This holiday allows to explore all Tuscany looks: from the art cities of Pisa and Lucca to small country villages and medieval fortresses; from the elegant baths of Versilia to the wilder southern coast of Maremma; from the rivers Arno and Serchio, passing by the lake of Massaciucoli, to the sea again; from the typical tuscan countryside rich in family farms and prestigious wineries to the endless pinewoods of the Etruscan coast. Also you have a unique chance to experience all Tuscany tastes…
La via degli Etruschi” because this tour crosses the large part of Tuscany, mostly on the coast, where the ancient people of the Etruscans lived: a peaceful and cultured people, the Etruscan lived in tune with the nature and the landscape; lovers of eating and beauty…let’s imagine to follow their footsteps and their way of life for this trip out of time!
ITINERARY
Day 1: Individual arriving to Lucca
Day 2: Lucca countryside 59 km (or 36 km) – altitude 330 m (or 150 m)
A taste of pure countryside before going to the sea. Lucca and its countryside deserve a sightseeing tour along the local roads, unbeaten by tourists, among medieval hamlets, parish churches, wineries, small farms and old oil mills, where the famous extra virgin oil d.o.p. of Lucca and the doc wines are produced. The first tour also gives you a chance to enjoy Lucca, its history and culinary specialties. And you can also have our direct support from our base in Lucca. We have selected an easy itinerary of about 36km and one a little more challenging up to Montecarlo of 59km to give you a chance to really visit the best of this area.
Day 3: Lucca – Viareggio 52 km – altitude 150 m
We leave Lucca in the morning, when streets and typical shops look more lively and bright. Leaving the city centre you will pass by an old Carthusian monastery and Nozzano, an ancient hamlet maintaining its original aspect and fortifications, to reach Massaciuccoli park, on Massaciuccoli lake, after a country uphill road. From the short hill you will have an enchanting view of the park , the coast and the sea on the horizon. From here to Viareggio, Marina di Pietrasanta and Versilia beaches it’s a pleasant biking in a totally different landscape ending along the famous Versilia promenade where a bike way will guide you all along the coast.
Day 4: Viareggio-Pisa 49 km – altitude flat
Leaving the “Versilia” promenade, one of the most famous in Tuscany you will cross the small town of Viareggio, known as resort for famous people, for its Carnival and for the production of yachts and luxurious boats entering ia a completely different scenery…less trendy shops and more wild nature…the sandy paths through the Natural Park of “Migliarino – San Rossore- Massaciuccoli”, typical for its sweet-smelling pinewoods and sand dunes ending on the sea, Torre del Lago Puccini, and then again along the Serchio river path. The tour will take you to Pisa for the night.
Day 5: Pisa – Quercianella, Distance km. 46, altitude m, 360
Enjoy the Ciclabile del Trammino (little tram cycle path), a track built on the route of an old railway. Ride along the Arno river to its mouth until you reach Marina di Pisa. Here you can join the waterfront cycle path to admire the beautiful view of the coast and the city of Livorno. The scents of the Mediterranean scrub will delight your senses along all the route. After a quick tour of the historic centre – Bella Venezia district – pedal to the Livorno seafront.
Arrived in Ardenza you can choose either to ride along the seafront on a busy road but with a breathtaking view of the Tuscan Archipelago and the cliffs full of hidden coves, or take the Via del Santuario di Montenero, a panoramic climb of around 300 metres nestled in the green and followed by a road that goes downhill to Quercianella. It’s up to you!
Day 6: Quercianella – Castagneto Carducci, distance: 51 km, altitude m. 280
You’ll start your tour southwards always along the seaside: you will enjoy the cycling on natural bike paths inside the centenarian pinewoods, arriving up to several lovely sandy beaches: “The White – Beaches of Vada”, the “Mazzanta”, the “Marina di Cecina”…since the climate in this part of Tuscany is very pleasant also in Spring and Autumn, you will have the chance to stop and relax on the sand, enjoying the typical quiet of early/late season and going for a swim in the sea when sun still brights high.
Day 7: Bolgheri wine roads – distance: 35 km, altitude: 200m
The fourth tour of the holiday is a break in the countryside. This is the day for people loving quality wines and the typical Tuscan countryside, with cypresses, vineyards, farmhouses, mild hills in the background…just like in the postcards! Actually the area we cross is not far from the sea and so not too hilly. The route is along the “Wineroad of the Etruscan Coast”: you will reach Bibbona, Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci crossing the whole area where SuperTuscan wines such as Sassicaia and Ornellaia are produced. You will find a lot of wineries where you stop your cycling for a wine tasting, before coming back to our beautiful hotel to relax.
Day 8: Individual departure
After enjoying the sea for the last time, you can easily reach Donoratico train station to come back to Pisa or Florence (leaving the bikes at the hotel) unless you prefer to extend your holiday by relaxing some more days on the coast or discovering the beauty of Elba island.
