TYPE

LEvEL

DISTANCE

DuRATION

TOuR mODALITY

Bike & Hotel

Ca. 280 km

8 Days/7 Nights

Self guided Tour

ITALY

ITALY

tUSCany

between pisa and florence

MAR TIRRENO

Lago di Massaciuccoli

Montecatini Terme Lucca

MONTI PISANI

Pistoia

Poggio a Caiano Vinci Firenze Empoli

Ar no

PISA

From the leaning tower to Ponte Vecchio across the lands of Leonardo, Puccini, Pinocchio and of several other artists, sculptors, composers, inventors and painters who were inspired by the beauty of the Tuscan landscape.

Day by Day ItInerary

1 DAY Pisa. Arrival in Pisa, the city famous all over the world for its magic Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) with the characteristic leaning tower, the bell tower of the city cathedral. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage since 1987, besides a large number of monuments it also offers a friendly and lively atmosphere of a university city. 2nd DAY PisaLucca (30/45 km). Pedalling northwards along the river Serchio, across the Pisan countryside you arrive in Lucca. For those who are better trained there is a more demanding and longer route that runs along the Monti Pisani on their eastern side. 3rd DAY LuccaLucca (40 km). The charming medieval city of Lucca welcomes you. The itinerary entails a ring-shaped pathway in the surrounding countryside but if you prefer you can stop to visit the innumerable palaces, churches and towers of this enchanting Tuscan city. Not to be missed is a tour inside the perimeter of the wonderful Renaissance walls, completely unchanged and considered to be the best preserved in Europe, as well as a visit to the Roman amphitheatre (II century A.D.)
st

4th DAY LuccaMontecatini (45 km). Through a panoramic road you reach the little village of Collodi and the town of Pescia. In Collodi, where the author of Pinocchio spent his childhood, you could visit the famous Pinocchios Park (created in 1962) and the aristocratic Villa Garzoni. In Pescia you could enjoy a quiet stroll among churches, palaces, Renaissance mansions and the local flower street market. 5th DAY MontecatiniMontecatini (60 km). Todays route offers you again two possibilities. You can relax in one of the most famous thermal cities in Europe and stroll down the narrow lanes of the old city, which is situated on a hill and can be reached by a characteristic cablerailway. Otherwise a picturesque itinerary will lead you among villas of the Medici family, olive groves, vineyards and beautiful historical farms, going past Vinci, Leonardo da Vincis birthplace (visit to the museum possible). 6th DAY MontecatiniFlorence (50/65 km).Today you have to choice either to start pedalling directly from Montecatini or to shorten the trip through a short train transfer to Pistoia, rich in Romanesque and Renaissance monuments (in particular churches) and having one of the most

evocative squares in Italy: Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square). From here back into the saddle, immersed in the Tuscan flatland to reach the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence. It will be up to you to decide how to spend your time in one of the worlds most beautiful cities! 7th DAY FlorencePisa (40 km by train + 65 km). A short trip by train wil take to Empoli, where you will start to follow the river Arno flow by bike, pedalling entirely on level ground as far as Pisa for your last overnight stay. 8th DAY Pisa. After breakfast end of services.

Trains MontecatiniPistoia (approx. 10 min. 4 per person) and Florence Empoli (approx. 30 min. 6 per person) are not included in the price.

prICe per perSOn In eUrO

Self Guided Tour 598 dBl 775 SGl HiGH SeASoN SuPPleMeNT (JulYAuGuST) 20 BiCYCle reNT 70 15 Helmet exTrA NiGHTS iN PiSA 60 dBl 90 SGl exTrA NiGHTS iN floreNCe 75 dBl 95 SGl reduCTioNS: 3rd PerSoN iN TriPle rooM -50 iNCluded iN THe PriCe: 7 nights hotel accommodation, breakfast buffet, , tour information on-site by our representative, luggage transportation, route description and maps, 7-day Hotline service. NoT iNCluded iN THe PriCe: local hotel taxes, to be paid on the spot. iT iS AlSo PoSSiBle To Add AN exTrA NiGHT iN floreNCe duriNG THe Tour: PriCe oN requeST. dePArTureS Self Guided tour: every Saturday from April 7th to october 13th, 2012. in July additional departures on Mondays. Special departure dates can be organized for at least 6 persons!

aCCOMMODatIOn
Accommodation in 2/3/4-star hotels. Very comfortable accommodation, with ensuite facilities and mostly in the city centres.

parKInG & tranSferS

Free parking place at the first hotel, for the whole duration of the tour.

rOUte prOfIle
The itinerary runs mostly on a flat area with some hilly parts which do not require particular athletic skills. In 6 stages you will cover a distance of 250/280 Km which can be reduced if you decide not to go by bike on the days of double overnight stay in Lucca and Montecatini. Most of the path is on asphalt roads of low traffic, some parts are on dirt paths but not demanding. All the cities are connected by trains with bicycle transport and in case of bad weather or if you need a day of rest you can reach the next city without cycling.

by plane
You can fly to Pisa airport (PSA) with various low cost companies.

36 girolibero - tel. 0039 0444 330724 - booking@girolibero.it - www.girolibero.com

girolibero - tel. 0039 0444 330724 - booking@girolibero.it - www.girolibero.com 37