Tuscany – Routes
There is a law that protects Tuscan gravel roads (Strade Bianche) and prevents them from being paved, this is allowing the network of roads that cross the hills of the Tuscan landscape known throughout the world to be maintained.
You will find a wide variety of roads, the Strade Bianche made famous by the Eroica, the streets of the Castles and Vineyards of Chianti, the roads that climb the woods of the Amiata volcano, little traffic and lots of fun.
Eroica and Strade Bianche (Chianti area)
We are in the Chianti area, change of views, but equal satisfaction in riding these gravel roads
The route passes through the villages that you can read on the labels of the best bottles of Chianti wine: Panzano in Chianti, Fonterutoli, Radda in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti (only to name few of them).
Eroica and Strade Bianche (Val d’Orcia area)
We leave the Chianti vineyards area to ride the Southern loop of the Eroica.
The route is mostly on gravel roads across the Crete Senesi. We ride trough the nicest village of Tuscany, Lucignano (IMHO) and we climb Sante Marie Hills the ascent dedicated to Fabian Cancellara where the “Strade Bianche” races is often decided. The last climb of the day take us to Piazza del Campo in Siena.
Historical ancient villages
Route of the towered villages, Volterra, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni the arrives with the final climb in Siena’s famous Piazza del Campo. The route has beautiful roads that cross the cradle of the Etruscan civilization (600 BC) which came to us after the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
Amiata volcano
The whole ride is on an extinct volcano covered with trees. The loop around the volcano is one of the longest climbs of Tuscany. Where you have a volcano you have hot springs… at the end of the ride you will go for a wild swim in the warm waters of the creek of Bagni San Filippo.
Chapels, Monasteries, and Abbeys
Any part you turn to look around, all across the territory, you see a chapel, a monastery or an abbey, usually perched on a hilltop in a secluded location. There’s no hamlet, even with just a handful of houses, without a church or any other place of worship.
Tuscany is a region rich in abbeys and monasteries, beautiful places of faith, full of spirituality, all this with an incredible historical and artistic value. Even if you are not a believer, you’ll be amazed and fascinated by the simple beauty of these suggestive places, extraordinary examples of harmony between man and nature.