Tour bike of the Cinqueterre

Today we leave Lido di Camaiore (Coast tuscany)and transfer by train to La Spezia (50 km.) and visit:

-  Monterosso - 38km, 650m –or- 56km, 1300m
Today we enter the Cinque Terre, the Five Lands, isolated from the outside world until about one hundred years ago, when the railway line was built.  To our delight the villages and the characteristic Ligurian culture  are conserved virtually unchanged.  Monterosso has the best beaches of the Cinque Terre villages and the most wine shops, artisan shops, hotels and restaurants. The village is divided into two parts from San Cristoforo hill and the old part of the village, protected by a rock spur, still presents the maritime village.  We suggest a visit to the church of Capuchin Father, from which one can admire a wonderful panorama of the village and the promontories which enclose the Cinque Terre. The church has a painting of the Cambiaso and a "Crucifixion" attributed to Van Dyck.

 -  Monterosso - Active rest-day--riding, hiking, swimming, diving, train rides or boat rides.  Here are some highlights for today’s exploration…

Village of Vernazza
Vernazza has a natural pier with an amphitheatre shape making it perhaps the most picturesque village of the Cinque Terre. Vernazza was a Roman installation and had a significant strategical importance during the age of the Maritime Republics in Genoa. It was also famous for its carpenters. We suggest a walk in the village that is dominated by a watch tower and the "Castello" remains. In the small square, overlooking the seaside, there is the church of Santa Margherita di Antiochia.

Village of Corniglia
Placed on a steep promontory, with two exclusive small beaches at its sides, Corniglia can be reached from the railway through a long flight of steps leading to the village (an elevator is being built). One suggestion is a visit to the Church of San Pietro (1334), which is considered one of the most significant monuments in the gothic-ligurian style of the Cinque Terre and a view the Belvedere, an enchanting terrace on the seaside.

Village of Manarola 
The village of Manarola is surrounded by vines and is situated along a stream. The wine of Manarola is very famous and the "Via dell’ Amore" starts here: an easy to walk, paved path a distance of two kilometres, connecting Manarola to Riomaggiore. In the upper side of the village, don't miss the church of San Lorenzo (1338) with its beautiful rose window dating back to the 14th century.

Village of Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore, which is the most eastern and the nearest village to La Spezia (connected by a scenic road), is named after the stream crossing it. It’s interesting to see the seashore and the upper side of San Giovanni Battista, with its two wonderful twin doors made of marble, which are placed in its southern side and which date before the church itself. Above the village, the Sanctuary of "Madonna di Montenero" stands out, built on the homonymous promontory and which is the last of the gulf the Cinque Terre. The Tramonti area, which goes from Portovenere to Riomaggiore, has been made into National Park of Five Lands.  After a stroll on the Via dell’Amore (Lovers’ Way) between Manarola and Riomaggiore, dinner on your own is a must. Regular train connections between the villages make it possible to wine and dine at your personal favorite village.   So, enjoy a beautiful sunset and a wonderful meal befitting the five lands of romance. 

 – Portovenere  70km, 500m
Today we traverse high above the five villages of the Cinque Terre as we cycle to the Roman era port town of Portovenere.  Utilized in the 11^th century by the maritime republic of Genoa as a defensive stronghold during the long Genoa/Pisa war (1119-1290), Portovenere developed the “fortress-houses” on the seafront that we see today.  The commune of Porto Venere includes the villages of Le Grazie and Fezzano. The place name Le Grazie derives from the Monestery of Nostra Signora dell Grazie (Our Lady of Graces), founded by Olivetan monks.  In the 18^th cenery on the Varignano promontory the Republic of Genoa built a lazaret which was later transformed into a military defence.  The place name Fezzano was first recorded in 105 and the layout is typical of Ligurian maritime villages.  With the Genoan occupation of Portovenere and resumption of safety at sea, the inhabitants of Fezzano established stable settlements on the seafront. By the early 18^th century Fezzano boasted a fleet of forty sailboats.  Tonight we’ll enjoy seafood specials on our own at any of the wonderful restaurants in town.  Be sure to try the Portovenere mussels (grown just off shore) or the octopus that abounds because of the high concentration of plankton in the waters offshore. 

-  Bocca di Magra  40km, 390m
The Golfo della Spezia serves as the backdrop for our ride past the shipyards of la Spezia to the Poets Cove.  We retrace our route toward la Spezia where a visit to the Museum of Naval Technology, the Public Gardens or the Piazza Sant’Agostino is recommended.  The Via del Prione is one of La Spezia's busiest streets, a pedestrian thoroughfare lined with shops, where the young promenade on a Saturday afternoon.  A short climb to Pitelli yields a wondrous view of the Poets Cove as we then descend to Lerici, where we can enjoy lunch in the shadows of the poets – Percy Shelly, Lord Byron and DH Lawrence.  The climb from Lerici to Serra is rewarded with superb views of the small villages that dot the coastline.  The traverse to Montemarcello brings us to a fork in the road; the left fork takes us to Ameglia before descending to Fiumaretta, while the right fork descends through the forest to Bocca di Magra before cycling on to Fiumaretta.  We’ll pack our bikes and relax by the pool before our farewell dinner tonight.

Tuscany Bike - Bike Tuscany

Coastline - 7 Nights independent tour graded wanderer / explorer . Explore the fabulous coastline and internal countryside south or Livorno not far from Pisa. Each day you will have various options to explore allowing you to cycle longer or shorter depending on your interests. Great beaches and friendly family run hotels allow you to sample the typical Italian culture of Tuscany.

Take one of Tuscany's most romantic biking and walking routes, from the charming Tuscan city of Lucca, one of Italy's most refined cities, to the beaches of the Tuscan coast, the quaint fishing villages of the Cinque Terre and the picturesque harbor at chic Portofino. Its often said that going to Lucca and not cycling around its tree-lined walls is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eifel Tower. Start your Tuscany to Cinque Terre odyssey with the sounds of it's favorite son, Puccini, as you join the locals on their afternoon stroll around these walls. Visit one of its many famous 18th-century villas built during its silk producing glory days. Ride the flat Tuscan landscapes surrounding Monte Pisano, with its lush forests and award winning olive groves sprinkled with medieval fortified castles, remainders of Lucca's turbulent history with Pisa. Cycle the beaches of the Tuscany's Versilian coast to chic Forte dei Marmi, one of Italy's favorite beaches for the in-crowd. Walk the romantic trails overlooking the azure colors of the Mediterranean sea and the quaint fishing villages and panoramic harbors of the Cinque Terre, and relish in the luxury of Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Relax to the operatic sounds of Puccini, breath in the salt air, dine on the bounty of the sea, sample a vineyard's selected reserves and sit back to enjoy a typical Italian pace, a relaxing lifestyle designed to leave one refreshed and rejuvenated.

Versilia

Follow quiet laneways around the base of lush Monte Pisano past hidden villas, monasteries and medieval hilltop villages, to ancient Lake Massaciuccoli. Pass along its reed filled shores framed by the olive groves of Lucca's prized extra-virgin olive oils. Stop by Torre del Lago for a informative visit of Puccini's lakeside home and hunting lodge. Arrive in Viareggio, the Tuscan seaside and its tree lined promenades. Why not have lunch at the fishermen's harbor where today's catch will have just arrived. Follow along the coast with its palm trees, flower gardens, 19th-century villas and expansive sandy beaches to Forte dei Marmi, Tuscany's most chic seaside town with elegant shops, beautiful people and some of Tuscany's most creative restaurants beckoning for your attention. Relax by the near sea or meander along the beach at Hotel Eros, one of  Lido di Camiore next to Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio  most prestigious properties

Lucca / Pisa (50/70km)

Our last day of pedaling takes us to Pisa where you can visit the Leaning Tower and the Piazza of Miracles. Our route to Pisa takes us by Lake Massaciuccoli, where Puccini wrote many of this operas. After a stroll through Pisa, head back to the less-touristy town of Lucca to enjoy an evening passeggiata along the main pedestrian way. We'll celebrate our adventure across Italy with a final dinner together this evening. Distance: 61 km (38 miles).

After lunch we bike through vineyards past the castle of Nozzano and across the Colli Pisanesi to the Tyrrhenian coast. We spend some time exploring the Maremma region that was a favourite of Puccini. In the afternoon, we enter Pisa with its many wonders.

Garfagnana /Alpi Apuane(100/120/160 km.)

There are several opportunities to carry out tours by mountain bike along the paths and the dirt roads within the Park. The FS railway lines train+bike service is very interesting; all the trains of the Lucca-Aulla line and various trains of the coastal line grant this service which gives the opportunity to carry out itineraries by using the train to return to the departure point. Here you are some of the most known and charming itineraries, none of which has specific trail markers; it is advisable to have a good cartography or a detailed guidebook.

Florence / Firenze

.Florence is in every way the perfect city to roam on foot. The close proximity of its antiquities adds an element to its ambience no other city can claim. It is as if you could meet Michelangelo just around any corner in this cradle of Renaissance art.There is no way to avoid this wonderful sense of witnessing an incredibly rich historical past brought to us in modern times. Late in the afternoon, after the setting sun bathes every building in a rosy glow, we meet back at the hotel again for a welcome cocktail and our first meal in this wonderful city.

Today we leave Lido di Camaiore (Coast tuscany)and transfer by train  to our hotel in Montecatini . We get fitted to our bikes and explore this interesting spa town with its hot springs.

Mont. Terme/Vinci / Mont. Terme (55km)

Along quiet paths we bike through olive groves to Vinci, the birth place of Leonardo and after an excellent lunch and looking at some of Leonardo’s wonderful creations, we bike back to Montecatini Terme.

Montecatini Terme / Lucca (60km)

Today we take the train over the steep hills to the ancient city of Lucca (lido di Camaiore) and explore its wonders by bike and on foot.

Pisa / Casciana Terme(40km)

After a final goodbye to Pisa, We ride inland on top of the banks of the Arno river and after crossing a wide plain and a few low hills we reach Casciano Terme, where we can enjoy the wonderful hot springs after a long day in the saddle.

Casciana Terme /San Gimignano (55km)

Through vineyards and across gentle Tuscan hills we bike to San Gimignano where every noble family possessed its own high-rise tower.

ven the nicest vacation comes to an end.
Have a save journey home.

Arrivederci e mille grazie

Tour bike of the Garfagnana

Castelnuovo di Garfagnana - Gragnanella - Sillicano - Careggine - Vergaia - Poggio
Itinerary with demanding stretches going through characteristic villages with wonderful views over the Apuane. Charming descent towards the lake of Vagli.

• Average walking time: 4.00 hours
• Length of the route: Km 22
  
  

• Average walking time: 4.30 hours
• Length of the route: Km 37
  
  

• Average walking time: 6.00 hours
• Length of the route: Km 45
  
  

Tour of Mt. Corchia
22 km-long demanding itinerary to avoid during the winter.

A 7 Night Group based mountain bike holiday . The tour is in the hidden valley of the Garfagnana in Northern Tuscany. One will ask you where you are going, and they, more than likely will have never heard of this area. This is good for us and you , off the beaten track of Tuscany, but close enough to still reap the advantages. Our area, surrounded by 2 mountain ranges, the Apennines and the Alpi Apuane, make for ideal biking conditions . The routes we use are all way marked trails by CAI, the alpine club of Italy and drovers trails, fire tracks and medieval paths. Riding through beach and old chestnut woodland, to open mountain tracks to the tops of glorious peaks with sea views and magnificent inland views of all Garfagnana. It is a special area, and this one week tour gives you a perfect insight into the Garfagnana, enough to make you come back again to finish what you missed the first time! Days can be made longer at clients wishes, adding in single track sections and other types of terrain.