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[Chianti hills - credit: Sacred Destinations]

You will bike along the “Road of Wines”. Area famous for the production of Chianti. You will taste wine in the numerous wine cellars of the zone.

The characteristic of this trip is to join a bike trip with wine tasting along medieval places preserved as in their origin.

Details:

  • N° of days: One week
  • Road condition: Asphalted and dirt road alternate during the route
  • Bike type: Mountain Bike
  • Land characteristics: Hilly
  • Skill level: High
  • Arrival in Florence

Badia a Passignano
Badia Passignano - credit: FaP ;-)

1: Florence-Badia Passignano-Passo dei Pecorai

Distance: 28 km
From Florence transfer to Tavernelle by private vehicle. Here you will have the delivery of MTB.

Attractions: Your ride will include a visit to The Monastery of Passignano. It was founded by Sichelmo in 890, and was one of the first to receive, during the XI century, the monastic reform of Vallombrosa.

Wine tasting: You will taste three wine varieties and other native products of the area at the wine cellar of the Palagio castle.

Accommodation in a hotel in Passo di Pecorai, in the Greve municipality

View from Radda in Chianti
Radda in Chianti - credit: Conlawprof

2: From Passo dei Pecorai to Radda in Chianti

Distance: 36 km

Attractions: From Greve in Chianti square you will start your road wine tour. Here You can admire the characteristic shape of the square of irregular triangle.

You will cross the fortified medieval village of Montefioralle (LINK VILLAGES BIKE TOUR) and Visit the splendid villages of Panzano

Arrival in Radda in Chianti.

Landscape: Here you can admire the Chianti Classic, a hilly landscape varied and colorful.

What to see: Admire the Pretorio Palace of the ‘ 400 and the features remain of it walls and of the medieval towers.

Accommodation in a hotel in Radda in Chianti. LINK CHIANTI BIKE TOUR

Palazzo Publico
Siena - credit: drfist2001

3: From Radda in Chianti to Siena

Distance: 39 km

Attractions: Meleto’s Castle, an ancient fortification; Fortified village of Castagnoli; Castle of Brolio, Ricasoli baron property. Here you can have a tasting in the Ricasoli wine cellar.

You can admire:

  • Piazza del Campo and the Public Palace
  • Buonsignori Palace with the National Pinacoteca, where you can admire pictures of Duccio, Lorenzetti, S. Martini.
  • Cathedral built from the XII sec
  • Piccolomini Library
  • The Baptistery
  • The Museum of the Metropolitan Work, where admire: The “Maestà” by Duccio,
  • Giovanni Pisano, Jacopo della Quercia, Lorenzetti and Simone Martini.

Take your accommodation in Siena

Road leading to Podere San Luigi
Colle Val D’Elsa - credit: jmenard48

4: From Siena to Colle Val d’Elsa

Distance: 34 km

Attracions:

  • Sovicille
  • Monteriggioni’s castle, an ancient fortified village mentioned by
  • Dante Alighieri, in the XXXI canto of Inferno of his Divine Comedy
  • Abbadia an Isola. The town was an important place of pause along the Francigena Way and famous also for the church with two portals on the main facade, similar to the entrance of the church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
  • Castel Petraio

Colle val d’Elsa is an ancient Etruscan citizen allied since 1100 to Florence against Siena.
It had a great development from 1400 when began the most flourishing glass producer, taking advantage from the engine force of river Elsa. During the day You also visit to a handicraft laboratory of crystal recording.

Take accommodation in Colle val d’Elsa

This is Toscana!!!
Certaldo - credit: Fabio Gava

5: From Colle Val d’Elsa to Certaldo

Distance: 32 km

Attractions: San Gimignano, included in the Unesco world heritage list. This is a small hillside medieval village. Thirteen towers prove taht it was a strategic fortification

What to see:

  • Collegiate Church, consecrated in 1148,
  • The people’s palace (with its fine art collection),
  • The Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Sacred Arts.
  • Piazza del Duomo
  • Historical buildings
  • Collegiata church, dating to the 11th century and adorned with frescoes including The Creation by Bartolo di Fredi.

The great thing about San Gimignano is here is possible to find peace and tranquility in the neighboring countryside, and you can live the medieval atmosphere today lost in many historic place. Certaldo, a splendid medieval village of the Val d’ Elsa. Here you will take your accommodation.

6: From Certaldo to Tavernelle

Distance: 35 km

Attractions: Montespertoli, another medieval village. Today is possible to see its ancient access Gate, typical of a medieval town. This gate is surmounted by a round arch, and a square tower.
Arrival to Tavernelle to take your accommodation.

Transfer in Florence and end of the tour.