Below a selection of
our proposals:
Title |
Description |
Duration |
Difficulty |
 |
Walking tour around
Radda in Chianti |
Walking tour that permit to visite the quiet
village of Volpaia and the solitary Parish church of S. Maria
Novella, places of extreme interest in the Pesa Valley |
½
day |
Middle |
 |
Parish churches
and castles of the Val di Pesa (Radda and Volpaia) |
Walk on a ring route that permit to visite
the quiet village of Volpaia and the solitary Parish church
of S. Maria Novella, places of extreme interest in the Pesa
Valley |
1
day
|
Middle |
 |
Bike tour around
Radda in Chianti |
Biking tour for hybrid bike or mountain bike
between Radda and Gaiole in sienese Chianti |
½
day |
Middle |
 |
Castles, parish
churces and monasteries of sienese Chianti |
Bike tour for hybrid bike or mountain bike
between Radda and Gaiole in sienese Chianti |
1
day
|
Middle |
 |
I terzieri
of the League of Chianti
|
Biking
tour for hybrid bicycles or mountain bikes to explore the Chianti
region within the province of Siena
|
|
High |
 |
The castles in the
Cintoia Valley
|
Hiking
tour among the natural and historical treasures of the rich
green valley of Cintoia, one of the least known areas in the
Chianti region within the province of Florence
|
1
day
|
Middle |
 |
Ring route of Greve
in Chianti |
Walking
tour in the valley around Greve in Chianti to visit the beautiful
churches and castles of the area
|
|
Low |
 |
In the land of "Mona
Lisa" |
Bike Tour
for hybrid bicycles or mountain bikes to discover that part
of Chianti where Leonardo's Gioconda spent her life |
½
day |
Middle |
 |
The
course of «L'Eroica»
|
Dirt roads,
vintage bicycles and a Tradition of competition
|
2
or 3 days
|
Middle/High |
Mountain
biking in Chianti
Scenic itineraries around Greve in Chianti
by Marco Antonio Pacenti
Chianti
is mostly hilly, with altitudes not exceeding 500-600 metres, with
the exception of Monte S. Michele which is 892m. For various reasons
the Chianti region has remained intact for centuries and is known
throughout the world for the red wine “Chianti Classico”..
It is a mistake, however, to limit interest in Chianti only to wine.
Chianti has extraordinary natural beauty, its air and streams are unpolluted.
Oak and chestnut woods, cypress and pine trees are interspersed with
carefully tended vineyards and olive groves which produce some of the
world’s finest wines and extra-virgin olive oil. The Romanesque
country churches, tabernacles, stone houses, renaissance villas and antique
villages are testimony to an extraordinary artistic and cultural heritage.
Immersed in this enchanting landscape one feels an incredible sense of
well-being.
We propose several excursions around Greve in Chianti, for mountain bike.
Please note: The times we have given is for riding without stopping to
explore the numerous places of interest en route.
The excursions start and finish at Greve, the little town which is the “capital” of
Chianti. Its charming, irregular central square, Piazza Mercatale, is
enclosed by loggias where once produce was gathered ready for sale and
now is lined with speciality shops. There are frequent fairs and exhibitions
in the square, including an annual autumn wine festival. A statue of
Verrazzano stands in the square. Born in Greve, the famous navigator
was the first European to sight what was to become New York.
I
Route: Greve in
Chianti – Montefioralle – Badia a Passignano –
Panzano in Chianti – Lamole – Greve in Chianti.
II
Route: Greve
in Chianti– Panzano
in Chianti– Volpaia - Badia
a Montemuro – S.Michele – Greve
in Chianti.
III
Route: Greve
in Chianti - Montefioralle
- Monte Calvario - Quattro Strade - Mercatale - Ferrone - Poneta
- Poggio ai Mandorli - Chiocchio - Nozzole - Passo dei Pecorai -
Greve in Chianti.
The
course of "L'Eroica"
Dirt
roads, vintage bicycles and a Tradition of competition
This unique yearly race has already achieved cult status, further
emphasizing the Chianti’s role as cycling haven. Launched
and promoted by the above-mentioned Associazione Parco Ciclistico
del Chianti, the Eroica maters less for its outcome than for the
love of the sport at heart of this spectacle. On this day cycling
takes a leap into the past, when dust, mud, sweat and courage split
Italy into two faction, each cheering on the rival champions Coppi
and Bartali.
Spectators are able to relive the excitement of raw athletic competition
and admire vintage bicycles and cycling jerseys whit competitors
pedal with space tubes slung around their necks as in days of yore.
The Chianti’s dirt roads are the real protagonists of the
race, simultaneously symbolising a more humane means of travelling
and an ecologically intact environment. The competitors sweat and
suffer while wearing the satisfied smile of participating in a pure
athletic challenge.
The race covers over one hundred kilometres of primarily unpaved
road (although a shorter circuit is also offered) departing from
and returning to Gaiole in Chianti. No mountain bikes or “modern”
bicycles are allowed: the objective is to be able to admire vintage
bicycles and jerseys. The racers are trailed by an entourage of
vintage automobiles and motorcycles. The Eroica race is usually
held during the final week-end in September, just as the grape harvest
is under way. Either as a participant or a spectator, the Eroica
race is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to relive the long-lost innocence
of cycling.
The "long" course is 205 km and is marked with permanent
signs, installed from Siena Provincial Council and Siena Tourism
Agency.
There are arrows indicating the right directions at all crossings
and signs indicating the distance to the nearest towns every 5 km.
The signs cover both the "long" and "medium"
(135 km) courses, while the "short" and "cyclotouristic"
courses are not covered.
Download long/medium courses map PDF
Download short/cyclotouristic courses map PDF
In all maps, the paved roads are light blue and gravel roads are
red; green marks the linking sections to "close" the medium
and cyclotouristic courses.
View the altimetry of long/medium courses
 |
 |
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