Tuscany by bike - from Pisa to Florence

The landscapes of Tuscany are some of the most beautiful and evocative in Europe, with rolling hills dotted with verdant vineyards and cypress trees lining the roads. Your cycling trip in Tuscany offers you incredible discoveries, discovering the art and architecture of the Renaissance. You are in the lands of great artists of the past, such as Leonardo da Vinci and composer Giacomo Puccini. The cities of Pisa and Florence are part of this exceptional stay. You will also visit picturesque villages where you can enjoy excellent Tuscan cuisine.
 
Points of interest:

• Pisa and Florence
• The history of art
• Gastronomic discoveries
• Panoramic landscapes
• Pinocchio park

 
Day 1: Arrival in Pisa

 
Individual arrival in the Tuscan city of Pisa. The city is famous worldwide for its Piazza dei Miracoli and its characteristic leaning tower and the bell tower of the city's cathedral. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, it notably offers a large number of monuments, a friendly and dynamic atmosphere.

 
Day 2: Pisa - Lucca (25/45 km)

 
Today you cycle north along the Serchio River for an easy stage through the landscapes of Tuscany by bike. For those who want to take a slightly longer route, you can reach Lake Massaciuccoli before reaching Lucca.
 
 
 
Day 3: Lucca - Montecatini (45 km)

Via a scenic road you drive to the small village of Collodi and then to the town of Pescia. In Collodi, where the author of Pinocchio spent his childhood, you will have the pleasure of visiting the famous Pinocchio Park (created in 1962) and the aristocratic Villa Garzoni. In Pescia you can stroll through the town among churches, palaces, Renaissance mansions and the local flower market.
 

 
Day 4: Tour of Montecatini (60 km)

 
This stage in the heart of Tuscany offers you two possibilities:

1.  You can relax in one of the most famous spa towns in Europe: Montecatini and stroll through the narrow alleys of the old town, located on a hill and accessible by a characteristic funicular.

• Follow a picturesque cycling route that will allow you to discover the Medici family villas, olive groves, vineyards and beautiful historic farms, passing through Vinci, Leonardo's birthplace (museum visit possible).

 
 
Day 5: Montecatini - Florence (50/60 km)

 
You can either reach Montecatini by bike or shorten the journey with a short train transfer to Pistoia, a city rich in Romanesque and Renaissance monuments and which has one of the most evocative squares of Tuscany: Piazza del Duomo (Piazza del Duomo) of the Cathedral). You reach Florence by bike at the end of the day to enjoy the city.
 
 
 
Day 6: Visit of Florence

 
You are in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and one of the most beautiful, rich in monuments and works of art. You won't have too much of this day to enjoy Florence, the capital of Tuscany. On this free day in Florence, you can visit:

• Piazza della Signoria and the monuments that line it
• the gallery of offices
• the Palazzo Vecchio
• Orsanmichele church
• the Duomo
• the Arno river and its famous Ponte Vecchio.

 
 
 
Day 7: Florence - Empoli - Pisa (40/65 km by bike + 40/65 km by train)

 
Today you can either leave Florence by bicycle to reach Pisa via a train transfer from Empoli or take a train to Empoli and travel to Pisa along the Arno River.
 
 
Day 8: Pisa
 

End of your cycling trip in Tuscany and departure after breakfast.
 
 
 
For reasons of organization, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and / or during your vacation. For example, along the way, you may encounter temporary deviations caused by road works, which cannot be foreseen; in this case please follow the directions you will find on site.

General informations :
 

• 8 days and 7 nights
• Standard version accommodation comfort level: 2 and 3 *
• Comfort level of comfort version accommodation: 3 and 4 *
• Prices for children: contact us.

 
The dates :
 

Saturday departures from 30/03 to 12/10/2024

• Low season: 30/03 to 19/04 and 28/09 to 12/10
• Mid season: 20/04 to 10/05 and 7/09 to 27/09
• High season: 11/05 to 6/09

 
 
Included :
 

• 7 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
• Application including maps, roadbook, points of interest and GPS tracks
• Luggage transport
• Telephone assistance service

 
Not including :
 

• Anything not mentioned in the "included" section
• Local tax (10 to 15 €)
• Train transfers
• Transport to the place of departure
• Dinners

 
The options :
 

• VTC or VAE rental
•  Additional night at the start or end of the tour
• Bike theft insurance (for rented bikes)
• cancellation insurance

 
 
 
Levels:

1 2 3 4 5 6
 
Ground :

The route takes place mainly on flat areas with hilly parts that do not have special athletic skills.
 
 
Recreational biking in mostly flat areas and only a few short climbs and descents. Little effort is needed, suitable for everyone.
 
Possibility to take the train on days 2, 3, 5 and 7.
 
Weather :

Hot and dry summers.
 
Technicality:
Cycling: 30 to 65 km per day or 3 to 5 hours of cycling.
 
 
Bibliography:

- Cycling maps and guides in Italy on cartovelo.com
 
 
Additional nights:

An additional night is offered to you at the start and end of the tour.
 
Food :

- Breakfasts: generous (coffee, tea, chocolate, milk, butter, bread, jam, orange juice)
- Lunch: not included
- Dinner: not included. Restaurants near the accommodation.
 
The bike :

- Rental bicycle: If you rent a bicycle, it will be given to you on the day of your arrival at the 1st hotel. A security deposit will be requested.
At the end of the tour, you will have to leave this bike at the last hotel and notify reception. We take care of his return.
 
- Personal bicycle: We do not recommend bicycles with small tires. Hybrid bikes and mountain bikes are excellent. Remember to check your bicycle before setting off.
At the end of the tour, you will have to take care of your own bicycle.
 
Assistance :

Assistance in the event of a breakdown (except punctures for which we do not intervene).
 
Luggage:

They are transported by a courier or by our team and limited to one piece of luggage per person. (max. 20kg)
 
Roadbook :

La Bicyclette Verte will send you a welcome documentation to access the start of your trip and including all the necessary information before your departure. You will also receive luggage tags and vouchers for the accommodations. 

For the trip, an access to an application with GPS tracks will be sent to you.

 
Transport:

- By train: Direct train from Paris to Florence in just over 10 hours. Direct train from Florence to Siena.
- By car: Siena is about 1200 km from Paris. Motorway to Siena.
- By plane: Florence or Siena airport.
 
 
Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.