Mountain bike tour
MOUNTAIN BIKE GUIDED TOURS FOR VILLA IL SASSO GENERAL INDEX
- SAN GIMIGNANO AND THE VERNACCIA WINE ROAD
- BIKING THE MEDIEVAL CHIANTI
- THE CASTLES AND MEDICEAN VILLAS OF MUGELLO
- MONTE MORELLO, THE FLORENTINE MOUNTAIN BIKERS’ PARADISE
- SAN GIMIGNANO AND THE VIA FRANCIGENA
- THE ACQUACHETA WATERFALLS IN THE FORESTE CASENTINESI NATIONAL PARK
- THE MEDIEVAL HILLTOP VILLAGES OF VAL D’ORCIA, A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
- BIKING THROUGH THE VINEYARDS OF BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
- THE ROOFLESS ABBEY OF SAN GALGANO AND THE PETRIOLO THERMAL BATH
- ARCHEO-RIDE TO THE RUINS OF THE MONTEDOMENICHI FORTRESS
- THE ETRUSCAN TOMBS OF CHIANTI
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE BIKE TOURS :
– Duration : Full day
– Number of participants : 1 to 8
– The transfer from Villa il Sasso to each bike tour starting point and back will be done with your own vehicle following the biking guide’s car, unless you’re a small party (up to 4
people) : in this case the biking guide will be happy to give you a free lift with his own car.
– Good quality front suspended 27 speed mountain bikes with helmets and water bottles are
available for rent at the price of 20 euros per person (only for guided tours)
– Lunch is on your own, as well as any possible wine tasting you may choose
– Custom versions of each ride for big groups
– Road bike versions of each tour listed above (except the Acquacheta Waterfalls and the
Montedomenichi Fortress) are available upon request, as well as custom versions for bigger groups.
THE BIKE TOURS IN DETAIL :
SAN GIMIGNANO AND THE VERNACCIA WINE ROAD
The route : It’s a 13 km. (partly on easy dirt roads) circular loop (up to 26 km. optional for more advanced riders) along the scenic ridge of the hills around San Gimignano, following the famous wine road of Vernaccia di San Gimignano across an endless sea of vineyards. A stop at a local winery for a guided visit at its cellars and wine tasting of Vernaccia di San Gimignano can be included upon request
Skill level : beginners
Highlights : The famous medieval town of San Gimignano.A guided visit at the cellars of a local winery with wine tasting of Vernaccia di San Gimignano (optional)
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 09:00 am (back at the hotel before 4 pm)
Bike tour starting point : Località Pietrafitta, at 45 minutes drive from Villa il Sasso.
Price : 200 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.
BIKING THE MEDIEVAL CHIANTI
The route : we will follow a 22 km. (partly on easy dirt roads) circular loop (up to 40 km. optional for more advanced riders) across the picturesque hills of Chianti Classico, covered with vineyards, olive groves and woodland.
A stop at a local winery for a guided visit at its cellars and wine tasting of Chianti Classico can be included upon request
Skill level : beginners to intermediate
Highlights : The medieval village of Panzano, the Romanesque parish church of San Leonino, the tiny castle of Montefioralle, the famous market square of Greve in Chianti.
The guided visit at the cellars of a local winery with wine tasting of Chianti Classico (optional)
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 09:00 am (back at the hotel before 4 pm)
Bike tour starting point : Greve in Chianti, at 30 minutes drive from Villa il Sasso.
Price : 200 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.
THE CASTLES AND MEDICEAN VILLAS OF MUGELLO
The route : It’s a circular loop through the picturesque Mugello valley through castles, Medicean Villas and Romanesque parish churches. 3 different length options are available for this ride : 23, 29 or 38 km. partly on dirt roads.
Skill level : beginners to intermediate to advanced
Highlights : The fortified medieval village of Scarperia (worldwide famous for its craftmade knives), the Trebbio castle, the Medicean Villa of Cafaggiolo, the Romanesque parish church of sant’Agata, (one of the most ancient and best preserved of the whole region)
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 09:00 am (back at the hotel before 4 pm)
Bike tour starting point : Borgo San Lorenzo, at 50 minutes drive from Villa Il Sasso
Price : 200 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.
MONTE MORELLO, THE FLORENTINE MOUNTAIN BIKERS’ PARADISE
The route : It’s a circular loop through the cypress tree, coppice and conifer woods inside the Monte Morello Territorial Park, the scenic mountain that overlooks Florence from its south-eastern slopes and the Mugello Valley from its Northernmost peaks, a real mountain biker’s playground : 3
different length options are available for this ride : 13, 28 or 40 km. partly offroad.
Skill level : beginners to intermediate to advanced
Highlights : Breathtaking views over Florence and Mugello as far as the Appennine mountains
range.
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 09:00 am (back at the hotel before 4 pm)
Bike tour starting point : Sesto Fiorentino, at 30 minutes drive from Villa Il Sasso
Price : 200 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.
SAN GIMIGNANO AND THE VIA FRANCIGENA
The route : It’s a 31 km. (partly offroad ) circular loop (up to 44 km. optional for more advanced riders) that follows the footsteps of the ancient pilgrims who were walking along this itinerary towards Rome since the High Middle Ages. During this ride we will be passing evocative medieval villages and partly abandoned Romanesque parish churches.
Skill level : intermediate
Highlights : The famous medieval town of San Gimignano and the medieval village of Colle Val
d’Elsa
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 09:00 am (back at the hotel before 4 pm)
Bike tour starting point : Località Pietrafitta, at 45 minutes drive from Villa il Sasso.
Price : 200 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.
THE ACQUACHETA WATERFALLS IN THE FORESTE CASENTINESI NATIONAL PARK
The route : It’s a 27 km. (2 thirds offroad) circular loop across the scenic Apennine mountains to the famous Acquacheta Waterfall (which was mentioned by Dante in his Divina Commedia) inside the Foreste Casentinesi National Park
Skill level : intermediate
Highlights : The scenic Acquacheta Waterfall (and others smaller waterfalls where you can dive in) and the 9 creek fords to reach the top of the main waterfall
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 08:00 am (back at the hotel before 5 pm)
Bike tour starting point : San Benedetto in Alpe, at 1 hour drive from Villa il Sasso.
Price : 200 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.
THE MEDIEVAL VILLAGES OF VAL D’ORCIA, A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
The route : It’s a 33 km. (partly on dirt roads) circular loop inside the Val d’Orcia Natural Artistic and Cultural Park : we’ll be biking through quaint medieval and renaissance villages in a stunning landscape that was recently added in the UNESCO World Heritage List
Skill level : intermediate
Highlights : The medieval fortified villages of Montefollonico, Montepulciano, Monticchiello and the charming Renaissance town of Pienza
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 08:00 am (back at the hotel before 5 pm)
Bike tour starting point : Osteria delle noci, at 1 hour and 10 minutes drive from Villa il Sasso.
Price : 250 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.
BIKING THROUGH THE VINEYARDS OF BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
The route : It’s a 31 km. (partly on dirt roads) through the vineyards around Montalcino where the worldwide famous Brunello wine is produced. Biking entirely inside the Val d’Orcia Natural Artistic and Cultural Park, (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), we’ll also take our time to cycle through the scenic medieval hilltop village of Montalcino, enjoying breathtaking views over the whole Val d’Orcia.
A stop at a local winery for a guided visit at its cellars and wine tasting of Brunello di Montalcino can be included upon request.
Skill level : intermediate
Highlights : The scenic medieval hilltop village of Montalcino and the stunning landscape of Val d’Orcia
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 08:00 am (back at the hotel before 5 pm)
Bike tour starting point : Torrenieri, at 1 hour and a half drive from Villa Il Sasso
Price : 250 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.
THE ROOFLESS ABBEY OF SAN GALGANO AND THE PETRIOLO THERMAL BATH
The route : It’s a 41 km. minivan-supported crossing (all on paved quiet country roads) from Rosia to Bagni di Petriolo. During the ride we’ll take our time to visit the evocative roofless abbey of San Galgano and the Montesiepi hermitage with its famous sword in the rock, before heading to Bagni di Petriolo Thermal Springs, where a well deserved bath into its warm thermal waters will be a great way to relax after the ride. So don’t forget to bring your swimsuit and a towel (which will be carried by the minivan, anyway!).
Skill level : intermediate
Highlights : The roofless abbey of San Galgano, the Montesiepi hermitage and the Petriolo
Thermal Baths
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 08:00 am (back at the hotel before 5 pm)
Bike tour starting point : Rosia, at 1 hour and 10 minutes drive from Villa il Sasso
Bike tour arriving point : Bagni di Petriolo, at 1 hour and 15 minutes drive from Villa il Sasso
Price : 500 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.
ARCHEO-RIDE TO THE RUINS OF THE MONTEDOMENICHI FORTRESS
The route : It’s a 36 km. (partly on dirt roads and offroad) circular loop across Monte San Michele, (the highest mountain of Chianti) to the evocative ruins of the late medieval fortress of Montedomenichi
Skill level : intermediate to advanced
Highlights : The ruins of the late medieval fortress of Montedomenichi and the crossing of the scenic Monte San Michele, the highest mountain of Chianti
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 08:00 am (back at the hotel before 5 pm)
Bike tour starting point : Greve in Chianti, at 30 minutes drive from Villa Il Sasso
Price : 200 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.
THE ETRUSCAN TOMBS OF CHIANTI
The route : It’s a 42 km. (partly on dirt roads) circular loop in the heart of Chianti Classico, past Romanesque parish churches and quaint medieval hilltop villages to the evocative Etruscan necropolis of Poggino and to the huge Etruscan tomb of Montecalvario.
Skill level : intermediate to advanced
Highlights : The romanesqu parish churches of Badiola and San Giusto in Salcio, the medieval fortified villages of Castellina, Lecchi, Ama and Fonterutoli, the Etruscan necropolis of Poggino and the Etruscan tomb of Montecalvario.
A stop at a local winery for a guided visit at its cellars and wine tasting of Chianti Classico can be included upon request
Departure from Villa il Sasso : 09:00 am (back at the hotel before 4 pm)
Bike tour starting point : Caastellina in Chianti, at 45 minutes drive from Villa Il Sasso
Price : 200 euros per party (to be splitted among the participants), plus 20 euros per person for mountain bike rent.