Italy Cycling - Tuscany & Umbria 8 nights

Day 2 | Montalcino Brunello Wine Country; Ride Distance 50 km

After breakfast, you can take your time before your first ride. The bike route is from Montepulciano to Montalcino via Petroio Castelmuzio, Montisi, San giovanni d Asso. Today you bike to the blessed land of the famed Brunello wines. The biking is challenging but one of the most beautiful rides in Tuscany: the little hamlet of Castelmuzio is the first stop for cafe break, then a steep climb to reach the ancient borgo of Montisi, natural bridge between the Crete Senesi and the Val d Orcia. Back in the saddle to enjoy a 7 km gentle downhill to San Giovanni d Asso, known as the white truffle town, where there is also a truffle museum! Another 10 miles, including a climb, and you finally arrive in Montalcino, sanctuary of Brunello wine. The town stands on a charming hill that will let you relish its natural wholesomeness, visit the century-old fortress, and admire the best wineries reviewed in specialized wine magazines. In the late afternoon, enjoy free time to roam the narrow streets in this picturesque medieval architecture hill town. Lodging at hotel Il Giglio or hotel vecchia oliviera in Montalcino, dinner on your own with suggestions. (B)

Hotel Il Giglio

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Montalcino

A charming retreat in the heart of Montalcino, a family-run Hotel in a warm and quiet building, faci...

Day 3 |Pienza & Abbeys; Distance 46 km

After breakfast, you will then mount your bike to ride from Montalcino to Pienza via Sant Antimo and Bagno Vignoni spa. You will first reach the monastery Sant Antimo with a 9 km gentle downhill, where you might catch one of several vesper services performed each day by the monks. Soon we start uphill and reach Castiglione d Orcia and follow a long downhill stretch to the enchanting spa town of Bagno Vignoni, a minuscule village whose ancient stone buildings cluster around a pool of warm thermal waters. Then push on to the town of Pienza past ancient vineyards, stone farmhouses and bright green pastures. Pienza is considered one of the purest Renaissance towns in the world. Lodging hotel il chiostro or Corsignano. Dinner on your own. (B)

Relais Il Chiostro

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Corso Rossellino, 26

Relais Chiostro di Pienza is situated in the heart of Pienza, a Renaissance city planned by Rosselli...

Day 4 | San Casciano Bagni; Distance: 53 km.

Today is completely out in the country on a quiet Tuscan ride: for the first 15 km you will ride downhill and after you have gentle rolling hills. Then you will see Radicofani medieval and enchanting village with a 1200 population. After lunch (on your own) at this hill town, continue to small outlying district of Celle sul Rigo with its majestic 13th century tower and an unforgettable view. A few kilometers more and you arrive to San Casciano Bagni hot spring. The spa is very old and in town there is an impressive town hall of renaissance era. The historic centre worth a visit with its characteristic hill town-plan of alleys and small piazzas. Away from the centre, near the Spa, the Chiesa Basilicale, which dates to the year 1000, is of great interest. But though San Casciano, immersed in a lush and uncontaminated nature, is a favourite with farm holiday visitors, it should not be forgotten that a great many tourists come for spa cures such as inhalations, baths and mud treatments. You move on to lodging at an Agriturismo, la crocetta in San Casciano Bagni. Dinner on your own.(B)

Agriturismo La Crocetta

San Casciano dei Bagni

"La Crocetta" is a small stone building built in 1935 and completely restored in 1992. The large ga...

Day 5 |Orvieto; Distance 48 km Via Allerona and Castel Viscardo

Today you will pass into Umbria after a short downhill- just after the village of Trevinano- you will be in Umbria. Across a park and forest you then arrive at Allerona, immersed in the wood-covered hills of beech, ilex, and juniper trees. Visible here are the ruins of the Castle of Meana, home of the homonyous barony, a small fortress, known as rudere dell Armata and the Bisenzio Tower. Back on the back again, you can next enjoy the long downhill of the day. But of course, there is another climb to Castel Viscardo. By late afternoon you'll see Orvieto, looming ahead on its strange plateau, crowned by the cathedral of Santa Maria, considered by one and all to be among the very finest churches in all of Europe. Loging at hotel Piccolomini or Il Virgilio; dinner on your own again, but suggestions always provided. (B)

Hotel Virgilio

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Orvieto

The hotel is located in the heart of the small town of Orvieto, in the historic center, in front of ...

Day 6 | Todi, Distance 46km.

After breakfast, you will ride from Orvieto to Todi via Prodo and Colonnetta. At the end of this unique excursion you'll take the customary uphill incline leading into Todi, whose proximity is heralded by the wonderful Santa Maria della Consolazione, a magnificent Renaissance church set amidst shrubs and treetops on the outskirts of town. Todi still has almost all of its medieval walls, and its pristine charm has made it a favorite country home of wealthy Romans and artists, as well as a host of artisans who have enlivened its streets with their shops. Loging at the hotel Bramante or hotel Fonte Cesia. Dinner on your own. (B)

Hotel Bramante Todi

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Todi

To stay at the Hotel Bramante means treating yourself to an unrepeatable mixture of art, culture and...

Day 7 | Montefalco; Todi to Montefalco via Trevi, distance 55 km

Today is dedicated to the quintessential Umbrian delicacy: the medieval hilltown. After bidding farewell to Todi, you're off to visit Trevi, it rises up on a hill dominating the plain where the river Clitunno flows, between Foligno and Spoleto. Your destination is the Balcony of Umbria: Montefalco. Extremely tiny, it occupies a hilltop placed so strategically that majestic views are available at the end of every street. Along the way, you breeze past a few isolated rural churches and through a couple of towns too small to even make it onto the map. Among the most important typical products in the city we should absolutely mention the Sagrantino of Montefalco wine. The cultivation of vineyards in this territory, in particular Sangiovese, dates back to the pre-Roman era. Lodging at country estate Villa Pambuffetti on the outskirts of Montefalco. (B)

Hotel Villa Pambuffetti

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Montefalco

Situated in Montefalco, this hotel is in the same area as Church of Santa Maria Infraportas, St. Nic...

Day 8 | Assisi, Spello & Torgiano
bike ride to Torgiano via Assisi and Bevagna, Distance 52 km

Today is expressly designed to allow you plenty of time in Assisi. You begin with a nice downhill ride into Bevagna and you will surely want to stop in this picturesque hamlet at whose nucleus is one of the most authentic Romanesque town squares in Italy. 13 km later you get in Spello, not-to-be missed: among the neighbouring cities, this is the one which preserves the major number of monuments testifying to the Roman era; for example, the town walls, which later became the foundations for the medieval walls, the ruins of the theater and the amphitheater, the thermal baths and the splendid town portals A short climb up to the famous town of Assisi, hometown of Saint Francis, which is perched on an outcrop overlooking the valley and gleaming soft pink against the dark-green backdrop of wild Mount Subasio. You will want to explore the citys revered and very beautiful churches, its romantic castle and impossibly narrow streets. visit Saint Mary of the Angels built in the 16th century, it houses the very ancient Porziuncola, a tiny rustic chapel where the saint founded the first Franciscan friary. Enjoy the downhill from Assisi to the valley and 10 miles later you arrive at the beautiful and tiny village of Torgiano. Lodging at 5 star hotel le Tre Vaselle.

Hotel Le Tre Vaselle

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TORGIANO

At Le Tre Vaselle even the walk to one's room is a small journey-within-a-journey: halls are decorat...

Day 9
Optional short bike ride to DERUTA, CASTELLEONE, BETTONA. Distance 30 km. This little excursion allows you to visit the pottery and artistic town of Deruta where ceramics have been part of the history of Italian pottery. They gained worldwide fame during the Renaissance thanks to their creative and qualitative excellence. Back to hotel where you leave bikes and continue your trip – we suggest to stop in Perugia. We can recommend transport back from here depending on your destination.