A heavenly week in Tuscany

Wine, cycling and... Tuscany. There aren't many places that one can claim are absolutely perfect for cycling. And that makes Tuscany extra special. Here, in this beloved Italian region, you can enjoy the comfortable Mediterranean climate, breathe the scent of pine cypress trees — and enjoy the view of olive groves and vineyards as you glide past on two wheels. A landscape of undulating hills, you'll also find the right mix of ascent and descent, with none of the climbs proving overly grueling. What's more, from the top of every hill, you'll be met with breathtaking views of the lush Italian landscape — before gliding back down the beautiful road, straight into stunning Tuscan towns bursting with Italian flair and innumerable culinary delicacies. Sound like cycling heaven? Welcome to Tuscany.

In this Collection, we present you with a six to eight-day ride through Tuscany. Your starting point is in Florence, from where you'll cycle south-west towards the Etruscan Riviera, crossing the world famous Chianti area. From there, a small detour to the island of Elba is something we highly recommend. After all, a short ferry ride is all it takes.

As you travel on, you'll experience the art of Italian grape-growing in the Chianti area. This is a Tuscan speciality that is impossible to ignore. As you continue onwards, you'll pass the places of origin of other famous Tuscan wines, namely Scansano, Montalcino, Montepulciano and, of course, Siena. Here, why not stop for a moment and take in their treasure trove of cultural and historical sights?

From Siena, you're presented with the second possibility to break for a detour and to extend your great Tuscan-Tour. From here, you can follow in the footsteps of the L' Eroica, the once-a-year classic cycling tour frequented by fans of classic racing bikes. This heroic, 125-mile (200-kilometer) ride culminates on the white gravel roads of Tuscany. The truncated version of this ride we present to you below has its start and end point in Siena and will let you emulate the cycling heroes of years gone by, before getting you back on the road to Florence for the next leg.

To ensure you're able to make the most of your great Tuscan Tour, we have a few pieces of advice: The best way to arrive is via Pisa airport. Alternatively, you can also arrive via Florence or Milan, or fly into Rome if you're arriving from a destination outside of Europe. The best time to undertake this ride is in the spring or the fall. That way, you'll avoid both the striking heat of the summer months and the massively inflated tourist numbers that tend to converge on the region between June and September. Regarding accommodation, the Italian agriturismo farms are ideal for cyclists: They offer a great night's stay at really reasonable prices, and they usually offer space for you to store your bike. In the Chianti area, you will find numerous agriturismo in wineries, which offer an even more unique setting to lay your head after a day in the saddle. Visit agriturismo.it for more information.