A heavenly week in Tuscany

It starts in the Tuscany capital of Florence. Our tip: set off early, because then you can really enjoy the city. The streets are still empty early in the morning and the light of dusk sets the deep street canyons and their splendor of color perfectly in scene. You cross the Arno via the Ponte alla Carraia, from where you can see the world-famous Ponte Vecchio and its typical, historic shop extensions.Out of the city, a first, violent climb awaits you, and for the first time you will be mouthing the amazing views that you will always have from the hills of Tuscany. Take a quick look back at Florence - just do not lose too much time.It continues in the typical ups and downs of Tuscany. Before the tour, you might still wonder where all the altitude meters come from on the paper. Now you know. A steep driveway, a great view, a fast descent. The rhythm of Tuscany.You will see a day highlight from afar. San Gimignano, the city of towers. Your silhouette will appear long before you arrive on the horizon. As beautiful as it may seem from a distance, it is worthwhile spending a short time in the city. It's best to plan your lunch break here and make an appointment for an Easter egg. You've already done more than half, so treat yourself.The destination of today's stage is Volterra, considered one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany. If you still have the strength, you can visit some sights or just enjoy the characteristic landscape in the surrounding area. If you want to stay here, nearby Agriturismo offer, where you can spend good and cheap, often in complete seclusion.

This tour is very rich in contrasts and leads you from the hilly inland of Tuscany on winding country roads and through picturesque towns in the much more modern-looking port city of Piombino.Until then you will ride on some of the most beautiful roads in Tuscany and master two exhausting climbs. The port city of Piombino is the reward for your sweat. Opposite is the island of Elba in the Mediterranean, which will inspire you with its Mediterranean flair, but above all with its great conditions for racing cycling.For the next day you have the choice: You can take the ferry over to Elba and there complete a particularly beautiful tour (which we highly recommend). Alternatively, stay on the mainland and continue your Tuscany round directly from Piombino.

If you are planning a Tuscany tour, a trip to Elba should be there. Elba adds the cream to the already beautiful Tuscan landscape and combines the varied hilly landscape with the most prevalent view of the Mediterranean and a pleasantly mild climate.Elba itself is quite small. The manageable coastline of just 147 kilometers invites formally to a complete island tour. We have kept this tour a little more compact. You can extend it relatively easily by consistently choosing the road closest to the coast. But even this 82-kilometer tour will blow you out of breath. Because one thing Elba has in common with the rest of Tuscany. There are a lot of altitude through the constant ups and downs.Elba is not only a small excursion due to its scenic attractions. The island is just ten kilometers off the Italian mainland and is easy to reach by ferry from Piombino.

This tour is a bit atypical for Tuscany. Because you will be driving on flat roads for a while now. This is a peculiarity of the swampy Marremagebietes, which makes up for it in large parts with a view of the sea.And do not be afraid of boredom. We said "a while". Two really athletic climbs are still waiting for you. High to Tirli on the Poggio balloons, it is particularly steep, here you can take a little break after about 40 miles completed before it continues on a beautiful, traffic-quiet descent.After another flat passage, the last climb of the day follows up to Scansano. Here you are again in the midst of the wine-growing landscape of Tuscany. The best way to stay here is, as most of Tuscany, a quiet agriturismo, where you get well and cheap. Not to forget, of course, a glass of red wine from Morellino di Scansano, grown here.

We could easily call this tour tour of the red wine. The area itself is well known for its wine growing. The places you drive today produce three absolute Tuscan classics: Scansano, Montalcino and Montepulciano may be the reason you are not quite fit tomorrow.If you are not a wine lover, today's stage still offers enough highlights. In addition to the constant ups and downs you will master the Passo del Lume Spento a really long climb and more than once distracted by the wonderful views of vineyards, pines and olive trees.At the end of the day, you did a great job with almost 100 kilometers and 1880 vertical meters. Treat yourself to a noble Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and enjoy the evening.

Today's tour is a bit shorter. Finally, in Italy, time to enjoy the Dolce Vita a little bit. The stage destination Siena offers so many attractions that it would be a pity not to pay attention to this exciting city.But even the ride itself will cast a spell over you. You will ride sections of the L'Eroica and get to know one of the most beautiful streets in Tuscany on the way to Asciano.The aim of the tour is the old market square in Siena, which will impress you with its sheer size and its picturesque facades. In this city, you will have no problems spending some nice and interesting hours.

This tour is definitely something different. Instead of well-paved highways we send you today on the world-famous white gravel roads of Tuscany, where you will follow a part of L'Eroica round.The L'Eroica is THE event for friends of classic racing bikes. Once a year, around 7,000 heroic cyclists in cotton jerseys and leather shoes meet here to pay homage to the cycling of bygone days and to experience these very special routes through Tuscany. These gravel roads are good on the road bike, unless you are too sensitive. Do not worry: the 30-year-old steel steeds of L'Eroica also survive. For until you are right in the middle of the beautiful Tuscan countryside. You can not experience this landscape better.This tour is designed as a round. You start and finish in Siena and ride the original route of L'Eroica all the time. The route is fully signposted throughout the year. But beware: this is a shortened round. The original is over 200 kilometers long. If you like, you can just extend the tour. The full GPS track can be found at eroicagaiole.com

This tour takes you right through the heart of Tuscany. From Siena you will first drive over some of the most beautiful country roads over the typical hills, which will take you from time to time out of breath. At half distance, it gets really exhausting again. Shortly after Radda you master the last big climb to about 750 meters altitude.From now on enjoyment is announced. The view is fantastic and the scenery is beautiful. Just before you arrive in Florence, you can treat yourself to a refreshment stop at a small lake. From there you roll the last ten kilometers relaxed back to the Tuscany capital.Back in Florence you should take your time and explore a bit the quite interesting city. With the wheel you can move optimally and see much more than on foot. Just remember that the Italian traffic is a bit chaotic and the Italian in itself is not one of the most considerate drivers.Finally, there are two more points on your to-do list: eat an Italian pizza and enjoy an Italian ice cream. You can do both in Florence very easily. In this sense: buon appetito!