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 GRAND TOUR FROM FLORENCE TO SIENA TO PISA 2010
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Code: L100.
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Here is a winning proposal to discover one of the most famous Italian regions, Tuscany. An area which is famous earth for its wines, its cities of art and the warm welcome of its inhabitants: the right combination of emotions, scents and traditions to be discover by bike. From Piazza della Signoria to Piazza dei Miracoli through Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra. After a short visit of Florence, the first part of the tour brings you in the heart of the Tuscany, along the "road of wines", area of production of the famous Chianti, where you will be able to have a break during the stages with tastings in the numerous wine cellars of the zone. After Siena the tour continues in Colle Val d' Elsa, the "Bohemia of Italy", then San Gimignano, famous for its towers adorning it, and Volterra, the city of the alabaster. Lastly, you finish in Pisa, the city of the hanging Tower.
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Program
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Day 1: Florence
Individual arrival in Florence, true jewel of the medieval and renaissance art, one of the most important of the world. Overnight in Florence.
Day 2: Florence – Passo dei Pecorai - 32 km
Today your adventure has beginning through the heart of the Tuscany, earth of art, scents, and traditions. Departure by bike from Florence to Impruneta, the caretaker city of the terracotta art, where is possible to visit ancient villas and the Basilica. After approximately 10 km you will reach Mercatale, small town surrounded by Chianti hills, you will willing to taste three wine varieties and other native products of the area at the wine cellar of the Palagio castle. Overnight in a typical hotel in Passo di Pecorai.
Day 3: Passo dei Pecorai – Radda in Chianti - 41 km
Today you will cover one of the best know areas of the Tuscany : "the road of wines". Departure from Greve in Chianti: the main public square with its original shape of irregular triangle, delimited by beautiful gallery, is still today an important exchange point. In particular in occasion of the Extension Market of the Chianti Classic, that every year take place here. You continue across the fortified medieval village of Montefioralle that dominates Greve, and then, after the splendid villages of Panzano, you reach Radda in Chianti. The Classic Chianti, situated between Florence and Siena, appears like a hilly landscape varied and colourful. Here the famous wine was born, during the Etruscan age. In Radda in Chianti it is possible to admire the Pretorio Palace of the ' 400 and the features remain of it walls and of the medieval towers. Overnight in hotel near Radda in Chianti.
Day 4: Radda in Chianti - Siena - 39 km
Today the tour moves from Radda in Chianti until Siena. The first stop of the day will be at the Meleto’s Castle, an ancient fortification transformed in the XVIII sec. into a magnificent typical villa of the Tuscan countryside. Cycling over the fortified village of Castagnoli you’ll continue until the famous Castle of Brolio, Ricasoli baron property, rich of suggestions from the other times. Here you can have a tasting in the Ricasoli wine cellar. In the afternoon you’ll reach Siena, famous for its Palio and that lays down on a cross road of hills creating a colourful scenery. Visiting the city you will meet some of the more remarkable monuments of Italy: Piazza del Campo and the Public Palace, Buonsignori Palace with the National Pinacoteca (where you can admire pictures of Duccio, Lorenzetti, S. Martini etc), the Cathedral built from the XII sec and covered from white and dark-green marbles. (And also) the Piccolomini Library, the Baptistry (with the source of Jacopo della Quercia) and the Museum of the Metropolitan Work (where to admire: The “Maestŕ” by Duccio, and works of Giovanni Pisano, Jacopo della Quercia, Lorenzetti and Simone Martini). Overnight in Siena.
Day 5: Siena – Colle Val d’Elsa - 28 km
Leaving from Siena and cycling through sweet small hills you’ll cross little villages like Sovicille. Before reaching Abbadia a Isola, the ancient Francigena Way flanks the Mount Maggio. Along the way you can have a sight of Monteriggioni’s castle, whose "cerchia tonda", of approximately 570 m of diameter erected in the 1213, was already noticed by Dante. Then you’ll arrive at Abbadia a “Isola”,(which means “Island”) whose name belongs to its geographical position in the past. 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. You’ll continue then until Castel Petraio, castle transformed in villa during the XV century, and from there to Colle Val d' Elsa, so called "the Italy’s Boemia". Colle val d’Elsa is an ancient Etruscan citizen allied since 1100 to Florence against Siena.
It had a great development from 1400 when the most flourishing fabrication of the glass began, taking advantage from the engine force of river Elsa. Possible visit to an handicraft laboratory of crystal manufacture. Overnight in Colle Val d’Elsa.
Day 6: Colle Val d’Elsa - Volterra - 47 km
From Colle val d’Elsa you’ll cycle to San Gimignano. The town rises high on a hill to 324 m above the level sea and dominates the Val d' Elsa: it is a splendid example of Medieval city remained intact in its urban order and must, without doubt, its tourist fortunes to the numerous towers that still adorn it. For its particularity it has been declared universal patrimony from the Unesco. The village, locked up in its walls, structure on two aces that are intersected to cross: from east to the long west the axis that goes from the Hill of the Tower to the Hill of Montestaffoli, from north to long south the axis that goes from Saint Giovanni Door to Saint Matteo Door where also the Francigena Way passes through. In the late afternoon you’ll arrive in Volterra, city with about 3000 years of history. Volterra is well know for its laboratories for the working of the alabaster and you can visit the Acropoli, the roman theatre and the walls around the historical centre. Overnight in Volterra.
Day 7: Volterra - Pisa - 51 km
Departure from Volterra for Ghizzano, village encircled from vineyards and centre of numerous wine companies. After approximately 2 hours cycling you’ll reach Calcinaia, anciently called Vico Vitri, because of the working of the glass pottery. Later the village changed name into Calcinaia in reference to the numerous lime furnaces. Still some kilometres and you arrive at Pontedera. Train transfer for Pisa, the city of the hanging Tower. Overnight in Pisa.
Day 8: Pisa
After breakfast end of the tour. Free time to visit the city: the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the famous hanging Tower.
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Map
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Cartina Firenze Pisa.jpg)
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Technicals caracteristics
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Terrain characteristics: hilly land, with some sweet climbs and descents (last stage mostly in descent). Global height of the tour: between 100 and 550 mt a.s.l., average duration of the stages: from 32 to 51 km per day.
Roads: 70% asphalted, few country roads not asphalted
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Departures: on Saturdays from April to October
Number of participants: minimum 2
Bike: city bikes
Luggage transport: yes
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Prices
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Prices per person |
€. |
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Tour in double room |
679 |
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Suppl. Single room |
244 |
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Suppl. half board, dinners on day 2-3-5-6 |
128 |
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Suppl. bike rental |
62 |
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Extra night in Florence or Pisa hotel*** in dbl |
67 |
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Extra night in Florence or Pisa hotel*** in sgl |
100 |
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Transfer Pisa – Florence day 8 (minimum 2 pax) |
50 |
Included: accommodation in hotels or farmhouses ***/****, as detailed in the programme, in double room with private facilities, Bed and Breakfast service, luggage transport, detailed description of the itinerary (road-book).
Not included: journey to/from Italy, lunches, dinners, drinks, bike rental, transfer by train Pontedera-Pisa; entrance fees, insurance, every extra and everything not explicitly indicated.
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![Send offer](engview_invia.php?titolo=GRAND TOUR FROM FLORENCE TO SIENA TO PISA 2010&codice=L100.&id=85®ione=Toscana&tipologia=In bici&descrizione=Here is a winning proposal to discover one of the most famous Italian regions, Tuscany. An area which is famous earth for its wines, its cities of art and the warm welcome of its inhabitants: the right combination of emotions, scents and traditions to be discover by bike. From Piazza della Signoria to Piazza dei Miracoli through Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra. After a short visit of Florence, the first part of the tour brings you in the heart of the Tuscany, along the "road of wines", area of production of the famous Chianti, where you will be able to have a break during the stages with tastings in the numerous wine cellars of the zone. After Siena the tour continues in Colle Val d' Elsa, the "Bohemia of Italy", then San Gimignano, famous for its towers adorning it, and Volterra, the city of the alabaster. Lastly, you finish in Pisa, the city of the hanging Tower.&foto=(210207160328)DSCF0075.JPG&cartina=(060907115021)Cartina Firenze Pisa.jpg)
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