonia and Roselle – and the markets of the north, particularly Spina, the most important trading harbor on the Adriatic and the gateway to the East.Many important archaeological finds have come to light in Castellina, particularly the imposing burial vault of Mt. Calvario, which measures about 53 meters across, just outside the town on the road to Florence. The hill gets its name from a little chapel that once stood on the summit, the last station of the Way of the Cross.Finally, don't forget the Gelato!Not to talk about Chianti Classico…