Through southern Tuscany
We start our last day of riding with a sense of melancholy. Up and down, left and right, the road takes us out of Citta delle Pieve like a rollercoaster and into the Monte Rufeno nature reserve. It is a pure idyll. There are shady green forests, nice picnic areas and the tracks of wild boars to discover. Our first coffee stop is in a cosy mountain hut in the woods in the middle of nowhere. In Allerona we explore the little church with its colorful alabaster windows. After a fruity micro picnic our energy reserves are full again and we are ready for the final spurt. We move into our overnight accommodation in an "albergo diffuso" typical of the area. Our rooms are scattered across several houses in the small village of Rocca Ripesena. From here you can clearly see Orvieto, impressive as it sits on its rock. And that is where we are head in the afternoon. We walk through the historic center of Orvieto and visit the cathedral and the bars at Piazza del Duomo. In the evening the grandmother of the house cooks and spoils us with typical Umbrian dishes. We enjoy our last evening and remember the experiences of the last few days together.
It's hard to say goodbye to Pienza with its fantastic views over the expanse of southern Tuscany. After a winding descent that makes you feel like a participant in the Giro d'Italia, we head to Bagni San Filippo. There we bathe in the 39° natural pools. They are said to have a healing effect, let's see how young we feel in the evening. A little surprise awaits us at lunchtime. Jo welcomes us to a picnic. We enjoy the local treats with a fantastic view. Thermal springs await us again on our onward journey. The Etruscans used to cleanse themselves in San Casciano dei Bagni. However, we are still clean (and healthy) enough and decide not to bathe this time. Back from the thermal pools, we and our engines work up quite a sweat on the short but steep 25% gradient. We conquer the last climb to Citta delle Pieve at a more leisurely pace. Even if it seems difficult at first, we find the right wine for dinner after a long discussion :-)
A long day with many meters of elevation awaits us. Along the city walls of Siena we enjoy the silhouette from a different angle. The drive to Murlo, our first coffee stop, is very pleasant because the roads do not require constant ups and downs. The photo opportunities are indescribable and we are constantly accompanied by pilgrims on the Via Francigena. The drive up to Montalcino was exhausting and many wineries make the heart of a wine lover beat faster. The route to Bagno Vignoni and San Quirico was characterized by gravel roads and beautiful views of vineyards and farmland. When we arrived in Pienza, the road dust had to give way first before we arranged to meet for an unforgettable sundowner.
Today we have a slightly shorter route on the agenda. Not because we are already tired, but rather so that we have more time at our overnight stop in Siena. But first things first: We start our stage in San Gimignano and roll through the gentle hills to Colle di Val d'Elsa. There we not only enjoy the view from the historic center above the city but also the first cappuccino, accompanied by a few sweet treats. We continue on the Via Francigena, the historic pilgrimage route that has led believers to Rome for centuries. Our bikes easily manage the gravel sections, some of which still have the old cobblestones visible. At lunchtime we refresh ourselves in Monteriggioni, which can be seen from afar with its ring-shaped wall and 14 towers. The highlight of the day, however, is Siena. We stroll through the historic center. A visit to the cathedral and Piazza del Campo is of course a must.
After the neighbor's rooster crowed several times, we started our stage from Castellina in Chianti to San Gimignano today. The air was clear and a little fresh on the drive to Poggibonsi with numerous photo stops. At the Mellini winery, one or two people wanted to end the day's drive :-) The castle of Certaldo was a few meters too far for us, but we decided to drive the full distance without taking a shortcut. Intoxicated by the lush greenery and the view of the rolling hills, we made a coffee stop in Gambassi Terme. San Gimignano awaited us with world-class ice cream and lots of history. Tired and happy, we reached our beautiful hotel.
Our eyes turn to the azure Italian sky with great anticipation. The first rays of sunshine warm our passion for cycling. The smell of croissants fills our room and it makes packing our suitcases much easier. After a delicious breakfast, we set off strengthened to our starting point in Figline Valdarno. And right from the start we go through the lovely hills. Chianti shows itself at its most beautiful. Deep green forests, great panoramas and quiet, almost traffic-free roads make cyclists' hearts beat faster. Small towns and places like Greve, Volpaia and Radda are along the way until we finally reach our destination - Castellina in Chianti. And with a wonderful view, we enjoy the Tuscan cuisine as the sun sets, accompanied of course by a good bottle of Chianti Classico - in the name of the black rooster.