Cycling and Mountain Biking in Italy

Experience Italy by bike. By bike, you can traverse the characteristic hilly landscape, stop in a picturesque village, race vigorously through the vast forests and mountains on marked trails, or simply head to the beach and enjoy the sun and sea.

Italy is vast and lends itself perfectly to all types of cyclists and mountain bikers – in the mountains in the north or in Tuscany and Umbria, but also in Southern Italy, with its hills and plains. Below, we have highlighted Tuscany.

Experience Tuscany by bike

The Tuscany region in Italy is a very suitable area for those who love cycling tours and wish to spend a cycling holiday here. A cycling holiday in Italy combines breathtaking nature with art and culture that are inextricably linked. Tuscany possesses a historical and artistic richness that blends perfectly with nature.

From the Tyrrhenian coast to the Apennine mountain ranges, there are cycleable hills everywhere that are best traversed slowly to fully take in the beautiful scenery. During a stop, admire the small village church with frescoes, cycle through vast forests, experience the strategic location of the historic villages, or enjoy the waves breaking on the beaches. Mountain bike routes have been marked out throughout Tuscany. Geographically, Tuscany can be divided into three major regions, stretching from north to south.

First, the coastal region, which consists of: the Tuscan archipelago and the Tyrrhenian coastal region with the lower mountain ranges – if you then head inland, you will find beautiful hills; and finally, thirdly, there is the Apennine mountain range with diverse valleys and the true mountain region, with peaks of over 2000 meters. The cycling routes and/or mountain bike routes found here in each area vary in difficulty, ensuring that everyone can participate in these cycling tours as well as mountain bike tours. Fancy cycling in Tuscany? Choose one of the accommodations in the right-hand column for a stay during your cycling holiday in Tuscany, Italy. Of course, you can also submit your wishes to us and let us advise you on a suitable holiday home. Below are our cycling tips.

Cycling in Pisa

Cycling enthusiasts can very easily rent a bike via Cyclopi, The city of Pisa's bike sharing service. Spread across approximately 15 docking stations throughout the city, the red and white bikes are ready to hit the road, including at the train station and the airport. After use, you return them just as easily to one of the docks. The only requirement is that you create an account in advance, which you link to your credit card. The information point is located in the Tourist Information office at Piazza del Duomo 7. Also read our blog about the popularity of Pisa. Exploring Pisa is easy from Villa LimoneA nice holiday home for a friends or family getaway within walking distance of the village of Calci, which is about 20 minutes from Pisa.

Cycling route Val di Chiana – Sentiero della Bonificia

Facilities for cyclists are much scarcer in Italy than in the Netherlands. However, there is one clear exception: the Sentiero della Bonifica. A cycle path through the Val di Chiana, ideal for cycling trips to Tuscany.

Long ago, the small river Clanis flowed into the Tiber. Around the 11th century, it began to silt up, causing the water to pool in the valley and turn into a swamp. The result: it became a breeding ground for malaria mosquitoes. The only solution was to drain the area ('bonificare', hence the name). Countless engineers, agronomists, and architects tackled the problem and devised a central drainage channel, the Canale Maestro. This canal now flows into the nearby Arno.

Just as Dutch as the draining of an area is, so too is its current purpose. The path, which runs from Arezzo The route to Chiusi is, in fact, extremely suitable for cycling. The 62-kilometer route leads past beautiful landscapes, ancient Etruscan finds, and Tuscan farmhouses. Since the elevation difference over the entire length is only twenty meters, it is an excellent route for novice cyclists and families with children who want to spend their cycling holiday in Italy.

Cycling in the Val di Chiana is like a journey through time. For here lies the heart of Etruscan civilization. The road leads past centuries-old city walls and necropolises such as Cortona and Castiglion Fiorentino. In the former, a Tabula Cortonensis dating from the 3rd century has been preserved: a contract for the sale of lands between families from the region. In Castiglion Fiorentino, enormous sandstone blocks can be admired. They were used to build the city walls. Somewhat more recent history can also be found there: the Roman Ponte a Buriano is in all likelihood the bridge Leonardo da Vinci used in the background of his Mona Lisa.

The route in the Val di Chiana is freely accessible to both cyclists and walkers. The area is easily accessible by both car and train. It is possible to rent a bicycle on site, but you can of course also bring your own. There are various accommodation options in the region, for example around Arezzo of Siena.

The best travel periods for this cycling holiday in Tuscany are spring and autumn. The path offers hardly any shelter, meaning you cycle in the full sun during the summer months, and that can get quite hot!

Read more about the Sentiero della Bonifica route in our blog or visit the website.

L'Eroica – heroic cycling race over 'strade bianche'

For the more experienced cycling tourist, there is the L'Eroica, around Siena. The L'Eroica (also read our blog The L'Eroica is an annual cycling spectacle featuring a route that traverses the most beautiful roads in the Chianti, Valdarbia, and Val d'Orcia, including sections of 'strade bianche'. These 'strade bianche', or white roads, are unpaved roads with a surface of white pebbles. Old times are revived with this race, as there are strict criteria for participation: you may only enter if you possess a “L'Eroica” bicycle!

Article 6 of the participation regulations

Only cyclists with a L'Eroica bike may participate. L'Eroica bikes are bikes that have the following characteristics:

Road racing bikes, built before 1987 (no cross or trial bikes)
Steel frame (only ALAN or VITUS aluminium frames with screwed or glued connections are permitted)
Gear shifters must be located on the frame tube.
Pedals with toe clips and straps
Brake cables must run outside the handlebars
Wheels must have at least 32 spokes with a low profile.

The participants not only arrive on 'vintage' bikes but also dust off their vintage cycling gear. It is a fantastic experience to watch or experience (a part of) this heroic (L'Eroica) race.

Participants can choose from various routes: 38 km (approx. 3 hours, elevation gain of approx. 700m), 75 km (approx. 4 hours, 1900m elevation gain), 135 km (approx. 10/12 hours), 205 km (approx. 15 hours, 3700m elevation gain, truly 'heroic').

If you would like to ride (part of) this route on your own and experience the feeling of the L'Eroica, you can do so. There is also a permanent route, for which directional signs are posted at intersections. However, for a small fee, you can also purchase a downloadable version of the L'Eroica route booklet or have one sent to you by post.

The Strade Bianche capture the imagination; since 2007, there has also been an annual professional cycling race, the “Strade Bianche“, for men and, for the past two years, also for women. The start is in Siena (Stadium/Medicean Fortress) and the finish is also in Siena at the Piazza del Campo. The race covers 175 km, of which approximately 62 km are on 'strade bianche'. In the past, the race has been won by famous top riders such as Fabian Cancellara, Patrick Gilbert, and Wout van Aert.

Tirreno Adriatico Cycling Race

Another cycling race for professional riders is the Tirreno Adriatico (usually around March each year). It is a tour, but on paved roads along the Tyrrhenian Sea (“Tirreno”) to the Adriatic Sea (“Adriatico”).

Tour of Italy

In 2017, the 100th edition of the famous Giro d'Italia took place. In this context, the Giro traversed a large part of Italy, starting in Alghero on Sardinia. Subsequently, it passed through Sicily, Calabria, Northern Italy (the Stelvio), and Florence in Tuscany, among others. Naturally, with the grand finale in Milan. Undoubtedly, we will not soon forget who received the pink jersey and the accompanying large trophy there: our very own Tom Dumoulin. The start, the Grande Partenza, of the Giro regularly takes place in countries other than Italy. Click for the complete program.

Tuscany also has its own tour for professionals, the Giro della Toscana, a two-day road race held every year around September. The tour has also been won by a Dutchman once, in 2014 by Pieter Weening.

Elba: Mountain bike paradise

Due to the minimal elevation changes, Elba is great to explore by mountain bike. Both beginner and advanced cyclists will find routes to their liking.

Mountain biking in Val d'Elsa and the Chianti region

A mountain bike tour at your level through the Tuscan countryside or along the Via Francigena. The possibilities are endless. Email us for suitable accommodation or check IBIKE for routes and mountain bike tours.