What does Tuscany offer that other regions don’t?

We get it. It’s kind of a cliché: come to Tuscany, it never rains. Come to Tuscany, the food is amazing. Or, come to Tuscany, people are nice and friendly. You’ve probably heard this before, and whilst it's true: is there more than sunny days and fantastic pasta to this region of Italy?

We are here to tell you: the answer is yes, there is a lot more. Especially if you are a cyclist, or if you enjoy riding a bicycle. 

Let's start with some geography.

Tuscany is characterized by a mountainous landscape on its surroundings. Starting from the Northern East side, going in a clockwise direction, there is the Alpi Apuane -separating our region from Liguria- (here is where the famous Carrara’s marble gets extracted), continuing with the Appennino Tosco Emiliano in the Northern side (with its ski resorts) and then the Appennino Tosco Romagnolo on the East side.

All the West side of Tuscany is facing the Tyrrhenian sea: there, the coast is predominantly sandy but there are some rocky bits too. The best part of the Tuscan coastline is probably the one stretching from the Livorno to Grosseto in Maremma at the south, covering over 300 kilometers of stunning scenery. One of the most popular areas along the coast is the town of Viareggio, located in the province of Lucca. The places where The Tirreno Adriatica pro Race starts. Descending south, the town of Castiglione della Pescaia, in the province of Grosseto, is a popular destination for those interested in Etruscan history. If you want to know more about that ancient society you should also consider visiting the city of Volterra (featuring also on our guided gravel tour #etruria).

In the two images above the coast of Maremma

At the center, where the land is cultivated and hilltops are less crisp, is where you can find the typical landscapes you can think of when thinking about Tuscany: a gravel paradise.

Indeed if you were thinking at a more adventurous way to discover and explore Tuscany you should consider going on a gravel bike tour. Our landscape with rolling hills and a picturesque countryside really suits these bikes. Each location has its own charm and exploring them on a gravel bike is surely a unique experience.

Looking it from another perspective the romantic idea of riding through the heart of Tuscany, passing vineyards, lines of cypresses, and hilltop towns is something quite difficult to beat.

Have you checked our full guided gravel tour offer?

Stretches like these are like paradise for Gravel fanatics

Not just gravel. 

Having said that, there is kind of a myth stating that Tuscany is only good for riding gravel, but the truth is -like we’ve mentioned before- mountain landscapes and sea coast routes can also be found. It's not always pine trees and riding through vineyards (though there is of that to see), but also a variety of landscapes that you would never imagine. 

Tuscany offers every sort of terrain, from flat dusty roads to rolling hills in between olive trees, breathtaking views to the sea, or mountain trails: it's no wonder why this region is chosen all year round by pro riders as their favorite training ground. 

Bike packing in Tuscany has no season

This landscape mix is also ideal for bike packing: you could stop each day in a different place, having the opportunity to discover world-known cities such as Firenze or Siena, or get lost inside little villages where you can be surrounded by lots of history and seeing locals living their life at a pace that you would not find in any major city. 

These are some of the itineraries we recommend: road & gravel

There is a season for everything. 

Every season has its charm (not only sunny days). At the beginning of spring everything is green and then in April the landscape becomes a canvas where wildflowers bloom, inundating every inch of green with the brightest of colors. It's a very special time of the year to stop around Firenze and visit parks such as Giardino di Boboli, or Villa Bardani where purple, pink and violet wisteria bloom, offering an unmissable spectacle. 

At the end of May, when the wheat is harvested, the sun paints the land with golden, dry yellow tones: you’ve probably seen a postcard from Tuscany where the land looked like gold. 

And so it stays until October and all through summer (yes, endless sunny days), up until when autumn begins, which, in our opinion, is the best time to  appreciate the sunset lights and all the vegetation turning into an incredible orangy color.

When winter comes, though gloomy and rainy days can be on the menu its not a bad idea to visit either. 

Above our countryside during sunset in Autumn

And last but not least: food

Yes, food is a clichè we cannot surpass. What makes food so special in Italy -and especially in Tuscany- is the quality of the ingredients and the time dedicated to the process of making it. Our land offers all kinds of vegetables, legumes, fruit, meat and dairy products. Cooking locally and using recipes from our grandmas, the Italian kitchen never seems to disappoint: whether you are a meat eater (then we recommend a bistecca fiorentina) or a vegan (don’t worry, plenty of vegetables and amazing pasta are waiting for you), Tuscany offers an infinite array of possibilities when it comes to food. 

Chianti wine and a good espresso also go hand in hand, and even if you don’t enjoy this combination you can always go for a gelato or some traditional Tuscan pastries. Or you could enjoy a wine tasting (which is always a good idea).

Please get in touch to discuss a private guided bike tour or the planning of a bespoken itinerary.

We believe Tuscany is a cycling paradise not only because of the reasons listed above, but also because we experience it everyday. In a world where many people work from home: would you consider coming to Tuscany for a few months? If so, bring your bike with you. We will be waiting to show you around the best spots this region has to offer.