FiesoleBike

From Piazza Mino proceed in the direction of Olmo for approx. 3 km, through the village of Fiesole and onward in the open countryside.

Turn right following the direction to Compiobbi. After a short uphill you will begin your journey toward Florence, surrounded by cypresses and olive trees. Keep Montececeri on your right, a place known for the extraction of “Serene stone” (Pietra serena) and for being the place where Leonardo da Vinci performed his human flight experiments.

With the city of Florence always in sight, pass by Villa Peyron and the Fontelucente forest, then Castel di Poggio. By the following crossroads follow the directions to Compiobbi. By the third crossroad, after a few meters, leave the main road Via della Selva and turn right into the narrow Via di Bagazzano.

The road begins plain then goes down a little steep, with Florence peeking out between the olive trees. Ignore the various roads crossing and bend to the left before at a shrine. Then, by the two successive crossroads, first turn right into Via Montegirone then immediately left into Via di Terenzano. Pass by the little church of S.Martino of Terenzano and the homonymous little village.

By the following crossroad take the road on the left into Via della Rosa (with a little ascent), pass over a bunch of farm houses and when the descent becomes steeper turn right into Via dei Bassi, all the way down the valley until you reach San Jacopo al Girone, immersed in a hilly landscape of cypresses and endless expanses of olive trees.

Turn right into via San Jacopo al Girone, which runs alongside the railway. Cross the rails by passing under a bridge after you have turned left.

By the traffic light at the crossroads with Via Aretina go on the opposite side leaving the church of Girone on your left, then proceed into the village following Via dell’Arno first, then Via delle Gualchiere for a few meters, and finally take the pedestrian-cycle path on the left.

Florence city centre and the Dome are now right in front of you. Just follow the cycle path along the banks of river Arno and you will easily get there.

This Bike Tour is an easy ride, 12 miles and only 295 ft of Elevation gain uphill One way itinerary.

With our e-bikes, you will discover Fiesole, the sky above Florence, the nature and the Tuscan countryside "so close and yet so far" from the city. I'll show you the places I love, where I've spent my whole life. Max 4 participants, or privately, in the morning, in the afternoon, at sunrise or sunset, sometimes at night, we will ride at least 30km (18mi), but distance and route may vary depending on the ability of the participants. You will see where Leonardo da Vinci lived and dreamed about human flight, where Dante fell in love with Beatrice. Breathtaking panoramic views of Florence, the hills and countryside surrounded by fields of olive trees. Depending on the season, we will reach a monastery still inhabited by monks at an altitude of over 800m (2600ft), or Michelangelo's childhood home. We will cross the path of the Via degli dei, the ancient Via Flaminia Minor, the Etruscan road that crossed the Apennines mountains at least 200 years BC. During the trip, we'll get some fragrant bread and fresh seasonal vegetables from local farmers, like I usually do with my family. Then we will have a little food break at Giorgio's farm, where we will eat outdoors on the farmyard, tasting his extra virgin olive oil and his good wine: these are always on my kitchen table at home. It won't be a tourist experience, but a little adventure: that's local life away from crowded places.

Ride for about 10 km in the direction of Olmo through sweet uphill and downhill roads, along Via dei Bosconi, right in the heart of Fiesole territory. An expanse of hills which reflects the ancient harmonic relationship of men and nature. From the road you will see soon the hills of Fiesole on the south, watching the city of Florence from above, and Montemorello on the west, which marks the horizon guiding your eyes down the valley toward the river Mugnone. Here a pattern of farmlands and woods dotted with rural houses and bell towers display different colors according to the season, from green and grey to yellow, orange and brown. Toward north the face of Montesenario with its monastery watches over the valley like an outpost on Mugello and the Apennines.

By the crossroads of Quattro Strade proceed onward in the direction of Bivigliano, where the municipality of Fiesole ends leaving place to that of Vaglia. After a bend on the right a short steep uphill path begins, which leads to an open viewpoint.

Now you can see Poggio Pratone toward east (702 mt, the highest point in the Fiesole territory), and Montereggi. Down the valley the Florence Dome stands out with its unmistakable shape, announcing the “Flower City” (Florence) to visitors.

By the following crossroads turn right in direction of Montesenario, your first destination, and along its mountain face: a watershed with the wider and sweeter hills of Mugello.

Here, a mountain landscape shaped by the wind, wide prairies, pine, chestnut and fir trees take the place of olive trees and cypresses.

Immersed in the silence of the thick fir tree wood of Montesenario, darkness anticipates the peace of the monastery. The Apennine Mountains come unexpected in sight, distracting bikers from the effort to ascend the top (809 mt). Now go back on the same road (the most experienced of you may take the steep and gravely road Via Matris ) until the crossroads, then turn right in the direction of Bivigliano, which you reach after a long downhill path through thick chestnut trees. After crossing the main square in the village proceed along the tree-filled boulevard and through a pine tree wood until the sight becomes wider and brighter into the road which leads back to Fiesole.

This Bike Tour is an expert-average ride, 12 miles and only 1960 ft of Total vertical climb. Circular way tour !

Head north for approximately 3km following the road toward Olmo, until you reach the locality of Baccano. Turn right toward Compiobbi. Keep following this direction until the village of Montebeni, and take the road on your left to Ontignano. With the sight of Florence behind you, the landscape starts changing, with few buildings leaving place to woods and olive groves until you get to the romanic parrish of S.Maria a Ontignano, with a bunch of houses on one side. Proceed for a few meters and you’ll see a gate: turn right, and after a couple of narrow bends the road goes down passing over a bridge which anticipates the presence of a stream, the Sambre. Here a little waterfall and the clear waters of a pond invite you for a short break.

Change the gear ratio of your bike: from now on some short but steep uphill legs alternate with longer flat stretches. The road becomes unpaved, and you’ll be surrounded by woods. The city is not far away; still it seems forgotten in this place. Biking between cypresses, white dry walls and the ruins of a dilapidated farm house (Noce Superiore) you will have to face the last ascent, after which you can take a breath and begin the easier way down on the other side, immersed in a wonderful countryside (ignore the trails on your left).

The shadow accompanies you while you pass over another stream, then a farm house, with the road winding through hills and olive trees toward Fattoria Paiatici. Leave it behind passing under an arch and once back on paved path proceed along the narrow road, then turn left by the third bend, following the directions to a graveyard.

Once you have reached the church downstream and the small village of San Donato a Torri, in proximity of a tabernacle, take the road on the left toward Via Valle, carry on for about 3 km in the open countryside, then through a shadowy wood, along Borro delle Falle all the way to the village of Citerno.

By the crossroad take the road on the left, which becomes steeper when passing through a cypress wood. It will be worth the effort however, since a wide and luminous plateau welcomes you after passing a farm house on the left. Depending on the season, the rows of cypresses and olive trees alternate with the red of poppies or the yellow fields of wheat.

The road soon becomes unpaved again, amid the pure and silent countryside just on the outskirts of Florence. Proceed along a rural building and after a couple of kilometers, in proximity of a fork with a gate and a holly hedge, turn left on a short but steep uphill path. On the right you can see the hillock of Monteloro (it is well worth reaching it!). Surrounded by inviting vineyards, after a few kilometers on untarred road you will cross a paved one.

Turn left to reach the San Clemente valley: a unique, harmonious example of Florentine countryside, lost among rural houses, ancient farms and Renaissance villas, tower houses, vineyards and cypresses. Here a young Dante Alighieri spent his summer days with Beatrice Portinari, and here the German writer Hermann Hesse fell in love with Italy.

After a few meters turn right on the unpaved road Casale San Vincenzo, again surrounded by vines. The road leads to the splendid Villa il Poggiolo all the way to the main street. Turn on the left on a uphill road. On the left side the church of Pagnolle shortly comes in sight, while on the opposite side, after a string of stone arches, the Renaissance Villa Le Fonti stands out half hidden by the olive trees.

By the following crossroad go straight on the road uphill, in opposed direction to Fiesole. Proceed for 5 km on this secluded path away from traffic, and you reach again the main road which shortly takes you back to Fiesole.

This Bike Tour is an expert ride, 16 miles and only 2130 ft of Total vertical climb. Circular way tour !

Proceed in the direction of Caldine, leaving first the apses of the cathedral on your left, then the archaeological site and the Roman theatre on your right.

In proximity of the first bend proceed straight, leaving the main road into Via Duprè (a downhill road with some rough parts!). The view over Fiesole countryside and the Mugnone valley shows itself in all its majesty.

After surpassing one of the two hills of Fiesole you will reach the crossroad with Via di Fontelucente. Turn right into the descending road (before that, it is worth crossing Via Vecchia Fiesolana and going up for a few meters to reach the magnificent viewpoint which will delight you with a breathtaking view over Florence and the Chianti hills).

Before the Church of Fontelucente turn left into Via delle Palazzine. Proceed on the narrow street until you reach Via Roccettini, in proximity of Badia Fiesolana and the European University. Turn left. From the large square opposite the Badia, on the side across Via Salviati, a steep ascending road marks the final circuit of the World Cycling Championship. Proceed on the uphill road until you reach the main road connecting Fiesole to Florence (in proximity of the village of San Domenico). Turn right in the direction of Florence, again along the circuit of the World championship, which you will leave after a few meters by turning right into Via Boccaccio.

The street winds through splendid villas all the way to the little neighborhood of Le Cure and its homonymous square. Use the underground passage (near the open market) to cross the railway and reach the cycle path of Viale don Giovanni Minzoni until Piazza della Libertà.

Cross the junction alleys and keep going on the cycle path along via Cavour. Pass by Piazza San Marco. You are already in the historic centre of Florence and its pedestrian area, and just a few minutes away from the amazing sight of the Dome and Baptistery.

This Bike Tour is an easy ride, 6 miles and only 95 ft of Elevation gain uphill One way itinerary.