Tuscany by bike

The roads wind romantically through the rolling hills of Chianti, past ancient castles and their vineyards, as well as picturesque towns. Since a motorway connects Florence and Siena, there is hardly any traffic in the land of Chianti Classico, with its Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) seal of quality. You can cycle to Greve or Castellina, preferably on a model with at least five gears, along roads lined with cypress or pine trees, enjoying unspoiled nature. In Greve's geometrically unique market square, you'll find olives, olive oil , cheese specialties, wine, and plenty of souvenirs featuring the ubiquitous black rooster. In Castellina, you can gaze out over the countryside from the city walls and take a break in one of the cozy hotels housed in old palazzi. On your cycling trip to Siena , don't miss the Castelli di Meleto and Brolio. Here you can also sample wine, Chianti , and Sangiovese.

Bike tour around the vineyards of Tuscany

Tuscany is of course a sporting challenge for cyclists. The different regions have different levels of difficulty. In the north, in the province of Lucca and the Garfagnana region, there are considerable climbs to be mastered. Cycling tours through Tuscany are a challenge that beginners should not, or should only expect with good preparation and professional guidance. Or you can make do with the bike paths in the Maremma and always stay close to the sea. The less ambitious athlete can enjoy relatively flat stretches that lead through picturesque coastal towns. But be careful: Here, too, there are towering hills with places worth seeing at the very top, of course. The sweaty driveway is rewarded by an incredible view of the sea and the expanse and of course by the relaxed drink of cappuccino in one of the many piazzas.

Cyclists can find good, detailed information online. The website www.radbild.de is a good example . Here, the author describes his own tours in great detail, accompanied by plenty of photos. His impressions of the most worthwhile places, in particular, align with our own experiences. This means that, in addition to the highlights of Siena , Lucca, and Florence , it's especially the smaller towns, naturally perched on hills, such as Volterra, Cortona, Pienza, Montalcino, Massa Marittima, Savona, and others. Of course, you don't have to cycle through Tuscany from north to south or west to east.

Many regions offer themselves to be discovered on day tours. Many holiday accommodations ("Agriturismo") offer bicycles, for example. T. free of charge. There is a difference between watching the landscape scurry past from the car or perceptibly experiencing and noticing every bump in the road and every little flower on the side of the road on a bike.

Free ferry transport by bike to Elba

It's also worth noting that the ferries to the islands of Elba (from Piombino) and Giglio (from Porto Santo Stefano) transport bicycles free of charge. A bicycle tour around the island of Elba is a real treat for cycling enthusiasts. The roads are easy to navigate, the sea views are breathtaking, and unless you're cycling in July or August, the traffic is light. You'll also find that the proverbial Tuscan hospitality extends even further to cyclists.

Bicycle city of Lucca

Lucca has something special to offer that doesn't exist anywhere else in Italy. A promenade has been laid out on the old city wall that surrounds the entire center. There are picnic areas everywhere and exits down to the city with its many towers. The best known is certainly the Torre Guinigi, on which holm oaks grow, but the Palazzo Pfanner with its playful garden is also a must-see. Incidentally, the city center is car-free, so nothing stands in the way of having fun on two bikes on a bike tour through Tuscany.

A bike ride on the coast

Cyclists on the coastal stretch between Marina di Carrara and Viareggio experience the Mediterranean Sea with its wide, white sandy beaches on one side and the peaks of the Apuan Alps on the other . Along the Etruscan Coast, popular seaside resorts like San Vincenzo invite cyclists to stop for an overnight stay. A cycling tour through Tuscany reveals the Maremma Coast as wild and unspoiled, with its unique, primeval forest-like nature reserve and romantic coves.