Tuscany by gravel bike

What are the best gravel routes in Tuscany?

Tuscany in gravel is the best example of how you can do adventure cycle tourism in Italy and discover unforgettable corners of paradise. Tuscany is one of the most famous regions of Italy for cycling tourism and the reason is easy to understand: very long white roads, gravel itineraries that wind through rows of cypresses, ancient villages and farmhouses where it is possible to taste excellent quality wines and cheeses .

To select the best gravel itineraries in Tuscany, we have taken into consideration some parameters such as compatibility with a 2 to 14 day holiday, the accessibility of the itinerary by means of transport and the presence of cycle tourism services in the surrounding area.

The best gravel bike routes in Tuscany are:

Trail degli Etruschi
Cycle Way
Arno River cycle way
Grand Cycling Tour of Tuscany
Tuscany Divide
Via Francigena by bike
Via di Francesco by bike

1. Trail degli Etruschi on gravel

The Via degli Etruschi by bicycle is a cycling itinerary that retraces the footsteps of the mysterious people who preceded the Romans in central Italy. From Arezzo to the Vatican city in Rome, it is a succession of extraordinary white roads, secondary roads without traffic and cycle paths.

Characteristics and information on Tuscany by gravel bike

An area with such a strong cycling tourism vocation can only be covered by many information supports. However, finding information isn’t always easy, especially when there’s a lot of it and it’s not always coherent. The following box contains some useful information for exploring Tuscany on gravel and having fun. You can consult a list of organized tours, bike rentals and bike hotels along the best itineraries for gravel cycle tourism. Some of these itineraries may also include some sections in nearby Umbria which, in fact, has many similarities with Tuscany.

When is the best time to ride Tuscany by gravel bike?

The weather of Tuscany is suitable for cycling in all seasons, although in summer, especially in inland areas and during the day, it can get very hot. In winter and autumn, the mild climate makes it possible to pedal with the help of good quality technical clothing. In the highlands, snowfall can be abundant, so it is not advisable to cycle in winter. The Mediterranean climate makes spring and summer rides on the coastal cycle paths of Versilia and Maremma particularly pleasant. Tuscany with a gravel bicycle, or a mountain bike, is beautiful, everywhere and always.

The gravel roads and dirt roads for Tuscany are usually very well-kept and always practicable since, in most cases, they are built in such a way as to drain rainwater. Furthermore, these roads are normally used by farmers and local residents to move towards the countryside. Traffic remains, however, rather limited so that you can pedal in complete safety and tranquillity. Obviously, when the road surface becomes earth and stones, in case of rain you risk getting bogged down, above all, with a not very generous tire section.

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