Tuscany by bike between Pisa and Florence

Famous the world over for its leaning tower, discover Pisa and its treasures. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, the city also offers a friendly, lively atmosphere all year round.

Start your holiday with an easy ride north along the River Serchio. The Puccini cycle path, away from the noise of traffic, takes you as far as Ripafratta before reaching Lucca. For those who want to pedal a little more, you can make a diversion to Lake Massaciuccoli. Enjoy a beautiful evening in Lucca, an architectural treasure nestling in the countryside. Take a stroll around the city walls, which have perfectly preserved their medieval structure and offer many architectural gems.

The stage from Lucca to Montecatini takes you along the wine routes of the Colline Lucchese and Montecarlo D.O.C. areas, giving you the chance to taste excellent wines accompanied by typical Tuscan dishes, direct from the producers. Montecarlo is a medieval hilltop village famous for its wines, which differ from those of Chianti due to the significant presence of French grape varieties alongside Sangiovese. From Montecarlo to Montecatini Terme, the landscape changes completely, and you find yourself surrounded by plants and flowers grown in the famous greenhouses of the area that stretches as far as Pistoia. Montecatini offers a wide choice of trendy bars and restaurants that will delight nightlife lovers.

Today you can take advantage of Montecatini and its thermal waters to relax in one of its wellness centres. A stroll through the narrow streets of the old town, situated on a hill and reached by a red funicular railway, can complete your day. Alternatively, a picturesque cycle loop takes you through the rural landscapes where Leonardo da Vinci was born. Cycle past Medici villas, olive groves and vineyards to Vinci, Leonardo's birthplace (you can visit the museum).

You can start the cycling stage directly from Montecatini, or shorten it by taking the train to Pistoia (20 mins), a city with a remarkable architectural heritage, particularly with its many Romanesque and Renaissance monuments, not to mention the beautiful Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral of San Zenone. Between Montecatini and Pistoia, you'll pass through Monsummano Terme, where a 6km climb offers spectacular scenery. After Pistoia, the route continues along small country roads through fields. Finally, take a cycle path along the Arno to reach Florence and its historic centre.

You can start the cycling stage directly from Montecatini, or shorten it by taking the train to Pistoia (20 mins), a city with a remarkable architectural heritage, particularly with its many Romanesque and Renaissance monuments, not to mention the beautiful Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral of San Zenone. Between Montecatini and Pistoia, you'll pass through Monsummano Terme, where a 6km climb offers spectacular scenery. After Pistoia, the route continues along small country roads through fields. Finally, take a cycle path along the Arno to reach Florence and its historic centre.

For your last day, you have two options:
- Cycle from Florence to Empoli (40km) and then take a train to Pisa (30min). From Florence to Empoli you cross the Florentine hills (be careful, it's uphill!) then join the Arno at Montelupo Fiorentino, a charming fortified village, before arriving at Empoli at a leisurely pace along the Arno.
- Take the train from Florence to Empoli (30min), then cycle to Pisa (65km). From Empoli, follow the lower Arno valley. You can make an 8km diversions to the picturesque village of San Miniato. You will pass through the towns of Castelfranco di Sotto and Santa Maria a Monte before reaching Pisa.