What I've Learned from My Italian Active Bike Vacation

ninny83 — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:38:57 GMT

Here a quick summary of what I've learned touring Italy by bike.

Adventure Travelers have different needs and requests in respect to the other "mass tourists"

A - Apply for your passport at least 3 to 4 months prior to your travel date.

B - Look into picking up travelers insurance and question your medical insurance about coverage while traveling to Italy.

C - Check and Confirm your flight, accomodation and customs.

D - Pack light. Casual outfits for sightseeing and daytime, and pack a few dressier outfits for dinning in the evenings.

E - Be sure to contact your tour company and confirm your itinerary, baggage transfers and meals

Some things I've learned from this trip

If you have to transfer your bike with you by train be sure:

To buy a ticket for your bike
To know which trains actually allow bikes
To know which car the bike will go in
Trains don't wait in stations for very long

Breaking away from a group bike tour is the only way to see Italy!
Take care of equipment to take with you
Verify if there are bike services along the trip
Verify if there are super markets along the trip
Verify if you can put your bike in a garage
Make sure that you drink enough water

If you like you can read the complete trip report here

How to stay active while bicycling in Italy - Tuscany and its wonders

ninny83 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:39:10 GMT

Travel with a bicycle is a great way to combine the joy of being active and the pleasure of discovering new sights.

Tuscany is the most known region of Italy, where bicycle.

Here some good news about all you need to do to organize your independent bike tour of Tuscany.

You can choose 2 types of tour: One-day and multiple-day tours.

Highlights:

Riding on the famous "strade bianche" around Siena, wide trails and dirt roads that crisscross the haunting landscape of the Crete Senesi.
Combine bike and wine tasting in the Chianti region.
Visit medieval villages
Cycling up to the Tuscan hills and Tracks is a good way to stay fit while travelling

Top Bike tours:

The Chianti Bike Tour
Bike Tour in Castellina in Chianti
Bike Tour of Greve in Chianti
Siena and Florence city tour

Tips for Bike in Florence:

Florence is the most important city of Tuscany, its cycling paths are very good to visit all of its attractions.

The best way to visit the Florence City Center is by bicycle. You can enjoy the landscape, palaces, architectures, arts, people with your bicycle.

The city center is forbidden to cars, so you can go there renting a bycicle.

To park you bike you can use the bike stands all over Florence: In the train station, Piazza Strozzi, Via della Ninna near the San Lorenzo Market, Palazzo Vecchio and large public parking lots.

Equipment You'll need:

The first thing that should be done is hook up with a good bike shop. See http://www.florencebybike.it for more info and have some ideas about prices and bicycles.

What to see in Florence:

Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as the Dome di Firenze is the city's beautiful cathedral.
Giotto's Tower - adjacent to the Dome, you can climb the tower for a magnificent 360-degree view of the Dome, Florence, and the surrounding area. Very good as a substitute of stepper (You have to do 414 steps to arrive in the top)
Baptistery famous for the Paradise door and beautiful interior.
Palazzo Vecchio - old city palace/city hall, adorned with fine art.
Ponte Vecchio the oldest and most famous bridge over the Arno.

What to see in Siena:

The Piazza del Campo, the unique shell shaped piazza at the centre of the city, and twice a year the racetrack for the Palio.
The Palazzo Pubblico, Siena's City Hall.
The Dome, Siena's magnificent black and white Italian Romanesque cathedral.
The Pinacoteca, full of Sienese paintings.
The Palazzo Salimbeni, built in 1472, is the world Headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena.

Blog Posts From Active Travel Blog Tagged With bike

What I've Learned from My Italian Active Bike Vacation

How to stay active while bicycling in Italy - Tuscany and its wonders