Florence to Rome - Guided

Day 1: Florence, arrival
Day 2: Florence - Piazzano, 22 mi. (36 km)
Day 3: Piazzano - Perugia, 29 mi. (46 km)
Day 4: Perugia - Montefalco,  24 mi. (39 km)
Day 5: Rountrip Montefalco, 10 mi. (16 km)
Day 6: Montefalco - Rieti, 30 mi. (48 km)
Day 7: Rieti - Rome, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 8: Rome, departure 

All distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, such as weather conditions or provisions issued by the local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way, you may find temporary deviations/detours caused by roadwork not reflected in your route book or GPS tracks. In this case, please follow the directions posted locally.

Day 1: Florence, arrival
Your tour begins in Florence, the city of art. The hotel is just a short walk from the main train station. At 5 pm, there is a tour meeting in the hotel lobby. A local tour guide will then provide a guided sightseeing tour of the city. Enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants in Florence.

     Accommodation: Hotel Albani

Day 2: Florence - Piazzano, 22 mi. (36 km)
After breakfast, the group departs Florence by train to Castiglione. You will enjoy the views of the hilly landscape. Once on the bike, you will ride straight into the fertile Chiana Valley whose beauty Goethe raved about. Pedaling on via side streets, the route continues south. The smooth ridges are often crowned by mighty forts which go back to the Etruscan settlement. One of the oldest and for sure the most beautiful settlements in Cortona. Cortona has an incomparable panoramic view over the Chiana Valley and its numerous churches and palaces. You will enjoy a delicious lunch before your ride back to the valley.          

     Accommodation: Villa Piazzano

Day 3: Piazzano - Perugia, 29 mi. (46 km)
Just like Hannibal with his Punic army, you approach Lake Trasimeno and pedal across the battlefield where he vanquished the Romans in 217 BC. As you pedal along the shore of the largest lake of the Apennine peninsula, your backdrop will be the beautiful views of the islands and the hill towns above it. The olive oil from this region is reputed to be Italy's best.  It is the starting point for an afternoon exploration of this architecturally impressive town with its cathedral, the Fontana Maggiore, and the Etruscan arch. The gorgeous spa area in this hotel invites you to relax. On a guided city walk, you will get to know the extraordinary city with its crooked streets and numerous cultural monuments. A special highlight is an underground part among the Rocca Paolina. There is enough time for an aperitif in one of the many lively places before you enjoy dinner in one of the best restaurants in the city.

     Accommdation: Brufani Palace

Day 4: Perugia - Montefalco,  24 mi. (39 km)
In the morning, we take the bus or train from Perugia to Assisi. Very few towns in Umbria have preserved its medieval character as well as Assisi. The highlight of your city tour with a local guide is the Church of St. Francis decorated with the wonderful frescoes by Giotto. In the afternoon, a cycling tour is scheduled that starts with a panoramic route through the olive groves on the flanks of Mount Subasio. Then via the flower-decorated alleyways of charming Spello, you pedal to Bevagna which has one of the most beautiful village squares in central Italy. Situated a little below Montefalco, the secluded estate of "Villa Zuccari" will accommodate you for two nights. The stately country house of the Zuccari family has its origins in the 16th-century.

     Accommodation: Villa Santa Barbara

Day 5: Montefalco, 10 mi. (16 km)
In the morning, you will visit Montefalco – the balcony of Umbria. The little town rises high above the environs and offers a fantastic panoramic view of the amazing landscape. If the weather is good you can look to Perugia and Spoleto. You visit an oil mill founded by Etruscans, and there will still be enough time to stroll around the narrow streets before a pleasant descent takes you down the hill. At the sun-spoilt hillsides of Montefalco, some of the best Italian vines produce grapes for wine. That is surely a reason you will visit numerous vineyards and can be assured of the extraordinary quality of the local products. It is only a short way to the beautiful Villa Zuccari, where the afternoon ends.

      Accommodation: Villa Santa Barbara

Day 6: Montefalco - Rieti, 30 mi. (48 km)
Our morning route to Spoleto passes mostly on flat terrain. Load your bikes and take an escalator to get to the old town. A walk takes you through a maze of narrow streets and places to the cathedral and the Ponte delle Torri. After that, a bus takes you to a place called Piediluco, situated directly on a beautiful lake. After having lunch, you could even take a refreshing bath before cycling southwards. Soon you will have reached the border to the Latium region. The landscape seems to be wilder here. Your destination for today is the beautiful city Rieti which luckily was spared from the earthquake in August 2016. Your lodging is located on the river and in the pedestrian street of Rieti, in the Hotel Quattro Stagioni. As on Sunday lunch is included in the tour price, the evening is free to spend how you wish. There are numerous excellent restaurants.

     Accommodation: Hotel Quattro Stagioni

Day 7: Rieti - Rome, 22 mi. (35 km)
After breakfast, a bus transfer takes you up to the Sabine Mountains to the Lago del Turano. Craggy cliffs tower high in the air all around the lake. It is hard to believe that you are just a few miles away from the rolling hills of the Tuscany and Umbria regions. Passing the little town Castel di Tora, you cycle along the lake. The number of inhabitants of this isolated mountain town has been decreasing for the last century. The young people move to the cities to search for jobs, while the older generation has stayed. The route continues through rugged landscape before the bus takes you to Rome. Only 300 meters away from the Colosseum, the comfortable Mercure Centro Colosseo awaits you. There is enough time for a city walk to the Colosseum or to take an aperitif before meeting for dinner in a typical restaurant.

      Accommodation: Mercure Centro Colosseo

Day 8: Rome, departure 
In the morning, a city walk with your tour guide is offered through the antique part of Rome. Visit the Colosseum (from the outside) and the Forum Romanum. The walk ends at the statehouse with a wonderful panoramic view of the city. By noon your trip ends back at the hotel. If time allows, we highly recommend an independent visit to the Vatican (not included as part of the package)! A wonderful way to end your tour in Italy. If you are not traveling by train, there are also good connections to reach the airport.

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Accommodations

Very good 4* accommodations with historical ambience. Three overnight stays in former country villas. Good cuisine based on local products.

Bicycles

Touring Bike

Relaxed upright cycling position

• Alloy frame
• Flat handlebar
• Enviolo NuVinci Optimized - stepless transmission
• Gear span comparative to an 18-gear bike
• Flat pedal
• Shimano V Brakes
• Saddle bags