Biking the Via Francigena: Lucca to Rome
- Cycle through the stunning hills of Tuscany from Lucca to Rome
- Sample full-bodied Tuscan red wines and delicious fresh pasta
- Stay in the medieval towns of San Gimignano, Siena and Montalcino
- Explore the Colosseum and the Pantheon, two of Rome's iconic sites
- Follow one of Europe's greatest pilgrim routes by bike, the Via Francigena
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive LuccaArrive in the historic city of Lucca, with its towering Renaissance walls and cobbled streets. This convenient location allows you to get to the heart of Tuscany, and is relatively close to Pisa Airport, making it very simple to get to. Ancient traditions and quirks remain here, with many shops, for example, still displaying their original signs. Dont be surprised if you see a sign for a bakery when in fact they are selling shoes! A highlight of Lucca is cycling or strolling around the city walls to explore Versailles-inspired gardens, sipping a local Tuscan wine with views of the city below. It is well worth adding extra nights in Lucca, one of Tuscany's greatest cities and a must-see.
Hotel La Luna is located in the heart of historic Lucca, just minutes away from Piazza Anfiteatro, and the train station is just a 15-minute walk away. Situated in a renovated 18th-century palace, the hotel is the perfect welcome to Tuscany. After a day’s sightseeing, guests can enjoy a drink at the bar which is open until midnight.
Today starts with a fairly flat stage with an uphill stretch at the end of the ride as you climb to San Miniato, a medieval village where you stay for the night. Famous for its delicious white truffle, the cities of Florence and Pisa once fought over this village for centuries. With its mighty medieval tower, the tallest structure for miles in every direction, the approach to San Miniato is rewarded with numerous restaurants to choose from, and a slow food scene thanks to its agricultural activity.
Total ascent/descent: 247m/114m
Hotel San Miniato is set in the medieval San Miniato, in what was once a convent. Enjoy the hotel's spa, with Turkish baths, a sauna and massage services available.
Hotel Miravalle is set right under the Tower of Frederick in the ancient square of the castle, facing San Miniato cathedral. It offers rooms in a refined Tuscan style, with furniture and drapery selected to enhance the feel of being in Tuscany.
A fuller day today as you make your way to San Gimignano, which with its towers and its boutiques, makes a perfect overnight stop. First you'll cycle via Gambassi, the gateway to the Chianti area, and the church which lays just outside its walls, Pieve a Chianni, deserves a stop. When you reach San Gimignano, you'll no doubt be fascinated by the marketplaces, shopping, natural squares, and architecture of this town. There’s a rich history here that you will see from the walls, the old buildings, and its centre.
Total ascent/descent: 776m/581m
Hotel Bel Soggiorno is excellently located in the historic centre of San Gimignano, with an on-site restaurant serving typical Tuscan dishes. The church of Collegiata di San Gimignano is less than a 5-minute walk away, and the medieval walls and historic entrance of Porta San Giovanni are just a few steps from the hotel. Rooms come with either a view of the city, or the surrounding countryside.
The L'Antico Pozzo is located within the ancient walls of the medieval historic centre of San Gimignano, in a renovated 15th century palace. Enjoy the bar with its wrought iron tables in the delightful internal courtyard.
After enjoying San Gimignano, you will head to Siena via Monteriggioni, which is worth a visit due to its medieval fortifications and watchtowers. Your destination, Siena is one of the most famous Italian towns, and is famous for its Palio horse race. Do not miss the Duomo with its mosaics, and take the time to sit at one of the cafes around the Piazza del Campo for an ice-cream.
Total ascent/descent: 538m/490m
A converted 19th-century villa retaining the charm and ambience of its former origins as a private residence. With its Italian classical design, it also has a beautiful garden filled with flowers, a library and a bar. It's located just outside the ancient walls of the historic centre of Siena, and just a 10-minute walk from Piazza del Campo.
Situated in Siena city centre, it's perfect for exploring on foot. Built in around 1870 as a Neoclassical villa, it was restored in 2004, keeping its original style as well as its beautiful, frescoed common rooms. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, terrace, and small garden to relax in.
A beautiful road through the rugged landscape of the Crete Senesi (Crete, meaning clay). Make a detour to visit the Monte Oliveto Maggiore monastery with its imposing brick buildings, decorated by the superb set of frescoes. With a gradual climb to Montalcino, reward yourself with a glass of its prestigious wine, Brunello. Enjoy the views of the rolling hills dotted with wild flowers, ancient oak trees, olive groves, and the roads of which you have cycled on winding through vineyards and cypress trees. This typical Tuscan hilltop town is set within medieval fortified walls, watched over by its mighty castle. It has scarcely changed in appearance since the 16th century, and is now the perfect setting for an annual Jazz & Wine Festival held in July each year.
Total ascent/descent: 882m/710m
Located in the medieval town centre of Montalcino with magnificent views of the Tuscan hills, this charming small hotel is situated in part of the 18th century “Catasto Leopoldino”. Enjoy the hotel's restaurant, bar, terrace, and a large panoramic garden with an outdoor swimming pool.
Hotel Vecchia Oliviera is ideally located a 2-minute walk from the town centre of Montalcino. At the beginning of the 20th century, the building became an important city oil mill for the production of Montalcino olive oil. It was renovated into a hotel in the 1990s. The air-conditioned Tuscan-style rooms have private bathroom facilities and beautiful wooden features. Enjoy the outdoor pool, garden and terrace, a relaxing way to reflect on your day.
Today's ride allows you to visit 2 of the most interesting abbeys of Tuscany; Sant Antimo, which is said to have been built by Charles the Main and Abbadia San Salvatore, where in the crypt was the first document found to mention the Francigena. The road is beautiful, offering views of the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO protected landscape. Today is the toughest day of the tour, with lots of uphill and downhill sections, but rewarding in terms of scenery and distance.
Total ascent/descent: 1398m/1533m
A stunning guesthouse located in beautiful, medieval, fortified surroundings. Enjoy the swimming pool and restaurant, surrounded by the gardens with views over the peaceful, untouched countryside. A stone passageway will lead you to the ancient wine cellars, where more tables can be found to enjoy the best wines of central Italy to enjoy before or after your meal.
An easier day with charming views of the Bolsena lake. Take it easy in the afternoon, and watch the sunset over the lake. Bolsena is the largest volcanic lake in Europe, boasting a shoreline of beautiful black volcanic sands, surrounded by medieval villages perched on the hillsides. The vibrant town of Bolsena is nestled on the eastern shore of the lake, but retains the laidback and authentic charm of an ancient town.
Total ascent/descent: 254m/339m
A lovely hotel set within a country park in serene and calm surroundings. It's located right on the shores of Lake Bolsena, yet it is not far from the historical centre of the town, which is easily reachable on foot. It features two restaurants serving food from the region, with views of either the lake or gardens. Rooms come with either a balcony where you can admire the breathtaking view of the lake, or with a terrace that overlooks both the wonderful park and outdoor swimming pool.
Located among the greenery of the centuries-old plane trees, with a view of the gardens of Piazza Dante Alighieri. The lake and the historic centre of Bolsena are just a short walk away.
An easier off the beaten track ride overall, you’ll no doubt want to take your time whilst you are cycling through beautiful woods and olive groves, with constant views of the lake. You'll pass through Montefiascone, where you can climb up to its rocca (castle). Arrive in Viterbo, home to the Pope’s Palace. This is where popes of the past would go when fleeing persecution in Rome.
Total ascent/descent: 551m/514m
Located in the middle of the medieval centre of Viterbo and just a 5-minute walk to the cathedral. The warm and friendly B&B offers a pleasant stay after a long day.
The road climbs through the Cimini hills with chestnut and hazelnuts woods and plantations. Take a rest by the Vico Lake, which, like the Bolsena Lake is of volcanic origin. Continuing through the green countryside of Lazio, you'll reach your destination, Sutri, which is of Etruscan origins and renowned for its Roman amphitheatre and an ancient pagan temple, now a chapel to the Virgin Mary.
Total ascent/descent: 626m/701m
Set in a historic farmhouse built on a natural tufa rock, right in front of the Roman Amphitheater in Sutri. Enjoy the onsite traditional restaurant and terrace, serving delicious Italian cuisine.
Immersed in the countryside and surrounded by greenery, the hotel offers a tranquil setting for a relaxing stay.
The arrival into Rome is made easier than expected by following a cycling route along the Tiber River. Arrive in the iconic city of Rome, home to ancient Roman sites and ruins. We highly recommend adding extra nights here in one of Italy's best cities, with so much to explore. Recover from your epic ride through Tuscany and celebrate your achievement with a glass of red wine and a bowl of carbonara pasta, one of Rome's signature dishes.
Total ascent/descent: 552m/795m
A few steps from the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica, the Hotel Museum is located in one of the most important areas of Rome, close to the Metro Ottaviano. The desirable location is just one of the features that make it ideal for enjoying the Roman atmosphere, as well as the hotel's classical furnishings, frescos, and statues.
After breakfast your holiday will come to an end. See the Travel & Transfers section for some useful details for your onward travel. We highly recommend adding extra nights to explore Italy's iconic city of Rome, with so many famous sites and Roman ruins to explore.
Other Information
Is it for me?If you're looking to journey through the heart of stunning Tuscany, this ride is for you. Riding from Lucca to Rome, you'll have the opportunity to stay in medieval Tuscan towns and cities, indulge on delicious Tuscan food and wine, and celebrate the end of your ride in one of the world's most iconic cities, Rome. The tour is suitable for relatively fit regular cyclists seeking an active holiday, and are comfortable with spending much of the day in the saddle, experiencing a region and discovering its variety over longer daily distances.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling
Foodie, Wine, Long-Distance Trails, Off the Beaten Track
The minimum age for this tour is: 16 Years
This tour is graded moderate. The grade is determined on the basis of the entire trip. Individual days may vary in terms of difficulty, i.e. some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade. The grading is based on using a standard hybrid bike. There is one cycling day graded moderate to strenuous (Day 6), with a distance of 70km and a daily total elevation of 1398m. Daily total elevations range from 250m to 1395m. The terrain will be varied, and usually rolling with some longer or steeper ascents/descents on quiet country roads, with the occasional stretches on busier roads through towns. Remember, Tuscany is renowned for its hilltop towns and villages, meaning most days finish with a climb. E-bikes are available to hire to help with those hills. The route is mostly on asphalt though please be prepared to ride on rougher sections with sandy gravel sections on some of the backroads. Day 6 for example consists of 90% asphalt and 10% gravel.
Minimum Age
The minimum age for this tour is 18yrs. This is due to the remote nature of the route.
This cycling tour is suitable for relatively fit regular cyclists seeking an active holiday. Daily distances range from 44km to 76km, and you'll spend much of the day in the saddle experiencing a region and discovering its variety over longer daily distances.
If riding a standard hybrid bike, you must be a regular fit cyclist to achieve this day, and be comfortable with longer distances with long (and sometimes steep) ascents/descents.
We highly recommend upgrading to an E-bike for some battery-powered assitance so that you can arrive at your hotels sooner, to recharge for the following day by the pool, or to have time to explore the beautiful Tuscan towns and villages along the way.
We use a mixture of 3 and 4-star hotels on this tour, as well as B&Bs, all of which are locally-run.
We hand-pick the accommodation to ensure you enjoy every minute of your stay. A warm welcome, traditional hospitality, and delicious local food and drink come as standard. Some come with outdoor swimming pools.
We book en suite rooms as standard.
Alternate Accommodation
We'll always try and use the hotels’ shown in the accommodation information. Occasionally, because of limited availability, we may have to accommodate you in alternative hotels which aren’t listed in the description. The alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described. In case alternative accommodation needs to be booked, supplements may be payable, and we’ll advise you accordingly.
Navigation is straightforward with GPX tracks provided in our app. Please note that this route does not follow the pedestrian pilgrim route of the Via Francigena, as the trails are not always suitable for bikes. Therefore you cannot rely on the usual waymarking of the Via Francigena. Instead, you'll mainly follow the brown cycling signs of the Via Francigena, which closely follows the official pedestrian route.
- 10 nights in 3 and 4-star hotels and B&Bs
- All breakfasts
- Baggage transfers
- Welcome briefing
- GPX tracks and access to our smartphone app
- 24/7 Emergency support for our local partner and our office
- Pilgrim’s “Credenziale”, to collect your stamps
- Travel to and from Lucca / Rome
- Dinners, lunches, snacks & drinks
- Admissions or entrances
- Hybrid, Road or E-bike hire
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- E-bike, Road or Hybrid bike hire
- Arrival and departures transfers
This trip is available from April to the end of October. You can start your holiday on any date in the season.
Spring in Italy is sublime and April, May and June are the best months for cycling. Autumn is a great time of year as the landscape is made up of a gold and red pallet, so September and October is a great time to ride the Via Francigena. July and August can be very hot, so you will have to start very early to miss the heat of the day, and perhaps have a long lunch and finish riding in the mid to late afternoon. We highly recommend upgrading to an E-bike should you decide to do this tour in the summer months.
The start location of this tour is Lucca, in the heart of Tuscany.
We recommend flying to Florence or Pisa Airports. You can then take a train to Lucca from either of these airports.
From Pisa Airport, there is a direct bus departing from the airport to Lucca (50-minute journey). Or, there are regular trains running every 30 minutes should you want to make your way via the centre of Pisa (to see the leaning tower of Pisa, for example!). You first need to take a train to Pisa Centrale from the airport (only a ten-minute journey), and then take a direct train to Lucca from there, with a journey time of 30-minutes. For train timetables, visit Trenitalia.
From Florence Airport, the quickest way to get to Lucca is by bus, a direct 55-minute journey from Terminal 2. If making your way from the centre of Florence, there is a direct train from Florence Santa Maria Novella (S.M.N) train station, taking 1hr20 mins.
The tour finishes in Rome. If you are flying home from Rome Fiumicino Airport, it's just a 30-minute train from Rome Termini station to the airport.
Alternatively, if returning to Florence Airport, it's a 1.5hr train from Rome Termini to Firenze S.M.N (Florence's Santa Maria Novella train station) then a 15 minute tram to the airprot from there.
If flying out of Pisa then take a train from Lucca, changing in Florence.
Luggage transfers between overnight locations are included in the tour. We request that you have only one piece of luggage per person, and it should weigh approximately 20kg.
At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.
The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
Hire of a standard hybrid bike, road or E-bike is available. Included with bike hire is a rear pannier, bottle cage, a lock, and a basic repair kit (pump, inner tube). We recommend that you bring your own helmet for your own comfort.
E-bikes are highly recommended due to the undualating terrain of Tuscany and the duration of this tour. They will help on the longer days, and will ease ascents. The rechargeable battery on your bike will be your reliable riding partner, getting you to your final destination with more energy in the tank for an afternoon swim or simply for exploring. E-bikes are growing rapidly in popularity so please make sure to request one at the time of booking so we can secure availability for your trip and avoid disappointment.
A road bike is also available for hire should you prefer this.
Ebike hire is only available for 16yrs or over.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance that covers you for the activity, emergency evacuation and hospital care.
This cycling holiday is graded moderate and involves cycling 44km to 76km each day. You should enjoy an active lifestyle to get the most from this holiday as you'll spend much of the day in the saddle. The terrain is rolling with some significant ascents as the towns and villages are at the top of hills. We recommend upgrading to an E-bike to get the most out of this tour.
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