Home Cycling Tours 3 Great Cycling Tours in Italy for Foodies

3 Great Cycling Tours in Italy for Foodies

by Michelle

Cycling is one of the best ways to travel and experience a destination in a way which engages all your senses. Cycling is also a form of ‘slow travel’, allowing you to take in every sensory detail of your surroundings: the feeling of the sun on your face and the wind in your hair, the smell of freshly cut grass and the sounds of early-morning birdcalls or the tolling of a church bell.

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Photo by Ciclismo Classico

 

What better destination for a cycling holiday than Italy? The beautiful landscapes of hills, vineyards and hilltop towns and the fantastic gourmet delights of its cuisine, make a cycling holiday the ideal way to experience il bel paese. A cycling holiday in Italy is a great excuse to indulge in the fantastic Italian cuisine because once you’re on the saddle, the calories will be easily burned off!

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Photo by Ciclismo Classico

 

We found three unique cycling tours in different regions of Italy which combine slow travel with slow food… these gastronomic tours are not only about food; they also take in the historical highlights of the fabulous regions of Tuscany, Puglia and Piedmont. Perfect for those who love nature, cycling, food, and the dolce vita.

A unique ‘slow food’ cycling tour of Tuscany.

Tuscany conjures up idyllic images of the Italian countryside: rolling hills and vineyards bathing in the sunshine, and medieval villages of ancient stones. Ciclismo Classico’s ‘Tuscany Green’ tour offers a 7-day cycling tour exploring not only the gorgeous landscapes of Tuscany but also the epicurean delights it has to offer.

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Photo by Ciclismo Classico

 

Cycling enthusiasts can explore six different areas of Siena province, passing through the picturesque Crete Senesi in southern Tuscany, along the famous Chianti Classico wine route, with a stop in the hilltop town of Montalcino, renowned for its Brunello di Montalcino wine, as well as a much-deserved rest at the thermal springs of Rapolano Terme. The gastronomic highlights include visits to local farms and wine cellars, wine and olive oil tasting sessions, and hands-on cooking classes.

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Photo by Ciclismo Classico

 

The delights of Southern Italy by bike

‘La Bella Puglia’ tour explores one of Italy’s most southernmost regions known for its unique Greek, Norman, and Arab history, its heritage cities, white sand beaches, vineyards and olive groves, and culinary specialties. This 9-day tour takes in three spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Baroque capital of Lecce, the town of Alberobello and its unique prehistoric trulli buildings, and Matera, known as la città sotterranea (the subterranean city).

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Photo by Ciclismo Classico

The gastronomic delights of this tour include sampling the region’s famous handmade orecchiette pasta, a mozzarella-making demonstration, and tasting the region’s fabulous Salento red wines and whites from Locorotondo.

A cycle ride through the wine region of Piedmont

A delight for epicureans, the ‘Piedmont: Land of Barolo and Truffles’ tour is a 7-day adventure through Italy’s best-known wine region. The route takes cyclists down lesser-travelled country roads through some of Piedmont’s most important vineyards, with stunning views of the Alps as a backdrop.

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Photo by Ciclismo Classico

Participants learn about the region’s grape varieties like Dolcetto, Cortese and Moscato, and enjoy gourmet meals paired with the some of Piedmont’s best wines. Cultural hotspots along the route include the magnificent castles and palaces of Monferrato and the hot sulfur thermal waters at Acqui Terme. Among the culinary highlights are a truffle-hunting demonstration, five-star meals at renowned restaurants like Enoclub in Alba and La Schiavia in Acqui Terme, and the tasting of excellent local wines like Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera.

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Photo by Ciclismo Classico

 

By Isabel Putinja, Travel Writer