PMC Tuscany
Photo Gallery:
Tuscany and the Island of Elba
Trip Leaders
Accommodations
Classic
Ability Level
Intermediate
Terrain
Glorious and rolling with hills
Distance
300 mi
Arriving
San Donato
Departing
Volterra
Price
- $3,995
- Special savings for PMC Fundraisers (subject to fundraising minumim):
- $3,195 when reserved by 2/19/10
- $3,595 when reserved by 3/19/10
- $3,795 when reserved by 4/30/10
Single Supplement
$600
Bike Rental
Included!
Pedal with the PMC through Italy's most legendary region for this special 2010 cycling tour culminating in the most picturesque Pan-Mass Challenge you’ll ever ride.
THIS TOUR WILL SELL OUT.
Read about the joys of the PMC Italy Inaugural tour in 2008 and become inspired for 2010!
Highlights
- Pre-PMC training and vacation in one!
- Authentic Italian hotels and family-fun B&Bs
- Memorable ride along the historic Sette Ponti road
- Stops at a Tuscan olive press
- Visits to Siena, Volterra and Medieval San Gimignano
- Daily italian lessons, cycling clinics, and more!
Tuscany’s cultural wealth and natural beauty are incredibly rich and varied. We begin just outside of Florence, and cycle along Via Chiantigiana (literally, Chianti Street), a classic and rustic route that passes through the heart of the Chianti wine region. Our excursion continues to Siena, where a medieval air lingers amidst the twisting streets of warm, brown brick. Strolling Siena’s narrow maze of cobblestone walkways is an amazing architectural journey – incredible masonry, delightful piazzas, a marble cathedral, and Torre del Mangia, Siena’s famous tower, with a view that will make your head spin!
After this tour, we ride our own Pan-Mass Challenge – PMC Tuscany! PMC Tuscany takes place on August 7 and 8, 2010, the same days as the PMC’s Sturbridge to Provincetown ride.
The 2-Day PMC Italy includes:
- Spectacular riding in the Italian countryside, from San Gimignano, through Volterra and onto the coastal town of La Maremma
- 3 nights hotel accommodations
- 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunch, 2 dinners
- Cycling coaching, cultural and culinary excursions, language lessons
- Expert guide services including riding with Lauren Hefferon and 2 native Italian cyclist guides
CAN'T MAKE IT TO ITALY? THEN JOIN TEAM GELATO!
If you can’t make it to Italy, then join Ciclismo Classico’s Team Gelato for the PMC back home. You’ll get a free Team Gelato jersey, training rides, and a great PMC with a fun and festive team. All team gelato riders receive $100 off a 2011 Ciclismo Classico tour. Email Lauren Hefferon for details.
Itinerary
Day 1 – San Donato
Shuttle to a hotel built by friars in the 1400s and take a short warm-up ride to Reggello, where you'll find great pastry and ice cream shops. Take your time today to get used to your bicycle and the gentle rhythm of the Tuscan landscape. If you prefer a good work out, you can also climb to Vallombrosa.
Day 2 – Loro Ciuffenna
Ride the panoramic Sette Ponti (Roman Road of Seven Bridges) and zigzag through medieval villages. The road dates back to the Etruscan period. This area was also an important religious center in the 13th c. The dozens of pieve (parish churches) here attest to its religious past. Gorgeous vineyards, olive groves, and mushroom-rich forests which surround you on this ride mark the region as an agricultural hub.
Day 3—4 – Siena
Pass through the heart of the Chianti Classico wine region, with panoramic views of vast vineyards and dense forests. We'll stop in villages along the way, for cappuccino and gelato. The ancient stone farmhouses which dot this landscape add to its rustic beauty. Day 4 will be a rest day in Siena; you can choose to cycle, take tours, or enjoy a casual stroll through the town to see its many architectural gems.
Day 5—6 – PMC Tuscany!
Begin with a long PMC ride to San Gimignano, circiling the vast and open landscape to Volterra. The variety of natural beauty on this route will take your breath away. On Day 6, embark on a 70+ mile roller coaster, looping up and down cascading hills toward La Maremma, with abundant views of the sea. Here we toast and have our final PMC seafood feast and celebration.
Day 7 – Arrivederci!
Bravi PMC Tuscany Riders!! This morning we'll say a fond farewell, and shuttle you to Volterra to make your connections.