Chianti, cycling

 This corner of Tuscany represents the perfect place to go back to our roots and discover travel connected to the land.

LAND OF WINE

This is a land for wine lovers and slow travellers. Biking in Chianti allows you to penetrate the area’s reality through direct contact with the land and through tasting the wines that make the region famous.

 

The area boastsfour grape varietals—Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano and Malvasia—it is now one of the most famous wine regions in the world.

 

Castelnuovo Berardenga, Gaiole, Radda and Castellina are the main stops on a bike tour of Chianti. Cyclists will find challenging roads and breathtaking views. The paved roads that alternate with more rustic dirt roads offer the perfect variety for all. It is a sort of cycling-habitat, one that the Associazione Parco Ciclistico del Chianti has been promoting for the last ten years as a prime spot for environmental tourism.

The itineraries are as follows:

Grand Tour of Chianti
Departure and arrival point: Castelnuovo Berardenga
Length: 98 km
Height difference: 1,150 m
Type of road: asphalt
Type of bike: city, hybrid
Difficulty: difficult
The Grand Tour passes through four cities in the province of Siena. Good for distance cyclers who have no problem with steep inclines like the one at Monte Luco. Beautiful roads and continuous up and downhill portions.

In the footsteps of Barone Ricasoli
Departure and arrival point: Gaiole in Chianti
Length: 39 km
Height difference: 400 m
Type of road: asphalt
Type of bike: city, hybrid
Difficulty: medium-low
Itinerary through the heart of Chianti among vineyards and castles. Free of sharp hills that usually characterize the area.

Between Rada and Volpaia
Departure and arrival point: Radda in Chianti
Length: 19 km
Height difference: 630 m
Type of road: asphalt and dirt
Type of bike: MTB, hybrid
Difficulty: medium
Short but not easy route thanks to sharp uphill portion towards Castelvecchi and Volpaia. Beautiful views. Go slowly to fully appreciate an environmentally “perfect” part of Chianti.

Towards Monteriggioni
Departure and arrival point: Castellina in Chianti
Length: 51 km
Height difference: 675 m
Type of road: asphalt
Type of bike: city, hybrid
Difficulty: medium
Beautiful and historically interesting itinerary. Shave off 5 km by taking the shortcut from the Cassia, 4 km after Monteriggioni on the left. Shortcut is dirt road but easily biked even with city bike. Most difficult portions are the short but steep slope towards Staggia and the final climb towards Castellina.

Contacts:
Associazione Parco Ciclistico del Chianti
c/o Ufficio Turistico, Via Casabianca, Gaiole in Chianti
tel. 0577 749411
www.parcociclisticodelchianti.it