You will be met at Pisa airport and transferred to Siena (approx 2 hours). We’ll have time to build our bike before a briefing on the exciting week to come. A first taste of Italian cuisine will mark the start of our journey.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 850 Metres Approx.

We’ll leave Siena through the ancient town gates and begin our journey south on the Via Francigena and into the Crete Sienesi. Arriving near the ancient Etruscan hamlet of Murlo, time permitting we’ll come off the Via Francigena route and enjoy a fun ride on narrow trails by the Crevole River then up a former mining railway track to Murlo.

Picking up the Via again, we’ll head to Buonconvento were we’ll have time to stop for a refreshing break and visit to the fortified walls. The next section over rolling hills will lead us to San Quirico, a medieval hamlet with a quaint centre were we stop for the night.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 1,000 Metres Approx.

From San Quirico, we head towards the Orcia valley on a roller coaster track before descending on a fun trail to the medieval hamlet of Bagno Vignoni with its healing baths and water nymphs. After resting and taking time to explore the hot water springs, we’ll head right into the centre of the UNESCO heritage site of Valle D‘Orcia.

From here we’ll start a steady climb towards Radicofani along some well surfaced strade bianche (Italy’s famous white roads). Once here we spend some time in Radicofani relaxing and absorbing the local sites before checking into our accommodation.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 750 Metres Approx.

From Radicofani we bike along one of the most exciting sections of the Via Francigena. Leaving the hamlet behind we’ll ride along the old Via Cassia, the Roman route to Rome, now a cobbled trail surrounded by stunning scenery and dominated by Monte Amiata. A break is taken in Acquapedente, famous for the Romanesque crypt beneath the Basilica del Santo Sepolcro where, according to tradition, some stones bathed in the blood of Christ are thought to have been kept.

Getting back in the saddle we continue biking towards Lazio and Lake Bolsena. The view of the lake will open up as we descend through meadows scattered with olive trees, until we reach Bolsena itself. There we spend time in the evening exploring its fortress and narrow streets.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Ascent: 950 Metres Approx.

A stunning route that’s initially on a mix of forest trails and singletrack, through woods and olive groves. As we descend into the lower plains we’ll cross an area famous for the production of olive oil, before arriving in Montefiascone where we take a cappuccino break in one of its lovely piazzas.

The next section into Viterbo takes us across cultivated countryside, with the option of stopping off at the thermal waters of Bagnaccioa, before proceeding towards Viterbo. From here we carry on to Vetralla, where the ride ends.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 600 Metres Approx.

After exploring Vetralla, we ride through the green countryside of Lazio, to reach Sutri. This is a small town rich in attractions and includes the Roman amphitheatre which is not to be missed.

Moving on, we pass the waterfalls of Mount Gelato as we head to the lovely town of Campagnano.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 650 Metres Approx.

Leaving Campagnano we enter the Park of Veio and the Valle del Sorbo on a stunning singletrack, before stopping at Formello village. Along the way we’ll be able to see the sanctuary of the Madonna del Sorbo and the old town centre of Formello, with its fine medieval buildings.

From here we take the cyclepath beside the River Tevere, which will lead us to the gates of the Vatican City and St. Peter Square where our journey ends.

• Meals: Breakfast

Time for one last delicious breakfast, before transferring to the airport for flights home (approx 1 hour). Ciao!