Journal
Florence Exploration & Light Gravel
Today is a day of two halves: firstly we will play the part of typical tourists and in that role our itinerary includes all of the greatest and most well-known buildings and monuments in the historic heart of Renaissance Florence, and secondly we will head west into an area rarely seen by travellers to this part of Italy. This will all be done seriously fast - but before you start to imagine this is some kind of boastfulness I should point out that we are using the brand new 3T Boost.
Chianti Climbs On The 3T Exploro RaceMax
It is July, an already glorious morning of bright sun and we are gathered to hear what the day ahead holds. We already know it is a road ride (mainly, more about that later) of around 130km. Most of us already have the route shared via Komoot on our Wahoos so there are no surprises on the distance for the amount of climbing involved. We will be taking in the best that Chianti has to offer
Florence to Rome – Day 4
The morning of day four greets us with the view of the hotel which we could not appreciate the night before. Housed in a former convent, the large property is right next to the Francigena so it is a simple few hundred metres of road until we are back on track. Though today is the shortest and therefore should be the easiest day of the trip, the fatigue of the last three days has built up and we pedal with tired legs.
Florence to Rome – Day 3
After breakfast but before we begin our ride, the Contessa very graciously shows us around the Castle of Proceno. The apartments in which she lives are full of a collection of furniture and objects from many lifetimes, including an old printing press which, when it arrived in the area, would have been a rare marvel. Clothing from bygone eras can be seen; it is like a fascinating mini museum and a window onto the past of this noble local family. We thank the Contessa and begin to pack our bikes.
Florence to Rome – Day 2
After another superb breakfast we are immediately onto narrow gravel roads lined with Cypress trees. It is today that we will join the Via Francigena and from here on, we follow it as closely as possible all the way to Rome. The views stretch even further than yesterday. This is classic Tuscany. It is here that the most famous photos and films of the region have been taken or shot. Houses appear on hilltops looking like magazine covers, their driveways winding invitingly along the ridge
Florence to Rome – Day 1
Four days, 395km of cycling, over half of which is off road and 7250m elevation gain on 3T Exploro gravel bikes. From Tuscany’s famous strade bianche, to the wide open vistas of the Val D’Orcia, the rural and undiscovered landscape of Northern Lazio and finally to the magnificent Eternal City of Rome.
