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Self-Guided Florence to S. Gimignano |
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Tuscan vineyards used for making
Chianti Classico |
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From the Renaissance splendors of Florence to the
Medieval stone towers of San Gimignano, this two-day cycling adventure shows you
the wonders of central Tuscany. You tour a winery that makes the bold Chianti
Classico, sampling their wines and flavorful olive oils. You spend the night in
the ancient village of Certaldo Alto, a red-brick medieval masterpiece. Off the
beaten trail, this fortified village features beautiful views of the countryside
as well as a 14th Century castle. On day two you ride through vineyards and
olive groves on your way to scenic San Gimignano. The town's 14 stone towers
stand out against the rolling green landscape. San Gimignano looks like a town
plucked from a fairy tale and set into the Tuscan countryside. The rides are
short (18 and 10 miles) to leave you plenty of time to explore. |
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Day 1
Certaldo
On the morning of day one we mix you with our single-day bike tour group.
You meet in the center of Florence and shuttle to our bicycle storage in
the Chianti countryside (9 miles south of the city). This short drive
gets you past the busy traffic of Florence. We fit you on your bike and
you are off to a Chianti Classico winery. We tour the wine cellars
seeing barrels and bottles. You learn about San Giovese grapes and Extra
Virgin Olive Oil. The tour culminates with a guided wine and oil
tasting. For lunch we take you to a family run ristorante.
Lunch is on us on day one. After lunch the self-guided part of your trip begins. You pedal
through a picture-perfect landscape on your way to the quiet,
car-free village of Certaldo Alto. Your three-star hotel is in a
historic building and your luggage will be there before you. Walking the
cobblestone streets of Certaldo you will be able to see the towers of
San Gimignano in the distance. Tour the castle or enjoy a cold drink in
a peaceful piazza.
Day 2
San Gimignano
After a buffet breakfast you leave your bags in the lobby and roll into
the Tuscan countryside. Two roads lead to San Gimignano and you can
choose the one you prefer. One heads steeply uphill as it meanders
through picturesque villages. The other gently zigzags past vine covered
slopes offering great views of San Gimignano's towers. As with many
Tuscan hill towns, San Gimignano's medieval stone buildings have been
perfectly preserved, but here 14 medieval towers are still standing as
well. Declared by the United Nations to be a World Heritage site,
the architectural styles of the towers and palaces are a wonder to see.
For dinner enjoy homemade pasta and sip Tuscany's best known white wine,
the dry Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Frequent bus service makes
for an easy departure on day three.
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Why Self-Guided? |
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Our self-guided
cycling tours are for groups of 2 or more who want to explore Tuscany at
their own pace. We provide detailed route notes, luggage transfers,
great accommodations, restaurant suggestions, and sightseeing notes. You
choose the dates we take care of the details. |
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