Welcome to Hooked on Cycling and our cycling holiday in Tuscany. This Italian cycling holiday is through the beautiful Tuscany region from Pisa to Tuscany. It is available as a level 2 self guided cycling tour for arrivals on any day. This is a very flexible and varied 7 day trip that touches the highlights of Northern Tuscany. Every day except 1 there are 2 cycling possibilities, a short and easy route and a longer or more demanding route for the keener cyclists. The trip starts in Pisa, whose origins are lost in Myth and legend. It was an extremely important maritime republic and it holds some of the world’s most famous monuments. The next overnight stop, after a short climb takes us to Lucca, a small intimate town full of beautiful churches and surrounded by an impressive city wall that is still intact. On the way to Vinci, home of the famous Leonardo we pass though the Fucecchio wetlands, one of Europe’s most important inland wetlands; here many different bird species come to nest or rest during the migratory period. The last ride takes us to Florence; cradle of the Renaissance.

Available daily 1st March to 30th November
4 and 6 night tour available
Level 2 self guided tour

Day 1 Arrival in Pisa
During the course of the day you arrive in Pisa. Our standard hotel is right on the edge of Miracle square and you can see the leaning tower while having breakfast.

Day 2 Pisa Round trip with a short 19 km and a long route 42 km
Short route:
An easy relaxing warm up ride mostly along cycle paths that take you in to the heart of Pisa where you will have all the time you want to visit and admire the famous Miracle square and the leaning tower. Admire the many palaces, churches, towers and town squares. Take a break in the Piazza dei Cavalieri as you gaze at the architecturally stunning historic buildings that surround you.

Long route:
The first part of the round trip goes through the countryside lying between Pisa and the Monte Serra with the possibility to stop and visit the Certosa of Calci that houses the oldest and one of the most important Paleonthological museums of Italy. The second part of the day is the same as the easy tour, so you can spend the afternoon visiting Pisa and its many monument

Day 3 Ride from Pisa to Lucca with a short 27 km and a long route 50 km
Short route:
Today’s trip starts with a short, challenging climb that quickly flattens out and in only 20 km you reach Lucca, giving you all the time you need to visit the town in depth where you will be enchanted by how the churches, palaces, towers and city walls, of this unique fortified town, have been preserved in time. Along the way you pass by San Giuliano Terme, at first sight the town does not seem very interesting but reading through its history we find that it has several historical, artistic and cultural elements.

Long route:
A very demanding and extremely rewarding ride for both natural and scenic reasons. The road slowly and steadily climbs from Calci up to the group of mountains called Monti Pisani from where you have wonderful views of the underlying valleys. Once past the watershed it is all down hill till Lucca.
Our standard hotel in Lucca is charming 3 star hotel with nice garden and small pool.

Day 4 Lucca round trip with a flat 31 km and a hilly route 33 km
Once again you can choose between 2 trips according to your interest.
Both trips take you to visit not only the beautiful town of Lucca, but also the characteristic villas that were built in the surrounding countryside from the 1400 to the 1700 century. The difference between the two trips is not the length, but the gradient, the easy route is nearly all flat, while the hilly route has a height difference of around 300 metres giving you an enviable aerial view of Lucca and its surrounding countryside
These villas have very different historic and artistic characteristics and very nice, well preserved and maintained monumental gardens that have a large variety of plants.
Overnight stay in Carignano-Lucca

Day 5 Ride from Lucca to Vinci 48 km
This day is clearly divided into two sections, the first part can be considered a transfer ride, taking you from the hotel to the village of Altopascio. The second part is from Altopascio to Vinci and of highly naturalistic interest as you pass though the “Padule of Fucecchio” nature reserve, the largest inland wetlands of Europe. Here many bird species come to nest and during certain periods of the year you can see large numbers of migratory birds that stop for a well deserved rest on their migratory routes.
Our standard accommodation is Vinci is a lovely 3 star Agritourism. With a lovely garden and pool. Sample the wine and local specialities grown on the farm.

Day 6  Vinci circular then by car /train to Florence with a short 11 km and a long route 18 km
Today is dedicated to visiting Vinci, its small but extremely interesting museum. The medieval hamlet of Vinci is famous for the 2 museums dedicated to the genius inventor Leonardo Da Vinci where you can see many live size constructions of his incredible inventions and the original designs. After visiting Vinci you can either go the short way or the longer, hillier way back to your hotel where you are dropped off at the train  station to take the train in to Florence in the afternoon. You take your own luggage with you.
Our standard hotel is the 4 star Park palace hotel. Although outside the very busy centre we find the outdoor pool and grand settings of the large rooms compensates for this for our guests. Only 10 minutes by bus ( bus stop by hotel ) gets your right into the centre. We also use a 3 star hotel within 300m of the train station in Florence.

Day 7 Departure
The trip and our services end after breakfast.
Standard hotels subject to change without notice

4 night tour includes nights in Pisa, Lucca,Vinci and Florence.

Tariff 2012

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