Villages, iconic roads and vineyards – Grand Tour of Chianti

Oh how beautiful is youth
And quickly does it flee,
Be happy if you want to,
For tomorrow may not come.

This is how Lorenzo de' Medici's famous ‘Canzona di Bacco’ begins. It’s the best-known of the Carnival Songs and a call to fully enjoy the joys of life (the senses, beauty, love) in the knowledge of their fleetingness.

On your bike, you can follow Lorenzo de’ Medici’s call on the Grand Tour of Chianti. The route takes you to unforgettable places in one of Italy’s most loved areas. You’ll
pedal on low traffic roads with your eyes on the beautiful hills that straddle Florence and Siena. Food and wine isn’t missed off the itinerary either.

Starting from Castelnuovo Berardenga, you'll ride through some of the Sienese Chianti villages as you trace one of the most famous routes in Tuscany, if not the entire Bel Paese – L'Eroica. L’Erocia is an annual non-competitive cycling event where participants ride vintage bikes.

The Chianti Grand Tour route is 106 kilometres (66 mi) long and, just like a good DOCG wine, you can choose to finish it in one ‘sip’ or take your time. As many of us enjoy bike holidays at a slower pace, I recommend splitting the route into at least two stages, each with around 1,000 metres (3,200 ft) of ascent. That way you won't get drunk on fatigue or struggle to find hospitality and numerous options for tasty food and wine.

Some typical villages of the Chianti area of Siena such as Castellina, Radda in Chianti, the steep pass of Monte Luco lie en route. You’ll also explore the small town of Gaiole in Chianti, the birthplace of Eroica in 1997, a magical cycling event that combines challenging routes, magnificent scenery, and unforgettable refreshments.

So treat yourself, indulge in the local food and drink and enjoy the well-maintained paved roads between short climbs and descents. It’s a feast for your eyes and your tastebuds, as you enjoy the scenery and traditional Tuscan flavours such as soups or sliced meats.

You can reach the starting point by car or by alighting the Siena-Rome train at Castelnuovo Scalo and pedalling the last few kilometres to Castelnuovo Berardenga. Alternatively, you can take the train from Siena to Palio and join the track at Ponte a Bozzone.

You can ride on any type of bicycle with reasonable gearing for climbs. It's best to ride the Grand Tour of Chianti from March to November, aside from the hottest months. The climbs are relatively tough and high temperatures only make them harder.

Look forward to an unforgettable adventure, full of excitement and good food: enjoy your trip to the land of Chianti!