Published on: 2 February 2014  | Last updated: 17 January 2017

There are three national/international cycle routes passing through Toscana, as well as three signposted regional routes.

National and international routes

The three national/international routes are the Ciclovia Francigena (until recently called the Ciclovia dei Pellegrini) (eurovelo 5), Ciclopista del Sole (eurovelo 7) and the Ciclovia Tirrenica.

Ciclovia Francigena (until recently called the Ciclovia dei Pellegrini) (eurovelo 5)

There are two branches of the Ciclovia Francigena (until recently called the Ciclovia dei Pellegrini) (eurovelo 5). The main one comes into Toscana from Fidenza via the Passo della Cisa (1041m), and the town of Pontremoli. The other branch comes via La Spezia in Liguria. The two branches meet on the coast and follow the coast to Pisa and then Lucca. From Lucca the route closely follows the Via Francigena hiking route where it is rideable- taking unsurfaced strade bianche. Heading south-east it goes to Siena and San Gimignano and then on towards the Lago di Bolsena in Lazio, and Rome.

Route statistics for the Toscana section

distance:	312 kilometres
climbing:	4,000 metres
minimum altitude:	sea level
maximum altitude:	800 metres (after the Passo della Cisa)

Map: FT-maps-toscana-francigena-show map in overlay FT-maps-toscana-francigena view map in new window

Ciclopista del Sole (eurovelo 7)

The Ciclopista del Sole (eurovelo 7) comes into Toscana from Bologna, via the Lago di Suviana, and on from there to Firenze. After Firenze the route follows the river Arno (more or less) towards Arezzo where it joins the Sentiero della Bonifica a 59-kilometre traffic-free cycleway which leads towards Chiusi. The eurovelo 7 isn't the most interesting and scenic of the routes through Toscana – but it is probably the least hilly.

Route statistics for the Toscana section

distance:	277 kilometres
climbing:	3500 metres
minimum altitude:	1000 metres
maximum altitude:	450m

Map: FT-maps-toscana-CPDS- show in overlay FT-maps-toscana-CPDS-show in new window

Bicitalia 16 Ciclovia Tirrenica

The Bicitalia 16 Ciclovia Tirrenica is a national route, which runs from Verona via Parma and over the Apennines, crossing the Apennines via Berceto and the Passo della Cisa (1041m) before following the northern Toscana coast via Viareggio and the coast and on towards Rome.

Route statistics for the Toscana section

distance:	274 kilometres
climbing:	1600 metres
minimum altitude:	max altitude 200 metres
maximum altitude:	sea level

Map:   FT-maps-toscana-tirrenica-show in overlay   FT-maps-toscana-tirrenica-show in new window

Overview map

Click on the lines for more information.

Regional routes

None of the national or international routes is signposted. However, there are three regional signposted routes: the Eroica, the Gran Tour della Maremma and the the Grand Tour della Val di Merse.

The Eroica signposted route

The Eroica is a 205-kilometre route in the hills to the east and south of Siena. The Eroica is an annual race for vintage bikes that takes place in October, but the signposted route can be ridden at any time. The route follows public roads with about half on unsurfaced strade bianche, although these are generally well maintained – if a bit dusty.

Route statistics:

distance:	205 kms
climbing:	4300 metres
minimum altitude:	….
maximum altitude:	….

Map :   FT-maps-toscana-regional-routes-show in overlay   FT-maps-toscana-regional-routes-show in new window

The Gran Tour della Maremma

The Gran Tour della Maremma +is a 405-kilometre circular route through south-western Toscana, blending coast, wine country and some of Toscana's most beautiful hilltop towns. The route includes some sections of unsurfaced road but there are options that enable you to avoid these (and reduce the distance to about 350 kilometres).

Route statistics

distance:	405 kms (variants reduce distance by 58 kms
climbing:	4700 metres
minimum altitude:	….
maximum altitude:	….

Map:   FT-maps-toscana-GTDM-show in overlay   FT-maps-toscana-GTDM-show in new window

The Grand Tour della Val di Merse

The Grand Tour della Val di Merse is a 144-kilometre route to the west of Siena. It takes you through some of the most undiscovered parts of the region – with some gloriously quiet scenic roads. It can be combined with the Gran Tour della Maremma.

Route statistics

distance:	147 kilometres
climbing:	2680 metres (official figure 2500 metres ‘circa’)
minimum altitude:	….
maximum altitude:	….

Map:   FT-maps-toscana-GTVDM-show in overlay FT-maps-toscana-GTVDM-show in new window

Traffic-free cycleways

There are (early 2014) over 300 kilometres of cycleway in Toscana, but most are pretty short. The longest stretch of traffic-free cycleway in Toscana is the Sentiero della Bonifica, a 62-kilometre cycleway which starts near Arezzo and ends near Chiusi. The route is almost completely flat, but is unsurfaced.

There's also the cycleway along the banks of the Serchio river which runs for kilometres passing Lucca and then running on to Pisa and the coast.

There are also some shorter stretches of cycleway along the coast near the resorts of Viareggio, Marina di Bibbona, Follonica, Castiglione della Pescaia, and Orbetello.

If you go to Lucca don't miss out on the cycleway that runs through the linear park on the old city walls for about 4.5 kilometres. Short, but definitely one of the nicest cycleways in Italy.

Watch this space … the Ciclopista dell'Arno (Arno cycleway)

In 2012 the Regione Toscana agreed to commit 9 million euro over 3 years to the development of the the cycleway along the Arno. It's planned that the cycleway will eventually run for 270 kilometres. The funds committed by the regione, together with funds from the local authorities along the route, will increase the proportion of completed cycleway to over 50 percent. The estimated total costs of the work are about 40 million euros – so there is still a long way to go.