Bloomingdales: Travel Perks

DuVine Tuscany Bike Tour

DuVine Tuscany!

Essential Italy: what locals love beyond Siena and Florence

Tour Highlights: 

• Learn the family recipes that have been handed down over generations as you cook with our friend Lina in her 15th-century home
• Spend a night in historic Pienza, a place of architectural heritage named for the Pope who made it his mission to transform the town into an ideal Renaissance city
• Pedal through UNESCO-recognized landscapes of wheat fields where scenes from Gladiator were famously filmed
• Meet Paolo and his mother at their olive mill for a home-cooked lunch and olive oil tasting featuring products grown on the farm

Eat: Hand-rolled pici pasta, pecorino cheese, olio nuovo (fresh-pressed olive oil), truffles, fava beans, artichokes, chestnuts, porcini mushrooms, Chianina beef, and cinghiale (wild boar)

Drink: World-famous wines from the local Sangiovese grape, including Brunello, Chianti Classico, and Vino Nobile; Sangiovese hybrids called Super Tuscans; and—in classic Italian fashion—espresso and cappuccino.

 Itinerary: 

DAY 1) La Dolce Vita

Meet our guides at the Chiusi train station for a transfer to Pienza, a Renaissance town in the heart of Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia. Check into our boutique hotel and tuck into lunch before we set off for our first ride into the countryside. You’ll feel as though you’ve traveled back to the 13th century while pedaling on the cobbled streets of tiny Petroio and greeting locals as they tend their olive groves. Choose your own adventure with longer or shorter ride options. This evening, stretch your legs with a stroll through Pienza before a traditional Tuscan dinner.

Meals: Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Pienza, Petroio
Accomplished: 17 miles / 28 km, elevation gain: 497 meters
Longer Option: 24 miles / 39 km, elevation gain: 705 meters
Accommodations: Bandita Townhouse

DAY 2) Montalcino: Castles, Brunello, and Home-Cooking

Set off riding through the Val d’Orcia, an area so beautiful that UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site—you may also recognize it from the movie Gladiator’s famous wheat field scene. Climb up to the craggy medieval fortress of Castiglione for a coffee stop (a key component of Italian cycling culture), then enjoy an endless downhill through the olive groves. The final push brings us to our favorite Brunello winery, where the reward for our efforts is a gorgeous tasting lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool or getting pampered at the spa of our five-star castle hotel. This evening we’ll head into Montalcino for a cooking class and dinner in the 15th-century home of our friend Lina.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Montichiello, Castiglione d’Orcia, Montalcino
Accomplished: 24 miles / 39 km, elevation gain: 681 meters
Longer Option: 39 miles / 62 km, elevation gain: 1,063 meters
Accommodations: Castello di Velona

DAY 3) Hilltown Loop

Today’s loop ride begins with a climb to Montalcino, followed by a downhill section through vineyards into the Asso Valley (home to some of Italy’s finest truffles). Pedal along the valley floor, then follow a scenic ridgeline to our friend Paolo’s olive mill for lunch cooked by his mother and a tasting of organic olive oil. After lunch, revel in majestic views towards the dormant volcano of Monte Amiata as we pedal to medieval San Quirico. From here, complete the full loop ride or opt for a quick shuttle back to the hotel. This evening, treat yourself to some rest and relaxation at the hotel before another satisfying dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Montalcino, San Giovanni d’Asso, Castelmuzio, San Quirico
Accomplished: 33 miles / 54 km, elevation gain: 882 meters
Longer Option: 49 miles / 81 km, elevation gain: 1,378 meters
Accommodations: Castello di Velona

DAY 4) Across the Crete Senesi: Monks and Masterpieces

Say goodbye to the Castello di Velona as we ride through the mystical morning light that bathes the Romanesque Abbey of Sant’Antimo. Pedal across the Brunello region before we stop for a visit of the Renaissance frescoes at the Abbey of Monte Oliveto. After a picnic lunch, continue riding along the open ridges of this scenic landscape. Opt for an earlier van transfer or continue cycling all the way to our final hotel. Tonight, head into the medieval city of Siena to explore and dine there, or stay close and delight in dinner at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Destinations: Buonconvento, Monte Oliveto, Asciano, Siena
Accomplished: 28 miles / 46 km, elevation gain: 635 meters
Longer Option: 48 miles / 77 km, elevation gain: 1,211 meters
Accommodations: Borgo San Felice or Castel Monastero

DAY 5) Chianti Classico: The Tuscan Heartland

Olive and cypress trees surround us as we ride deep into the hills of Chianti. We’ll see plenty of fortified hamlets and castles—relics of Florence and Siena’s 300-year struggle for regional dominance and ownership over the birthplace of Chianti Classico wines found in ancient cellars around the area. Pedal past countless estates as we weave our way through forests and vineyards to lunch with our friend Max at his innovative bistro. After lunch, opt for a longer ride or a straight shot back to the hotel. We’ll regroup in the evening for a tasting of San Felice’s famous wines and a festive final dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Destinations: Castelnuovo, Brolio, Castagnoli
Accomplished: 30 miles / 49 km, elevation gain: 744 meters
Longer Option: 39 miles / 63 km, elevation gain: 955 meters
Accommodations: Borgo San Felice or Castel Monastero

DAY 6) Ride to Florence

On our last day, choose between a late morning at the hotel or ride all the way across Chianti for a triumphant finish in Florence’s Piazzale Michelangelo. Whether you rode here or took a transfer, we say our goodbyes with the stunning Florentine skyline as our backdrop as guides see you off to your next adventure.

Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Panzano, Greve, Florence
Optional Ride: 30 miles / 48 km, elevation gain: 713 meters
Longer Option: 41 miles / 66 km, elevation gain: 1,017 meters

*DuVine itineraries may be subject to slight route changes, hotel substitutions, and other modifications.

ARRIVAL DETAILS 

-Airport City: Rome or Florence, Italy

-Pick-Up Location: Chiusi Train Station

-Pick-Up Time: 11:00 am

DEPARTURE DETAILS 

-Airport City: Rome or Florence, Italy

-Drop-Off Location: Florence Piazzale Michelangelo

-Drop-Off Time: 1:30 pm

INCLUSIONS + DETAILS 

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