dossier

Secrets of San Gimignano Cycling

SECRETS OF SAN GIMIGNANO | WHERE YOU STAY

Park Hotel Le Fontini  ****
Volterra  Days 1+8

The 4 star Park Hotel Le Fonti is located just below the Porta dell’Arco entrance to Volterra’s beautifully preserved medieval centre. There are over 50 comfortable rooms, all furnished in a simple style with terracotta floors and elegant fabrics. All rooms have ensuite facilities (bathrooms have hairdryers) with air conditioning, direct dial telephone, mini-bar and satellite television.

Further details on the hotel website.

Day 1  Arrive in Volterra

We meet you at Pisa airport and take you to Volterra (75mins) where you’ve time for a dip in the pool and a wander round its tangle of cobbled alleys and hidden squares before dinner.

Day 2  Volterra to San Donato 39km/24mi

Spectacular views sweep infinitely across the open countryside as you leave Volterra and pedal along the pretty Era Valley. It’s a haven for wildlife and offers fantastic bird spotting opportunities. The landscape softens with vines, olives and crumbling farmhouses as you enjoy a gentle downhill spin towards San Gimignano and up to San Donato where dinner is served in the flower-bedecked courtyard.

Hotel Casolare Le Terre  Rosse ***
San Donato  Days 2+3

The 3 star Terre Rosse is situated 5km away from San Gimignano in the picturesque hamlet of San Donato. The rooms are located over two floors and situated around an attractive central courtyard which is decked with geraniums. Decorated in a Tuscan style with terracotta floors, wrought iron beds and mahogany furniture, the bedrooms all have ensuite facilities with hairdryer, satellite television, direct dial telephones and air conditioning.

Further details on the hotel website.

Day 3  At San Donato

It's just 5kms/3mi to San Gimignano (shuttle bus runs in high season), the medieval hilltop town with distinctive Manhattan-style skyline! Explore its soaring towers before lunch in one of the many hidden cobbled squares. If you prefer to stay put for the day, our tranquil hotel has a fabulous pool and extensive gardens.

Day 4  San Donato to Colle di Val d’Elsa 39km/24mi

Continuing east past fields ablaze with sunflowers, and with the inimitable towers of San Gimignano forming a breathtaking backdrop to your route, you arrive in Casole d’Elsa, a beautiful village characterized by ancient vermilion-hued buildings and blessed with stunning balcony views from its hilltop position. Take time to explore its C12 church (frescoes by Gano da Siena), piazza and impressive fortress. Perhaps have lunch here – there are a couple of decent trattoria – safe in the knowledge it’s easy, flat pedalling for the rest of the day! It’s then on to your **** hotel, a beautifully converted C12 Benedictine Abbey with lovely pool and gardens.

Relais della Rovere  ****
Colle di Val d’Elsa  Days 4+5 (plus extension)

The Relais della Rovere is a stunning 4-star hotel located at the edge of Colle di Val d’Elsa. The bedrooms are split between two buildings and decorated in a contemporary style with wooden floors and beech furniture. The rooms are quite large with ensuite facilities and all are equipped with satellite television, air conditioning and minibar. Bathrooms have hairdryers.

Further details on the hotel website.

Day 5  At Colle di Val d’Elsa (optional 2-night extensions, see below)

Take the local bus (30 mins) to Siena or Florence (1 hr) - two of the most beautiful cities in Italy.  Or visit Colle di Val d'Elsa itself - it's a fascinating town of two halves with a shuttle linking the lovely new piazza with the medieval upper town.

Day 6 or 8  Colle di Val d’Elsa to Pancole 33km/21mi

It’s gentle pedalling through poppy fields and olive groves before passing the lovely Basilica di San Lucchese (a C14 convent resplendent with original frescoes) and an exciting freewheel down into the old town of Poggibonsi. You then follow the official, and mainly off-road, Chianti Wine Route – lots of tasting opportunities (don’t forget that we can collect any purchases for you) – virtually all the way to Pancole.

Hotel Le Renaie  ***
Pancole  Days 6+7

Hotel Le Renaie is a lovely family run 3 star hotel in the pretty hamlet of Pancole, midway between San Gimignano and Certaldo. The 25 bedrooms are spacious and decorated in a traditional style. All have ensuite bathroom facilities with hairdryers, satellite television, minibar, direct dial telephones and air conditioning. It is possible to book a room with a terrace for a small supplement.

Further details on the hotel website.

Day 7 or 9  At Pancole

If you fancy a day off from cycling today, then the pool here is simply gorgeous – nice lunches served on the geranium-scented terrace too! There’s also a small enoteca where you can taste local cheeses, olive oils and wines. The more energetic might want to cycle (or taxi!) past orchards and vines to Boccaccio’s birthplace, stunning Certaldo. Take the funicular to its medieval centre for spectacular views across the Val d’Elsa.

Day 8 or 10  Pancole to Volterra 35km/22mi

Lovely peaceful lead you out of Pancole, passing the Castelvecchio Nature Reserve - last time we were here, we spotted a pair of hoopees circling overhead. After a gently undulating stretch, you'll enjoy a beautiful freewheel spin into the Era Valley giving great views of Volterra.

Day 9 or 11  Leave Volterra after breakfast

Note: Please note that starting in Spring 2011, cycling helmets are compulsary in Italy for children under 16.  As we cannot provide these, we strongly recommend that you bring your own.

Optional 2-night extension in Colle di Val d'Elsa

There's simply so much to see in and around Colle di Val d'Elsa that we are proposing two additional nights (making four in total) here in order that you can really get the most out of your stay - plus the hotel is pretty special too! Regular buses to Siena and Florence leave from just outside the hotel grounds so you can easily explore Il Campo, the Duomo, and the treasures of the world-famous Uffizi. The historic town of Colle di Val d'Elsa dates back to Etruscan times with cathedral, musuems and fine Renaissance buildings.  Back at the hotel, you can relax in the pleasant gardens surrounding the sparkling outdoor pool.

For extra nights we recommend Colle di Val d’Elsa, Florence, Siena or Volterra.