We Like Tuscany SAS
Florence & Taste of Tuscany - Half Day Tour
This tour allows you to enjoy the magical side of Florence and Tuscany, that most visitors don't get to see: ancient countryside roads, great hilltop views, beautiful Villas, olive groves and rolling vineyards. All in half-day! Starting from our office in the less touristy Oltrarno neighbourhood, you will see the difference between the cityscape and the countryside in a scenic 4.5-hour bike ride from Florence. Tucked away in the hills behind Florence, we will make our way to a private Renaissance Villa and family-run winery. There we will enjoy a tasting of their wines and extra virgin olive oil paired with a nice platter of Tuscan cold cuts. After having relaxed, we will jump back on the bikes to burn off some calories and enjoy some more Tuscan scenery. We will pass through a small village on our way back to Florence, home to Galileo and his star observatory! This is a small group Tour and a great way to get away from churches, museums and annoying crowds of the city. Welcome to the heart of Tuscany!
Itinerary
The first part of the bike ride: We start at 09.15 from our Florence office, in the Oltrarno area of Florence. You will be greeted by our friendly staff and your guide, then fitted with bikes and helmets. You will then have a brief training session for safety and introduction to the itinerary. The first part of the bike ride lasts about one hour and you will pass through the ancient gate of Porta Romana. This is the only entrance to Florence that is still surrounded by the 13th-century city walls! Our first uphill of the day (700m) is in a beautiful residential area of the town. Once at the top, you will see that Florence is already far away and we are getting close to the Tuscan countryside. After reaching the countryside by riding through narrow and ancient roads, we'll have plenty of photo stops and learn about local flora and fauna. The ancient Wine Cellar and Olive Oil Tasting: Having reached the Villa, we park our bikes in the olive grove and Villa, where the guide will give a brief introduction to olive oil and winemaking. Being a small family production, everything is organic and sustainable, down to the owner's own herb garden. Then we will duck into the 1,000-year-old wine cellar for a wine and olive oil tasting accompanied by a light Tuscan snack of local products. All products are produced on the premises and being such a small family production, they are only sold locally. Both the wine and olive oil are available for purchase and shipping. The second part of the bike ride: After this break, we are ready to burn some calories. Our return leg back to Florence takes us through an ancient Tuscan village where Galileo Galilei used to live and also see his star observatory! Closer to Florence, we will stop at the famous Piazzale Michelangelo for one of the best views of Florence and a selfie opportunity. The last part of the ride is all downhill back into the historical centre of Florence. If all goes well and we are on time your guide may even stop at their favourite local gelato spot!
Includes
• Wine, olive oil tasting, water, Tuscan snacks and local food products
• Guide, 24-speed hybrid bike and Helmet