An unforgettable four day bike tour, cycling from Florence to Rome following the Via Francigena, averaging around 100km and 1800m of climbing each day.

Departing from the timeless skyline of Florence and setting off on Tuscany’s famous gravel roads: the strade bianche, location of the famous one day bike race and host of various stages of the Giro d’Italia, tracing the pilgrims’ way – the Via Francigena – and finishing in The Eternal City of Rome.

The Pilgrims’ Way – Via Francigena is 4 riding days and 4 nights, departing from Florence and arriving in Rome.

Day 1: Florence – Siena

The tour starts in Florence, leaving behind the renaissance magnificence of the Tuscan city and heads south, weaving through the vineyards of Chianti Classico; a text-book Tuscan landscape of wine growers and olive trees. Towns like Greve-in-Chianti or Panzano-in-Chianti can provide a rest stop before more strade bianche (traditional tuscan gravel or “white” roads) to Volpaia. Castello di Brolio provides a spectacular backdrop for the final descent down towards Siena and the wide open vistas of the Val d’Orcia with its cypress-lined “Gladiatorial” avenues.

Day 2: Siena – Proceno

After Siena we join the historic route of the Via Francigena. This ancient road for pilgrims starts in Cantebury in England and ends in Rome; our final destination on this tour. The second day provides the transition from Tuscany to Lazio and is far different from the previous day, the colours change and hills become more spread out.

The historic centres of San Quirico d’Orcia and Vignoni Alto are a lesson in contrasts: where one has grown into a modern Italian town, the other has stayed frozen in time.

In an area steeped in the cycling history of the famous Eroica races, the wine references change: from Chianti to Rosso di Montalcino – as does the geography, with well-known Tuscany becoming the undiscovered landscape of Northern Lazio. The symbolic gate into Lazio tells you that you have almost arrived at Proceno.

Day 3: Proceno – Sutri

The Castle of Proceno and its surrounding town are a few kilometres away from the Tuscany-Lazio border but as the Contessa of the castle says “it might as well be an ocean” for the changes that occur in that distance. Continuing the pilgrimage amidst forests, on Roman roads originally constructed many centuries ago, we pass towns whose high walls and stout gates remind us of a darker, more dangerous past.

Rural northern Lazio is rarely featured on the tourist trail and a coffee stop in the magnificent main square of Aquapendente allows for a glimpse into local life. Once sighted, Bolsena Lake provides a way point (and a potential lunch stop) until we leave it behind to ride through Viterbo and Montefiascone on the way to Sutri.

Day 4: Sutri – Rome

The last day is the shortest but perhaps also the most memorable. The Cascata di Monte Gelato is a waterfall that can provide a refreshing stop if the day is warm before the short, steep climb into Campagnano di Roma. There’s time for a coffee in the main piazza before continuing on.

Getting closer to Roma, ancient meets modern as we navigate the last kilometres of flat cycle path join the River Tiber and leads us into the heart of Rome, past the Castel Sant’Angelo. A short flight of stairs, a couple of traffic lights, turn a corner and the immense, arrow straight road to Saint Peter’s Basilica greets us.