Chianti vineyards

Day 1-2 Greve  Meet in Florence and shuttle to our bicycle storage in the Chianti countryside. A short ride takes us to a 16th Century villa where they make a ruby red Chianti Classico.  We tour the winery and sit down for a guided wine tasting. After lunch a panoramic downhill leads us to the village of Greve. Your hotel is right on the central piazza of town. Before dinner you can explore Montefiorale, a small Medieval village, or just find a nice spot in an outdoor cafe for a relaxing aperitif. On day 2 we ride to a Renaissance villa for a hands on cooking class. Italian food is based on simple country recipes. During our class you will be shown how to make Tuscan dishes that you can easily make at home. After lunch head straight back to town or opt for a longer ride to work off some of the lunch.

Day 3 Radda  Day 3 takes us deeper into Chianti on our way to Radda. Along the way we stop and visit the hill town of Panzano. The landscape is classic Tuscan with gently rolling hills covered with vineyards and olive groves. In Radda we stay in a four-star hotel in the historic center. The Renaissance palace that hosts the hotel has been remodeled to offer all of the modern comforts while retaining its beautiful character. After lunch an optional ride takes you to a family run ceramic factory.

Day 4-5 Siena  Leaving Radda we head south on our way to Siena, a perfectly preserved Medieval town. Our ride takes us off the beaten track past castles and sleepy villages. Siena is best known for its bareback horserace known as the Palio (run twice per year). Our hotel is in the historic center and within easy walking distance of Siena's main sights. Frequent trains and busses make for an easy departure at tour's end.