Taste of Tuscany – Week 3
September 29, 2018 - October 6, 2018
| $2800Come experience the beauty and taste of this magical region with our experienced guides. Our home for the week will be a quaint Italian villa Casa di Camporata in Gaiole in Chianti (Village of the famed L’Eroica), the heart and soul of Tuscany. Challenging, but manageable cycling in and around Siena, including the Chianti region, Val D’Orcia, and Montalcino. Discover the charm of cycling to a medieval hilltop village, walking through an outdoor piazza, or simply relaxing with an espresso at a nearby café. This trip will certainly bring to life the inspiration of Tuscany.
Tour includes lodging, 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 5 dinners; bikes, cooking class and/or Wine-Castello Tour; 4 or 5 guided, fully supported bike rides on very manageable roads and terrain.
Day One: Welcome to Tuscany and Villa Casa di Camporata!
Check into Villa Casa di Camporata in Gaiole in Chianti, followed by lunch at the Villa, bike fit, and dinner at a favorite local Ristorante.
Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Gaiole in Chianti
Accomplished: Get situated, make friends, have a nice glass of wine and bike fitting
Day Two: Explore Chianti and the Famed Sangiovese Grape
An easy warm-up ride through the rolling hills and wine vineyards of Chianti.
Meals: Breakfast / Light Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Chianti
Accomplished: 25 – 30 miles
Day Three: Strade Bianche; The “White Roads” of Chianti
Pedal through the rolling hills of Castlellina, then on to Radda where we stop for lunch at our favorite cafe. Visit Castello di Meleto, di Brolio, di Ama; Badia di Coultobuono before returning to our villa. Tonight we enjoy a very special dinner at La Botegga in Volpaia.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
Destinations: Castellina, Radda, Gaiole
Accomplished: 35 – 40 miles
Day Four: Siena to San Galgano Loop
Today’s destination is to San Galgano a 13th century Cistercian abbey and roofless church. Here you will visit the original “sword and the stone” in the chapel. An outdoor lunch served picnic style complete with wine, meats, lasagna and of course Tuscany’s signature dish; Paperdelle alla Cinghale.
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch/ Dinner
Destinations: Sovicle, Pievescata, San Galgano
Accomplished: 35 – 40 miles
Day Five: Rest Day
Cultural excursion to Florence, Siena or San Gimignano. Lunch and Dinner on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Florence, Siena or San Gimignano
Accomplished: A full belly and a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience
Day Six: Epic Ride to Montalcino
Ride to the famed hilltop town of Montalcino from Asciano, Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore to Buoncovento through Italy’s top Brunello vineyards. Take a photo of the Romanesque Abbey of Sant’Antimo, nestled in a valley amidst a sea of grapes and olives. Enjoy stunning views as we climb the shoulder of Mt. Amiata and descend into the scenic Val d’Orcia, where the iconic wheat field scenes from Gladiator and the English Patient were filmed.
Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
Destinations: Buonconvento, Montalcino, San Antimo, Castiglione d’Orcia
Accomplished: 50 – 55 miles
Day Seven: Ciao to Tuscany
Check out of the Villa by 10:00 am and begin your journey home. We’ll provide van transportation to the airport in Florence and from there it’s on your own. Lots of smiles here as we say goodbye and thank you for a wonderful trip!
Meals: Breakfast
- Relaxing each night at centrally located villa Casa di Camporata in Gaiole in Chianti
- Dining at local non tourist ristorante and tratoria
- Visiting Pienza, an architectural gem of the Renaissance
- Riding through scenic landscapes where both the English Patient and Gladiator were filmed
- Visiting Castelo di Meleto for wine tasting and castle tour
- San Galgano abbey
- Cultural excursions to Florence or San Gimignano
- 7 days | 7 nights lodging at the stunning villa Casa di Camporata in Gaiole in Chianti
- 6 Breakfasts / 5 Lunches / 5 Dinners, après velo cocktails, and nutritious snacks
- Top of the line carbon road bike or aluminum hybrid bicycle at no additional fee
- Carefully selected local wines with every delicious meal
- Guides with extensive local knowledge, who go above and beyond to cater to your every need
- Van transportation to/from the Florence airport.*
All flights, plane tickets, etc. to the Florence airport are on your own and NOT included in the package price. We will provide transportation for arriving guest from the Florence airport at 1 PM and return departing guests to the airport at 10 AM.
Casa di Camporata in Gaiole in Chianti
Join us at our private rented villa. This comfortably furnished country style Tuscan villa sleeps up to ten. Set amongst a mature well tended garden with its own private swimming pool the property is in a great location only five minutes away from Gaiole with all the amenities a large town has to offer.
To see photo galleries of past Italy Tours click the link below the photos.
Mark says… “I’ve been to Tuscany almost every year since 2006, there are many good reasons why Tuscany is one of the most revisited destinations in the world. In the lifestyle posts below you can read about the very essence of what makes Tuscany so special; the people, the culture, and of course the food, wine and cycling!”
Il Campo Cucina . . . a chance meeting with Marlane
The photo below of the bottles of Brunello di Montalcino sparked a friendship not only with Marlane, but of the small Tuscan village of Radicondoli and it's people [...]
Chianti . . . . More than just a good bottle of Vino Rosso
Chianti is a region of central Tuscany situated between Florence and Siena, surrounded by wooded hills and lush vineyards and olive groves, it is also home to one [...]
Rossi’s bike shop. . . Siena, Italy
My first visit to Rossi's bike shop in Siena, Italy about 10 years ago had me hooked, I knew then that I would be returning. "Venga, Venga!", the [...]
We like to do things the old-fashioned way; a face-to-face encounter at the local coffee house or a nice chat on the phone. That way we can share with you our exuberance of traveling to Tuscany and experiencing the incredible landscape/culture either on or off a bicycle and to make sure the trip is a good match for you.
If you’d like more information about this incredible trip to Italy… a “Taste of Tuscany” please fill out the details below and I’ll call you shortly. If you prefer, I’d happily take your information over the phone at (207) 521-4556.
Ciao! – Mark
$1000.00 non-refundable deposit due on February 15, 2018 (2-15-18)
$1800.00 balance due on June 1, 2018 (6-1-18)