Welcome
to this issue of the Tuscan Life Newsletter,
where we will be answering your call for information
on bicycling in Tuscany. While I am not much
of a cyclist myself, I have often envied the
happy bikers I see rolling over many of our
beautiful roads. And, as mentioned, I have
received requests from our readers to provide
some information about bicycling here in Tuscany.
I have tried to include information for all
levels of skill and difficulty. I do hope
you find it useful and enjoyable.
A CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Once again, we are getting
ready to present the second updated version
of our Tuscan Life Dining Directory.
If you have a special dining choice here in
Tuscany, we would love to hear from you and
to include your submission in our updated
Tuscany Dining Guide. We are also looking
for recommendations for food shops, rosticcerias,
pasticcerias, and wineries. Please send your
recommendations to Tuscanlifeedit@verizon.net
Sponsor
add :
Cooking
School in Tuscany
If you like to cook or just love
food , we support a cooking class close to Florence
due to the great quality, friendliness of the
chefs and the incredible response we have had
from the people who have attended the classes.
The
cooking class is called “Good Tastes of
Tuscany “ and the classes are held in
the magnificent kitchen of a 14th century castle
. The classes involve hands on fresh pasta making
, the tricks to the tuscan cooking techniques
and a vast menu even for the basic classes from
antipasto to desert.
You'll cook together with the Chef and you'll
eat what you prepared all together following
the class. A full meal is served so you can
relax and savour your efforts making new friends
, having a laugh over a glass of wine and experiencing
the tuscan lifestyle of times gone by.
The classes are run by 2 italian english speaking
chefs.
One of the chefs learnt by the most important teachers ;
her family. The traditional Italian housewife
that takes care of the house was the center
of everything in a home and also for entertaining.
The chef was taught by her grandmother and mother
the skill of true Tuscan cooking and later through
many courses and a catering business.
The other chef began as a restaurant owner in Florence
and then expanded his knowledge through the
most noted italian courses for professionals
. They also have a indepth knowledge on the
history of Tuscan cuisine, the variety of dishes
from each area and seasons.
They are both warm , passionate and friendly
people and very eager to please , when I have
commented to them about the satisfaction of
the attendees they responed “ we just
love people and what we do so much that this
obviously transmits to the clients”.
You can obtain information about the classes
and also costs from the website:
www.tuscany-cooking-class.com
My
own cycling experience here is a bit limited,
but oh what a fun experience it was! I rented
a bike for a morning and cruised the top of
the wonderful rampart walls of Lucca. This bike
ride is possible in many types of weather, because
the park of trees planted atop Lucca's walls
provides shady shelter through the warm months,
and Lucca's climate is rather temperate for
its zone in the colder months. In Lucca, everyone
rides a bike; whether to work, or to market,
or just visiting; you'll find most Lucchese
choose the bicycle as their favorite means of
transportation.
The bravest cyclists I've come across in Tuscany
were those men and women I found climbing the
highest and steepest of Garfagnana mountains.
I barely felt safe in the car, and yet there
they were, struggling up or gliding down a mountain
road with no guard rails to keep them from the
precipitous drop on the outer side of the winding
road, and only a rocky cliff on the inner side.
Biking is extremely popular throughout Tuscany.
I've lunched with a group of traveling cyclists
in San Miniato; I've met a whole tour of biking
Americans near the Tuscany/Umbria border, and
I've seen individuals and families cycling their
pleasant way through our landscape. Some of
our best routes are near Florence, and it is
generally agreed that the Chianti landscape
and roads are perfect choices: smooth roads
and only gentle rises cover most of that area.
And, of course, the scenery is breathtaking.
For more adventurous cyclists, who don't mind
longer rides and glory in challenging climbs
and long downhill runs, a popular route is that
from Siena to Florence by way of Greve-in-Chianti.
What follows is a directory of books, maps
and an excellent website for those interested
in cycling in Tuscany.
Books
on Cycling Tuscany
*
For anyone based near Lucca, or interested in
exploring challenging cycling routes, the book
Garfagnana by Bicycle : Cycle Touring
and Mountain Biking by Lucia Giovannetti,
Peter Barrow, and Bruno Giovannetti is available
in English; in fact, this is the only book in
English that covers the subject of cycling the
Garfagnana. It describes 27 itineraries for
mountain bikes and 5 routes for touring bikes,
making it a more suitable choice for the mountain
bike enthusiast. Importantly, this book includes
detailed descriptions of key road features including
altitude, point-to-point distances, total distance,
trail gradients, and diagrams of intersections.
Additionally, historical sites such as castles
and churches, as well as mediaeval structures
and villages are all clearly marked, and the
countryside is well described. There are also
dining recommendations along the routes. Included
is a color contour map (1:50,000; 231/4"
x 27 1/2") of the region and the routes
in a plastic slipcover. This book is an excellent
choice for the serious cyclist.
* A great cycling guide for
all of Italy, with plenty of concentration on
Tuscany, is Lonely Planet Cycling Italy (Lonely
Planet Cycling Guides) by Ethan Gelber.
Lonely Planet Cycling Guides are available through
most English language bookstores and online
book retailers.
* Another guidebook that takes
in all of Italy, but still has plenty of offers
in Tuscany is Italy by Bike: 105 Tours
from the Alps to Sicily (Touring Club
of Italy) by Touring Club of Italy. This can
be purchased online through touringclubofitaly.com.
I especially like this guide because it covers
a large range of difficulty, from easy family
rides to extremely challenging routes, and because
it offers comprehensive information for each
route. Maps, distances, difficulty levels, guides
to wildlife, scenery, dining suggestions and
historic sites are included for each ride. Bicycle
rental information is also included.
*** Yet another excellent
choice of book is Bicycle Touring in
Tuscany by David Cleveland. According
to the publisher's website, chainringpress.com,
this book is a wonderful guide for those wishing
to tour by bike "through olive groves and
vineyards, explore monasteries and castles,
stop at roadside cafes for an espresso, or step
into a trattoria to sample the antipasto. Central
Italy offers the perfect combination of scenery,
culture, and cuisine and quiet, sometimes challenging
riding. BICYCLE TOURING IN TUSCANY contains
everything you need to plan a bicycle tour of
Tuscany," including, "What to bring;
where to go; and how to transport your bike."
The book features eight bike tours for all ability
levels, and provides detailed maps of every
daily route. I am happy to report that there
is a good list of Bicycle Rental Shops, and
even an appendix for Bike Shop Vocabulary. This
is a very comprehensive guide and should get
anyone who is interested in cycling in Tuscany
on their way.
*
I haven't seen it myself, but Amazon.com
sells a Cycling Tuscany: Cycle Guide
and Map. An author's name isn't listed,
but this is a spiral bound guide that lists
for $23.67.
* There is an excellent guide available in
German, but it isn't hard at all for non-German
speakers or readers to use. This is Mit
Stöppel Unterwegs. Toskana
by Ralph Eder from Spöppel Verlag, Weilheim;
the ISBN is 3-89306-072-3. According to a reviewer,
"The author provides 30 tours, most of
them south of Florence, but several around Lucca
and Carrara. The maps are small but clear, and
there is a great deal of information on things
to see on the routes, plus information on where
to park your motorized transport."
* In Italian, but still quite
usable for the non-Italian speaker is the very
excellent guide Guida Cicloturistica
del Chianti by
Giancarlo Brocci and Fabio Masotti. The maps,
photographs, and cycling information are all
easily decipherable are very good. It is available
through Associazione Parco Ciclistico del Chianti,
piazza Ricasoli, 50
I-53013 Gaiole in Chianti (FI)
This should also be available
in bookstores throughout Italy and all over
Tuscany. The authors lay out 20 itineraries
and there are 32 very good maps, as well as
route profiles.
Cycling Tuscany Websites
A good many web searches for
bicycling in Tuscany turned up tour companies,
but not much for the person or family who wants
to experience just a day or two of cycling through
the Tuscan countryside, as do many of our renters.
I had almost given up hope of finding anything
really good when I came across http://www.florencebikepages.com.
It wasn't until after discovering
this site that I found it is considered by many
to be the very best independent website on cycling
in Tuscany. Most of the site is dedicated to
bicycling in Florence and its surroundings,
but there are links and information for cycling
other areas. I highly recommend a visit here
as part of the planning for anyone who would
like to ride a bike in Tuscany.
Renting
Bikes in Tuscany
Bicycle
rentals
Florence By Bike
via San Zanobi 120/122r - Firenze
tel: +39 055 488992
fax: +39 055 488992
E-Mail: info@florencebybike.it
Walking & Cycling Agency
Via Ricasoli, 26
53100 - Siena (SI)
Phone: (+39) 338 8950100
Fax: (+39) 0577 222915 www.walkingagency.com
*****************************************
Free Bike 'MILLEEUNABICI'
This service, sponsored by the municipality
of Florence allows you to use their bikes for
free. For further information call: +39 055
5000 453 - Mr Fini, +39 055 500 1994.
***************************************** In Florence: Bike rental, scooter
rental, bike tours, self guided tour available,
specialized bike shop.
Alinari
Via Guelfa, 85r
Ph. +39 055 280 500
******************************************
And, according to their own advertising: Bike A Day in Tuscany
Piazza Santo Stefano 2, meeting every day at
9.00 am.
Half day bike tours, easy route, wine tasting
e snack included, stunning views, castles, villas,
estates, high quality bikes & helmets included.
An expert guide with your group, budget &
students travelers welcome!
*********************************************
Our
Accommodations
The best way to experience Tuscany, whether you are
getting around by bike, car, bus or train, is by staying
at one of our lovely villas or apartments. From city
hideaways to deluxe villas in the countryside, see them
all at our website:
If
you have ever watched, as I have, cyclist streaming
along beautiful Tuscan roads and through parks and towns,
and wondered how you might do the same, I hope this
little guide to cycling in Tuscany has inspired you.
It really is quite doable to either take a bike to Tuscany,
or rent one for a day a longer. To further whet your
appetite, please see our villas and apartments at
www.florencevillas.com
We invite you to
view our online directory of accommodations, and make plans
to visit Bella Toscana, our beautiful corner of Italy. www.florencevillas.com
Welcome
to this issue of the Tuscan Life Newsletter,
where we will be answering your call for information
on bicycling in Tuscany. While I am not much
of a cyclist myself, I have often envied the
happy bikers I see rolling over many of our
beautiful roads. And, as mentioned, I have
received requests from our readers to provide
some information about bicycling here in Tuscany.
I have tried to include information for all
levels of skill and difficulty. I do hope
you find it useful and enjoyable.
My
own cycling experience here is a bit limited,
but oh what a fun experience it was! I rented
a bike for a morning and cruised the top of
the wonderful rampart walls of Lucca. This bike
ride is possible in many types of weather, because
the park of trees planted atop Lucca's walls
provides shady shelter through the warm months,
and Lucca's climate is rather temperate for
its zone in the colder months. In Lucca, everyone
rides a bike; whether to work, or to market,
or just visiting; you'll find most Lucchese
choose the bicycle as their favorite means of
transportation.
*
For anyone based near Lucca, or interested in
exploring challenging cycling routes, the book
Garfagnana by Bicycle : Cycle Touring
and Mountain Biking by Lucia Giovannetti,
Peter Barrow, and Bruno Giovannetti is available
in English; in fact, this is the only book in
English that covers the subject of cycling the
Garfagnana. It describes 27 itineraries for
mountain bikes and 5 routes for touring bikes,
making it a more suitable choice for the mountain
bike enthusiast. Importantly, this book includes
detailed descriptions of key road features including
altitude, point-to-point distances, total distance,
trail gradients, and diagrams of intersections.
Additionally, historical sites such as castles
and churches, as well as mediaeval structures
and villages are all clearly marked, and the
countryside is well described. There are also
dining recommendations along the routes. Included
is a color contour map (1:50,000; 231/4"
x 27 1/2") of the region and the routes
in a plastic slipcover. This book is an excellent
choice for the serious cyclist.
Bicycle
rentals