Skip menu

For the latest information on COVID-19 travel restrictions in Italy. Click here.

Cycling tourism
Tuscany

Cycling in the land of the Etruscans: from Camaiore to Val di Merse, with a stop in Volterra

25 July 2022

3 minutes

Sunflower fields and abbeys, ancient walls and hills that prompt reflection. On the pedals you just have to choose: chasing the wake of the champions or slipping into a slow pace.

219 kilometres separate Camaiore, in Versilia, from Sovicille, in the heart of the Val di Merse – respectively the start and finish of the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico, the Race of the Two Seas featuring the big names in cycling. The route also lends itself to the enjoyment of amateurs, with two possibilities depending on training level. Either focus on the first flatter half of the route, or aim for the second, more undulating half.

Towards Volterra

Towards Volterra

Before getting on your bike, we recommend a visit to the Abbey of San Pietro, near the centre of Camaiore, once belonging to a Benedictine monastery. The image of the church, with its white stone façade silhouetted against the blue sky, will accompany those who tackle the first stretch of the race. It’s a lunge across the Pisan plain, with long straights that touch on Pisa, Ponsacco, and Lajatico. Amateurs can stop off in Volterra (a hundred or so kilometres from the start), the city founded in the fourth century B.C. by the Etruscans that dominates the Val di Cecina. What are the must-see landmarks, once you get off your bike? In addition to the famous alabaster workshops, the Palazzo dei Priori, the oldest town hall in Tuscany, built from 1208, and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

In San Galgano, between charm and legend

In San Galgano, between charm and legend

Rolling on undulating roads, you enter the Siena area, a land of uncontaminated greenery, history and legends. After reaching the Colonna di Montarrenti, the route becomes a sort of circuit that, after a stretch of national road, meets the La Pineta climb. Past the municipality of Monticiano, perched on a hill surrounded by luxuriant nature, you reach the San Galgano plain and immediately think of the abbey of the same name. Only the majestic walls, the naves and some rooms remain standing of the building constructed by the Cistercian monks from 1218, but something else makes it an evocative place: 200 metres away, in the Rotunda of Montesiepi, is the Sword of San Galgano embedded in the rock.

In Sovicille, amidst dry stone walls and sunflowers

In Sovicille, amidst dry stone walls and sunflowers

Approximately 20 km from the finish is the symbolic climb of this stage leading to the town of Chiusdino: a mildly uphill start and a steep climb in the final 3 kilometres, with peaks of 8% gradient. A warning to amateurs: be prepared to ride out of the saddle. Once you reach the top, however, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The last part of the route is virtually flat, but not without emotion. Approaching the finish in Sovicille is a magical experience: the Etruscan town looks like a small island suspended in a sea of woods. And even its historic centre, full of narrow streets and stone-walled houses, is a balm for the mind. Just like the 18th-century Villa Lechner, built on the castle walls, with a staircase leading down to the gardens. A final note. This is the starting point for the Girotondo a Sovicille, a perfect route for a two-wheeled trip with the whole family: 29 km with a minimum elevation gain (300 metres), winding along minor roads surrounded by sunflower fields, vineyards, olive groves and dry-stone walls.

 

By the editorial staff of RCS Sport.

Related articles

Cycling tourism
1279305212

On the saddle along Versilia: Camaiore, Pietrasanta, Forte dei Marmi and surroundings

Cycling tourism
Siena and surroundings: two wheels, endless emotions

Siena and surroundings: two wheels, endless emotions

Sport
Mountain bikers on touristic trail in Tuscany

Tuscany: cycling around Siena between wines and spas

Region
Cities of art, beautiful landscapes and good food: Tuscany is every tourist's dream destination

Cities of art, beautiful landscapes and good food: Tuscany is every tourist's dream destination

Sport
Photo by Alice Russolo

Tuscany with a view: cycling routes amidst breathtaking panoramas

Cycling tourism
1600X1000_sterrati_strade_bianche_cardina_1.jpg

Amidst medieval villages and enchanted hills: cycling along the gravel roads of the Strade Bianche

City
Pisa, the charm of the ancient Maritime Republic with the leaning tower

Pisa, the charm of the ancient Maritime Republic with the leaning tower

UNESCO
177395107

Val d'Orcia: rolling hills among vineyards and medieval villages

UNESCO
Pienza, the Ideal City

Pienza, the Ideal City

Tours and experiences
Tuscany by car surrounded by nature, art and unique flavors

Tuscany by car surrounded by nature, art and unique flavors

UNESCO
Pisa and Piazza dei Miracoli, jewels of extraordinary beauty

Pisa and Piazza dei Miracoli, jewels of extraordinary beauty

Art and culture
Montepulciano, Tuscany. Palazzo Comunale di Montepulciano Girl looks at the landscape of the city and countryside from the balcony

Montepulciano

Art and culture
A weekend in Val d'Orcia: 10 unmissable churches and monasteries

A weekend in Val d'Orcia: 10 unmissable churches and monasteries

Art and culture
The Palio di Siena - a highly renowned Italian-style summer event

The Palio di Siena - a highly renowned Italian-style summer event

UNESCO
Siena and the low-key charm of the historic centre

Siena and the low-key charm of the historic centre

UNESCO
San Gimignano, a journey through the charm of the Middle Ages and the magic of Nature

San Gimignano, a journey through the charm of the Middle Ages and the magic of Nature

Nature
Cala Violina

Cala Violina, the “sound beach” in the heart of the Maremma

Ops! An error occurred while sharing your content. Please accept profiling cookies to share the page.