Details:
Riding in Tuscany has been on my list of places to ride since I began cycle tourism in 2009, and although I had seen many photos and videos, it was still very surprising. .
Before heading to the hills towards Siena, I decided to do a quick stop at the historic center of Siena, where I was almost ticketed for riding my bike. Apparently, in Siena if you ride the bike on a pedestrian way (although selected cars can pass through), you can be ticketed, so watch the signs and ask (the sigh I saw had a bike a bike drawing, as if it indicated bikes were allowed). But, this encounter with Siena Polizia was fun, as the only language in common was French, which I don´t speak well and haven´t spoken in a long long time.
The ride out of Siena towards Castellina in Chianti was probably the best part, and the longest and highest climb of today's ride. And here I had one of the best surprises: I was joined by Carla and Paulo. Carla is from Rio and messaged me through Strava last night that she had planned a ride with Paulo towards Castellina...so we met up on the way up, chatted and shared laughs all the way up to the top.
Then I rode through Greve in Chiani, which is one of the small very charming villages, that, if it weren't for imminant of rain, I would have stopped for lunch. After Greve, there was one more long climb....and "where there's a climb there's a view"...which makes the entire trip worthwhile :). This ride ends on a descend through Grassina before getting to the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio and the historic center in Firenze. The historic center is a lovely place, but after visiting Orvieto and Siena, I may be spoiled, really. Firenze seemed a bit too touristy for me, but that is probably due to it being a really nice town to spend a few days.
Overview:
Total time riding: 5:24h
Total time travelling: 7:10h
Total Ascent: 1.128 meters
Total distance: 76,8km
Cities ridden through:
- Quercegrossa, Castellina in Chianti, Panzano in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Strada in Chianti, Grassina.
Map:
- https://www.strava.com/activities/755698347
Photos:
