All my outdoors…

Thanks to Conanil

Tuscany is one of the best tourist destinations to visit in Italy. Most tourists think that there are only museums and arts but it’s not all…

The most famous area of Tuscany is called: “The wine road”.  In this area there are 2 of the most important Tuscany’s attractions: Florence and Pisa, cities rich of historical and artistic resources.

Florence is the city where were born famous people like Leonardo, Giotto, Dante and Brunelleschi. Siena is the native land of the “Palio”, an event that every summer attracts thousand of visitors to see this medieval horse ride.

The terrain between these cities is formed by 2 parts, one called “Chianti” (typical hilly landscape easy to bike famous for its wine productions) and one called “Via Franchigena” (A medieval way used to connect Europe with Jerusalem)

Thanks to Lorenzopierini

What to see:

The main attractions to visit are Florence (the capital of Tuscany) and the Chianti Region (Radda in Chianti and Passo dei Pecorai towns).

Florence was the cradle of the Italian renaissance. Most of the sites lie in Florence’s compact historical center.

Top places worth a visit in Florence

• Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio - The heart of the historic center and a free open-air sculpture exhibit like the Michelangelo’s David. The medieval Palazzo Vecchio contains decorated public rooms and private apartments.
• The Dome also know as the “Cattedrale Santa Maria del Fiore” - It’s a Gothic building that can hold 20,000 people.
• The Baptistry of John the Baptist - Is a 11th century building. Inside, you can see some mosaics and a marble pavement of the zodiac.
• The Campinile, bell tower, is in Piazza del Duomo. It’s a 414 stairs building that offers great views of the Cathedral and its dome and the surroundings of Florence.
• The Ponte Vecchio (old bridge) -  It’s a medieval bridge that cross the Arno River.
• The Galleria degli Uffizi - It holds the world’s most important collection of Renaissance art (paintings, antique sculptures, illuminations, etc…)
• Galleria dell’ Accademia - It holds the Michelangelo’s David, probably the most famous sculpture in the world.
• Piazza Santa Croce, is the largest Franciscan church in Italy and holds the tombs of several important Florentines including Michelangelo and Dante.

Thanks to Marcoannunziata

Radda in Chianti was a feudal centre and a medieval residence from the XIII century onwards. Towards the middle of the XIII century, Florence affirmed its dominion here because of Radda’s strategic importance. Starting from 1384 it became capital of the Chianti League, as is shown by the oldest preserved statutes.

In the middle of the 1300s, on the orders of the Florentine government, the wall of the castle were reinforced, and new fortifications were needed after the Aragonese invasion in 1478 during which the Radda castle was conquered and devastated. From 1500’s Radda was principally an active agricultural centre.

Among the most important monuments to see in Radda in Chianti You can visit:

• The Pieve di San Giusto in Salcio
• The Pieve di San Polo in Rosso
• The Palazzo del Podestà
• The Convento di San Martino al Prato

Thanks to Marie_tess
Top attractions to visit in Siena:

• The Public square - It’s the heart of Siena. It’s called Piazza del Campo, a semi-circular square that met the three ancient roads that crossed the city (one from Rome, one from Florence and one from the Maremma) and towards it slope three hills on which the town extends.
• The Palio of Siena - A medieval horse race born nearly in the 1100s, held in the city streets. The starting point was Porta Romana and the finishing line was the Duomo. Now it takes place in Piazza del Campo.  Only ten contradas were permitted to take part in any Palio.
• The Dome - It’s an examples of the Italian Romanesque-gothic architecture
• The National Pinacoteque - It’s a collection of manufacts begun by Abbot Giuseppe Ciaccheri in late XVIII the century. There are roughly 700 paintings of the greatest Sienese masters and painters.
• The Museum of the Opera -  In its inside is possible to see paintings, sculptures, sacred ornaments and vestments, jewellery, and illuminated manuscripts.
• The Civic museum - The most important thing to visit is the “Sala del Mappamondo”, which hosts Simone Martini’s Maestà, the Sala della Pace and the Sala dei Nove, decorated with a series of frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti.

Colle di Val d’ Elsa - lies in the heart of Tuscany, in a strategically favourable position near the towns of Siena, Florence and Volterra, on the via Francigena  way which connects Rome with the North. The history of Colle di Val d’Elsa is characterised by frequent episodes of violence.

One of the most famous of these was the battle of 1269 between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. This town is well known for its production of glass and crystal, also known as the Bohemia of Italy in the 19 century.

Volterra, one of the most important cities in the Etruscan Confederation, is an hilly town rich in alabaster, the working of which was an important industry of the city.

Worth a visit in Volterra:

• The cathedral which altar is adorned with sculpture by Mino da Fiesole and pictures like the “Annunciation” by Luca Signorelli.
• The Palazzo Tagani houses an important museum of Etruscan and Roman antiquities.

Thanks to Ccgd
Pisa is famous for the presence of the Leading tower and for the fact that here were born famous people like: Galileo Galilei; Antonio Pacinotti; Ippolito Rosellini; Giovanni Pisano; Antonio Pisanello.

Also visit:

• The Campo dei Miracoli (Piazza Duomo), one of the most famous sights in Italy and the world. Close by stands there is the world-famous Leaning Tower (bell tower, started in 1173).
• The main events like: The Regata Storica di S. Ranieri (17th June); Opera and art exhibitions at the Giardino Scatto; Regata delle Repubbliche Marinare (every four years); Galileo Galilei Award (autumn).

Benefits to cycle in Tuscany

• Breathtaking panoramas
• A travel across centuries of the history and culture of Italy
• Easy to bike paths
• Mild climate all the year
• Cities have good cycling paths

Drawbacks

• High temperatures and humidity during summer months
• Some roads could be not easy in the hills of Chianti region

Suggestions

• Choose spring or autumnal months (March to October, August excluded)
• Buy a topographic map or a GPS
• The terrain has sweet descent and climb.  70% of roads are asphalted.
• Tours recommended for those who have little experience of biking.

You’ll need this type of equipment:

• City Bike (you can rent it or carry yours)
• Water proof jacket
• Sun Cream
• Repairs for your bike
• First aid kit

Read more about Italy’s adventures:

• A relaxing tour of Italy’s adventure spots
• Guide to hiking in the Dolomites (Italian Alps)
• An adventure tour of the east coast of Sicily island in Italy
• The secrets of Sicily - Biking in the east coast
• Top 10 outdoor activities and adventure trips in Italy
• Tips To Plan An Active Travel

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