Cycling
Pisa, Florence and the villages of Tuscany

The city famous throughout the world for its Leaning Tower welcomes you. After settling in at your hotel, you can head to the scenic Piazza dei Miracoli to take a closer look at this bizarre bell tower, the city’s Cathedral next to it, the Baptistery, and the Campo Santo. The entire complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers, in addition to its valuable monuments, the friendly and lively atmosphere of a university town.

Today’s route is almost completely flat (25 km, difference in altitude +130m/-115m): an easy stage that takes you northward, pedaling along the Serchio River and through the Pisan countryside until you reach the village of Ripafratta and then the city of Lucca. For a more challenging ride, you can choose a slightly longer and more demanding route that skirts the eastern side of the Monti Pisani and then runs along Lake Massaciuccoli. Once you arrive in Lucca, you have the rest of the day and the entire evening to explore the city’s beautiful architecture and gardens. Don’t miss the Duomo with its beautiful bell tower, the imposing Piazza Anfiteatro, and the incredible roof garden on the Guinigi Tower, a corner of green that soars into the sky.

Shorten the stage You can shorten the stage by taking a train to Lucca from the Ripafratta station.

Today’s ride begins along the Serchio River bike path and then heads into the peaceful Tuscan countryside amid a landscape of hills, vineyards and olive groves. The route takes you to the ancient historic residences of Lucca’s nobility, inhabited over time by aristocratic families, cardinals and wealthy merchants. You’ll pass Villa Reale, Villa Grabau and Villa Mansi: architectural treasures that can still be visited today, along with their beautiful gardens designed as true works of art. Taking a scenic road, you then reach the small village of Collodi, where the author of Pinocchio spent his childhood. Here you can visit the famous Pinocchio Park, as well as the historic garden of Villa Garzoni. A bit more pedaling and you reach the town of Pescia, where you can stop for a stroll among Renaissance churches and mansions or for a visit to the original Hesperidarium botanical garden, the Citrus Garden. At the end of the day, the spa town of Montecatini, with its beautiful pedestrian-friendly old town and lively nightlife, welcomes you for an overnight stay.

Shorten the stage You can shorten the stage by taking a train to Montecatini from Pescia station.

Today offers you two choices: rest in one of Europe’s most famous spa towns or get back on the bike for a circular tour from Montecatini. If you don’t cycle, you can take a stroll through the narrow streets of the medieval village of Montecatini Alto, which can be reached by the historic funicular railway and its little red trains, Gigio and Gigia. If you decide to cycle, we offer a beautiful bicycle circuit that takes you through the typical Tuscan landscape among Medici villas, olive groves, vineyards and beautiful historic farmhouses until you reach the village of Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci. Here, it is worth stopping for a walk through the streets of the medieval center and a visit to the interesting Museo Leonardiano, before resuming your ride and returning to Montecatini.

Today’s itinerary is a bit more challenging than the others, but if you prefer a “softer” day, you can shorten the ride with a short train transfer to Pistoia (total length 50 km, elevation gain +240m/-250m), a city rich in Romanesque and Renaissance monuments and with one of the most striking squares in Italy: Piazza del Duomo. The first kilometers out of Montecatini are the most challenging, with the climb of Monsummano, a scenic climb among olive trees that leads you to the medieval village of Montevettolini. Descending along the plain of the Ombrone stream, the route then joins the main one coming from Pistoia. Immersed in the Tuscan plain, you pedal along country roads between crops and plant nurseries until you reach the Arno River, which accompanies you into the heart of Florence. The capital of the Renaissance hosts you for the next two nights; you just have to decide how to spend your time in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

Shorten the stage If you’re not up for a challenging ride, we strongly recommend shortening the stage by taking a train to Pistoia, thus shortening the stage by 15 kilometers, and avoiding the first 6 kilometers, which are very hilly.

If you want to enjoy stunning views of the city and the surrounding hills, you can ride along a short circular route today that offers a nice mix of Renaissance villas, Romanesque parish churches, cypress trees, and centuries-old olive trees: a condensation of everything the word “Tuscany” can evoke! If you wish instead to explore the city, you can visit the main monuments that make Florence such a jewel: the Duomo, the Baptistery, and Giotto’s Bell Tower. There’s also the elegant Piazza della Signoria with Palazzo Vecchio, Michelangelo’s David, and the art treasures of the Uffizi Museum. Finally, do not miss a visit to the grandiose Basilica of Santa Croce, for the perfect conclusion to a day filled with beauty.

Today, you’ll return to Pisa from Florence. To do so, you can avoid a long bike ride of more than 100 kilometers by taking one of two alternative routes. The first option is to take a train from Florence to Empoli and from there ride to Pisa (40 km, elevation gain +360m/-385m). This ride is very scenic and is on flat terrain along the Arno River.

Alternatively, you can ride directly from Florence to Empoli and from there take a train to Pisa. If you choose this option, a climb of a few kilometers awaits you to reach the highest point of the route, 286 meters above sea level. After a long descent to Montelupo Fiorentino, follow the river to the small, friendly town of Empoli. Although it’s less famous than nearby Pisa and Florence, a stroll through its orderly historic center reveals respectable architectural masterpieces, as well as elegant shops and historic establishments.

Before leaving Pisa, you could spend a few more hours touring its historic center by reaching the wonderful Piazza dei Cavalieri, the important buildings of the Lungarno Mediceo, and the famous “Tuttomondo” mural left by Keith Haring during his passage through the city in 1989.