girolibero Cycling holidays
This was a lovely relaxing week cycling in beautiful warm autumn sunshine. It was a great opportunity to combine visiting famous Tuscan cities of Pisa and Florence with being out in the countryside cycling through small rural villages. Highly recommended.
(13 reviews)
Self-guided Cycling / Original tour
Web code IT006
Italy / Tuscany
Pisa to Florence: the cradle of the Renaissance
The landscape of Tuscany is one of the most beautiful and evocative in Europe, with rolling hills laced with verdant vineyards and cypress trees lining the roads. You will pedal from one incredible view to the next, admiring Renaissance art and architecture and getting to know the lands of many great artists of the past, such as Leonardo da Vinci and the composer Giacomo Puccini. The towns of Pisa and Florence do not need any further presentation, but in this tour you will discover also picturesque villages where you will be tempted by the excellent Tuscan cuisine.
- 13 Client reviews
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Day by Day
1. Pisa
Individual arrival. The city is famous all over the world for its magic Piazza dei Miracoli with the characteristic leaning tower, the bell tower of the city cathedral. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1987, besides a large number of monuments it also offers the friendly and lively atmosphere of a university city.
2. Pisa – Lucca (25/45 km)
Today you are pedalling northwards along the Serchio river for an easy stage. For those who wish a slightly longer itinerary, there is the option of going towards Massaciuccoli Lake before reaching Lucca.
3. Lucca – Montecatini (45 km)
Through a panoramic road you reach the little village of Collodi and the town of Pescia. In Collodi, where the author of Pinocchio spent his childhood, you can visit the famous Pinocchio’s Park (created in 1962) and the aristocratic Villa Garzoni. In Pescia you can enjoy a quiet stroll among churches, palaces, Renaissance mansions and the local flower street market.
4. Montecatini roundtour (60 km)
Today’s route offers you again two possibilities. You can relax in one of the most famous thermal cities in Europe and stroll down the narrow lanes of the old city, which is situated on a hill and can be reached by a characteristic cable-railway. Otherwise a picturesque itinerary will lead you among villas of the Medici family, olive groves, vineyards and beautiful historical farms, going past Vinci, Leonardo’s birthplace (visit to the museum possible).
5. Montecatini – Florence (50/65 km)
Today you have to choose either to start pedalling directly from Montecatini or to shorten the trip through a short train transfer to Pistoia, rich in Romanesque and Renaissance monuments (in particular churches) and having one of the most evocative squares in Italy: Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square). From here back onto the saddle, to reach Florence.
6. Florence
Free day. It will be up to you to decide how to spend your time in one of the world’s most beautiful cities!
7. Florence – Empoli – Pisa (40/65 km by bike + 40/65 km by train)
Today you can choose if either starting pedalling directly from Florence and reaching Pisa through a train transfer from Empoli or taking a train to Empoli and riding to Pisa along the river Arno.
8. Pisa
Departure after breakfast.
Due to organisational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. For example, along the way you may find temporary deviations caused by roadworks, which cannot be foreseen; in this case please follow the indications you will find on site.
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Route profile
- Total length: 225/280 km
- Terrain: 85% tarmac, 15% unpaved
- Train connection among the overnight stays: every day
- Possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train: day 2, 3, 5 and 7
The itinerary runs mostly on a flat area with some hilly parts which do not require particular athletic skills.
Leisure cycling in mostly flat areas, with only a few short ups and downs. Little effort required, suitable for everyone.
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How to get there
Pisa is connected with the following airports:
Pisa: 5 km, Florence: 90 km
Trains
For information on timetables and prices you can consult the following website: www.trenitalia.com. -
Accommodation and meals
We personally choose all the hotels mindful of your comfort as well as the proximity to cycling paths and any relevant local sites.
According to your category of choice you will be accommodated in:
- Cat. A: 3/4* hotels
- Cat. B: 3* hotels, with a family-run 2* hotel in Lucca and B&B
All rooms have en suite facilities and air conditioning.
When you book the tour please specify the type of room requested:
- double room is a room with one double bed
- twin room is a room with two single beds
- triple room is usually a room with one double bed and a single bed or a sofa bed.
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Bikes and accessories
Girolibero bikes are available in different sizes and frames:
- Touring bike 27-gear Shimano Deore
- E-bike 9-gear Shimano
Features:- aluminium frame
- mudguard
- rear rack
- comfort gel saddle www.selleroyal.com
- anti-puncture Schwalbe tyres
- ergonomic bicycle grips
- Speed Lifter system
Accessories
All rented adult bikes are equipped with:
- 1 cycle computer
- 1 Ortlieb one-sided saddlebag
- 1 front bar bag per room
- 1 repair kit per room: 1 spare inner tube, glue, patch, a pump, 2 allen keys and tyre levers
- 1 combination bike lock
At the moment of booking you can also rent helmets, suitable for head circumferences from 58 to 61. All helmets have a certification mark according to the DIN EN 1078 (CE) European norm.Important notes:
We recommend that you bring your own reusable water bottle with you.
In order to cycle smoothly following our App, we suggest that you bring with you a holder for your mobile phone to be fixed on the handlebar, as well as a power bank (even if the App can be used offline, too). -
Accompanying material
Before your arrival, you will receive an email from us with the digital information material. It contains:
1. Link to download the App including maps, roadbook, points of interest and GPS tracks (you can use the App offline, too)
2. Link to download the tour information material in Pdf:- Tour notes
- Final tour details
3. Digital travel documents:- Final hotel list: due to overbooking or organizational needs your hotel list may be changed just before your arrival
- Hotel vouchers to show to the hotel reception upon arrival
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By your side
Staff support
In the Final Tour Details you will find the contact phone numbers you can call during the tour in case of emergency.
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13 Client reviews
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Fiona
Departure 07-14 October 2023
Online from 24 October 2023
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Paul-Martin
Departure 05-12 August 2023
Online from 27 August 2023
Nice holiday with good 5 friends -
Dmitry
Departure 24 September - 01 October 2022
Online from 06 October 2022
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Julian
Departure 03-09 September 2022
Online from 24 September 2022
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Maria Teresa
Departure 04-11 June 2022
Online from 22 June 2022
Abbiamo saputo durante le soste che siamo stati quasi gli unici italiani a percorrere questo tour da quando è proposto. Pur conoscendo bene la Toscana, per noi è stata una vera emozione percorrere colline e pianure in bicicletta,si assaporano esperienze
uniche. Arrivare sul Ponte Vecchio in bicicletta non è esperienza di tutti i giorni! -
Rune
Departure 10-17 August 2019
Online from 06 September 2019
Great as always. -
Susan
Departure 11-18 June 2019
Online from 23 June 2019
Another great holiday to do with a group of Friends slightly more testing than we thought but most of that was due to high temperatures. -
Dianne
Departure 2018
Online from 07 November 2018
Girolibero runs a very efficient cycling business both self guided and guided. I recommend Girolibero for guided, self guided, and bike and barge cycling tours.
We had an opportunity in the fall of 2018 to ride their self guided tour for a week from Pisa to Florence and back to Pisa. The accommodations were excellent, the transfer of gear reliable, and the ride with gps routes as well as the hard copy of the routes made it doable to navigate this countryside even when you have never been here. Five of us rode together, we all enjoyed the Pisa to Florence to Pisa loop.
In addition to meeting the groups needs, I am a below the knee double amputee who rides a tandem bicycle. Girolibero organized our hotel accommodations so that my physical needs concerning bathrooms were accommodated. This made the trip doable for me and my captain.
I have a suggestion for expanding the options for the Pisa to Florence to Pisa loop. I would suggest that Girolibero consider doing the Pisa to Florence to Pisa route over an extended period of time, such as two weeks, so those people who like to cycle (and are slow) can be tourists too. The possible activities that can occur at each site are endless and the information packet given to each couple makes you want to stay and enjoy each small town and its historical gifts. For those of us who are retired and somewhat slow, this would be a fun option. -
John
Departure 2018
Online from 25 June 2018
Hein is mistaken. It did not go just “well”….it went “exceptionally well!” in fact so well I would say it was FANTASTICO! The trip exceeded all of my expectations. My two children were thrilled as well. I’ve copied all the adults that “funded” the trip so they can provide their own independent feedback directly to you.
All parts of the trip including biking, hotels, restaurants, wine, beer, wine tasting, bus, pasta making, fit together perfectly. The hotels selected were excellent and above my expectations. The hotel is Bevegna as well as the hotel pool in Montecatini were highlights. I did not note or experience any issues or problems during the entire trip. -
Chris
Departure 2018
Online from 25 June 2018
It was absolutely fantastic! Trips like this do not occur without significant planning, and the planning that was done by you and our hosts, Hein and Marjolein, was perfect. I would not change a thing about how the trip unfolded.
Thank you so much for attending to all of the details behind the scene.
I will be recommending Girolibero to anyone planning a trip to Europe, and I personally hope to be using Girolibero again sometime in the future. -
Laurie
Departure 2018
Online from 25 June 2018
That was one of the most spectacular trips ever! Everything was perfect. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best, it was a 200! My two favorite parts were the cycling and our hosts, Marjolein and Hein!
Thank you so much for your hard work to make this such a special return to Villevallelonga. And thank you Marjolein and Hein for all of your stories and all the laughter you generated! I can’t wait to see you again.
Ciao :) -
Oddmund, Norway
Departure 2017
Online from 09 October 2017
We are very satisfied with the trip and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others. Another successful Girolibero experience.. Also, Girolibero was very forthcoming in allowing us the cycles for an extra day and also to provide for the use of the pool and garden of Ercolini E Save in Montalcini.
Thanks for that! -
Gianfranco
Departure 29 April - 06 May 2017
Online from 13 May 2017
Molto bene.
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