Meet at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) and transfer to the seaside resort of Riccione where we will build bikes and settle in time for dinner at one of the many local sea-front restaurants.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,220 Metres Approx.

We spend our first day on the bikes exploring a region of the Emilia Romagna hills which feature in the popular Grandfondo Nove Colli. Heading inland as soon as we leave town, it isn’t long before we are riding quiet country lanes and rolling through olive groves and vineyards.

We pass through Verucchio, marked by its prominent and impressive medieval castle before head into San Marino, Europe’s smallest republic where we stop for a bite to eat before descending back to sea-level and returning to Riccione for a second evening by the sea.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,425 Metres Approx.

Having enjoyed yesterday’s warm up, today really marks the start of our journey. We begin the day heading south, before bidding a final farewell to the calm waters of the Adriatic when we reach the Parco Regionale del Monte Bartolo and turn sharply inland.

It is here that the coastal views and sandy beaches give way to rolling hills and valleys and before long we will leave Romagna and enter Marche region and the foothills of the Apennine Mountains. Our day ends with one final climb to Urbino, a town with a rich renaissance heritage and origins in the middle ages.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,550 Metres Approx.

Leaving Urbino and moving out of the Marche region, our stage builds gradually, becoming more mountainous as we progress into the densely wooded landscape for which Umbria is famous. It is a deeply sculpted terrain of steep forests dissected by steep craggy ravines created over aeons by the many streams and rivers. After crossing one of those rivers, the Candigliano, we begin a long and gentle climb on which we will spend much of the rest of the day enjoying the tranquillity of the mountain roads and views into the surrounding valleys.

After a scenic picnic lunch on a riverbank we drop down into a narrow valley which eventually leads us to the charming medieval town of Gubbio where we have time for a coffee and a little exploration of the narrow cobbled streets before saddling up to finish the day by riding a short distance to our lovely accommodation on the outskirts of town.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 655 Metres Approx.

We’ll be in no rush to leave our palatial surroundings and with our shortest and least challenging day ahead of us, there really is no need to hurry. But leave we must and once back on the bikes we will be amply rewarded as we travel deeper into the heart of Umbria.

There is only one significant climb today but it is an important one as it marks the natural watershed between the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian and signals the halfway point of our journey. Once over the climb, the quiet country lanes continue to coax us onwards through yet more beautiful scenery as we make our way towards Assisi, UNESCO World Heritage site and the heart of a region that many consider to be the spiritual centre of Italy.

As we approach Assisi we’ll stop to admire the majestic San Francesco Abbey which dominates the hillside overlooking the town.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,435 Metres Approx.

The longest stage of our journey begins with 20 easy kilometres through the green valleys of Umbria as we meander through agricultural land to the pretty medieval village of Bevagna, where, if the mood takes us, we can stop for a coffee in the sunshine.

From here things get more interesting as the road begins to rise and fall repeatedly until we reach the hilltop town of Todi where we will break for lunch in the square overlooking the town’s cathedral or duomo.

The rollercoaster continues after lunch as we drop rapidly down to the banks of the Tevere river which we follow until it becomes the Lago di Corbara. After crossing the dam at the western end of the lake we’ll the follow the road over two final little climbs all the way to beautiful Orvieto, famous for its dramatic gothic style cathedral. We’ll enjoy a well-deserved dinner in one of the many trattorias hidden away in the narrow streets in a town renowned for its cuisine.

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch
• Ascent: 1,345 Metres Approx.

We have a change of terrain today as we leave Umbria to dip briefly into Lazio as we make our way ultimately to Tuscany. We say goodbye to green wooded mountains and hello to rolling hills and deep volcanic canyons and natural hot springs.

We begin the day with a lovely 15km climb through pristine countryside and a corresponding descent that takes us down to the shores of the idyllic Lago di Bolsena. We’ll stop for coffee at the lakeside from where the view of the lake’s almost perfectly circular shape reveals its volcanic origin.

Continuing along the lake for a further 10km we start to climb again and at the 40km mark we reach the highest point of the day before descending to the town of Pitigliano. Practically carved out of the rocks, the town is perched on a conspicuous limestone spur, and strikes an impressive pose against a beautiful volcanic backdrop. We’ll have lunch here and spend time exploring the maze of tiny streets, perhaps dropping into the small Jewish quarter, known locally as ‘Little Jerusalem’ complete with its ancient synagogue.

The final 30km are spent alternating between a landscape of craggy volcanic rock formations, deep valleys and thermal springs until we reach Montemerano, a town in the heart of Maremma renowned for the high quality of its local wine.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 635 Metres Approx.

Early risers might want to pay a quick pre-breakfast visit to the local hot springs of Saturnia for an invigorating morning treat. The rest, we’ll see you in the breakfast room!

After a short descent as we leave Montemerano, the first part of our final stage climbs steadily for almost 25kms until we reach the town of Scansano where it is almost compulsory to stop for a while to take in the magnificent views of the Tuscan heartland.

A fantastic 30km descent through the ubiquitous vineyards and olive groves follows, eventually delivering us to the coast. Once at sea-level we ride across the narrow causeway connecting the mainland with the Argentario peninsula before following the coastal road to our final destination of Porto Ercole, marking our arrival at the Tyrrhenian sea and the completion of our fantastic journey across one of the world’s most beautiful countries.

This evening we will celebrate in style in a local trattoria and raise a glass as we reminisce about our wonderful adventure.

• Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to Rome Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) Airport (FCO) for return or onward flights, or public transfer connections to the city for anyone choosing to extend their time in Rome.