Cycling and Cooking in Tuscany – 7 Days
Type of tour: Guided
Level: 2
Duration: 6 Nights
Distance: 30 Miles/day average
Dates:Saturdays: Apr 18, May 2, Sep 19, Oct 17, 2015
Tour price: €2450
Start city: Chiusi, Italy
End city: Chiusi, Italy
Tour Description
Welcome to the trip that combines fantastic bicycle routes and cooking lessons, all in Italy’s famous region of Tuscany. After you have worked up an appetite biking through the rolling landscape of Tuscany, you will cook and eat the best food!
La Cucina Toscana is simplicity in its purest form. Tuscan cooks have the freshest seasonal products at their disposal, including olive oil, wine and cheese, and do very little to alter their natural state. Most days will include a hands-on cooking class or a tasting at a local food artisan. You will also dine out at a simple osteria, family trattorias, and elegant restaurants.
Cyclists will explore gorgeous loop rides in beautiful Val d’orcia, passing such highlights as Pienza, Montalcino and San Quirico. The routes cross Val di Chiana, through Cortona to Crete Senesi and on to Siena.
Return home inspired, not only with new recipes to try, but also with the enthusiasm to cultivate the lessons you learn into your lifestyle!
Highlights: Guided Daily Program: Guided Day 1: Welcome to Podere Boscarello Day 2: Cortona & Vin Santo (31 miles/50 km) Lunch will be at Le Loggette, a great restaurant with terrace overlooking the main square: let’s taste the appetizer : prosciutto crudo toscano, finocchiona (salami with fennel), bresaola with lemon, panzanella (typical bread tuscan salad), rucola salad with parmisan and mushrooms. Transfer back to the villa for the first cooking lesson: mixed crostini, handmade ravioli with spinach and ricotta sheep milk, dessert will be tiramisu. Day 3: Montalcino, Brunello, and Pici (28 miles/45 km) Lunch and wine tasting at winery where you will savor brunello wine in the cellar. After lunch if there is available time, there is a short visit to Romanesque abbey of Sant’Antimo that dates back to the time of Charlemagne. Here the monks still perform the mass in Gregorian chant. Back to the villa for pici – the handrolled pasta of this region cooking lesson. Let’s learn the classic aglione sauce; tomato and spring garlic. Followed by Stinco di Chianina beaf, seasonal vegetables, rifatti spinach, or fried zucchini, and crostata. Day 4: Pienza and Pecorino Cheese (31 miles/50 km) Another 6 miles/10 km and you arrive in Pienza. It is a pristine Renaissance jewel created in 1458. Pope Pius II chose the famous Florentine architect Rossellino to transform his home village of Corsignano into one of the few examples left of 15th century architecture. The main product of the village is the pecorino, the delicious and pungent cheese made using only sheep milk. After your free time in town let’s go to the farm and see how pecorino cheese is made and have a little cheese and olive oil tasting. Return by van to villa to freshen up and enjoy tonight’s dinner at restaurant La Mencia in Asciano: chickpeas sauce, grilled capocollo, and chocolate cake with gelato. Day 5: Spas and Montepulciano (31 miles/50 km) Bold cypress trees line your route to the Orcia valley where you bike through the fields that inspired Renaissance painters. The final destination is the ancient Roman spa of Bagno Vignoni. Legend has it that Saint Catherine and Pope Pius II both bathed in the thermal waters here. You can take off your shoes and dip your toes in the rivulets that come warm from the earth. Back by van for your last cooking session: challenging Ravioli! For appetizer: carpaccio with mushrooms and crostini caldi with sausage and cheese. Then ravioli with tomato sauce and basil, follwed by dessert: panna cottawith chocolate dressing. Day 6: Siena, Le Crete and piece of Chianti Classic (31 miles/50 km) Back to the villa and time for a jump in the pool and some rest. Your farewell dinner will be ilconte matto, “tagliatelle fatte a mano” with porcini mushroom and “cinghiale dolce forte”, an old recipe wild boar cooked with chocolate. Day 7: Individual Departure Included Services: Guided Bike Rentals: Guided Equipment included with bike rental: Pedals: Seats: Helmets:
Meet at the Chiusi train station (a major stop on all the Rome-Florence lines). Private van transfer to the villa in time for the welcome pool side aperitivo and bike fitting session. Enjoy the welcome dinner at the villa drinking Chianti wine.
After breakfast you leave by bike from the villa and reach Trequanda. Once here the ride continues with a nice and long downhill to the flat “the Val di Chiana” once a swampy lowland. After a final climb you will reach the old town on the hill Cortona: one’s of Italy’s oldest towns. The first set of city walls were built by the Etruscans in the 4th century BC. It became famous by Frances Mayes in her bestselling book “Under the Tuscan sun” now also a movie!!
Your ride starts from the villa with the first stop being Monte Oliveto Magiore Abbey. Then ride downhill to Buonconvento and reach Montalcino. The hill town is very famous for Brunello wine made with the Sangiovese Grosso grape and aged a minimum of four years
Start from villa and reach San Giovanni d’Asso, famous for its valuable white truffles. Next stop is San Quirico d’Orcia where there is a superb example of the Italian garden: the Horti Leonini, definitely worth the visit!
Your ride today starts from the villa. The first stage is the village of Montepulciano, known as the Pearl of the Sixteenth Century. Do not miss the visit at underground wine cellar “cantine del redi”, and have a short taste of “nobile” wine. Get back in the saddle and your next stop will be in the village of Monticchiello, the quintessential Tuscan hill town.
After breakfast you will depart from the villa. Pass through Asciano and Le Crete area, with strange rock formations and a lone farmhouse flanked by twin cypress trees. From Taverne we take a little road which bring us at Castelnuovo Berardenga. Relax and stop for a cappuccino in the central square and open market. After a brief rest, pedal through vineyards and forest and arrive in Siena. Go soon to visit the shell shape square where the Palio horserace is ran and enjoy a free lunch on your own.
Transfer to Chiusi train station is provided and included.
Bikes available for rent (in advance at the time of booking) on this tour are:
Hybrid touring bike, 27 or 30 speed, equipped with:
The bikes will have toe clips or flat pedals. You can also bring your own pedals and shoes, along with the necessary equipment for installing the pedals.
If you plan to bring your own seat, please don’t bring the seat post. The tour compnay can assist you with installing.
Helmets are required on this tour. Helmets are included in the tour package, however we recommend you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene reasons.
