Cycling is more than just a great way to get to work, stay fit and keep your household’s carbon emissions low… It’s also good for the soul. It allows us to feel at peace and content, working wonders for our mental health and personal wellbeing as we pump
The good news, however, is that there are a multitude of incredible cycling destinations all over Europe. These places offer passionate cyclists an opportunity to hone or even test their skills while also enjoying some of the most staggeringly beautiful views in the world.
In Italy they’re as passionate about cycling as they are about food, fashion and… Well… pretty much else to which the Italians turn their hands. Home to a great number of natural and architectural marvels, Italy also has some of Europe’s finest cycling routes…
Most popular cycling areas in Italy
You’ll find no shortage of wonderful places in which to pump those pedals in Italy. Some of the most famous cycling destinations for Italians and tourists alike include;
Lake Garda- Within striking distance of Venice and the beach resort of Lido di Jesolo, Lake Garda has no shortage of stunning scenery, nestled as it is between the Dolomites and the Alps. There are plenty of flat cycling trails here for beginners as well as more mountainous terrain for veterans.
Tuscany- One of the most famously beautiful regions of Italy has a lot to offer cyclists of all levels of experience and proficiency. Some of the best can be found in the walled medieval town of Lucca where motor vehicles are largely banned. Easy riding, stunny architecture and few cars? Sounds like bliss to us!
Sardinia- Known for its sandy beaches and rugged, yet verdant terrain Sardinia offers a wealth of unique challenges for cyclists. Cycle along the coastline if you feel like an easy ride or venture up into the mountains if you feel more like an adventure.
History of cycling in Italy
Like most of Europe, Italy fell in love with cycling at the end of the 19th century and when motorised vehicles came to the region the humble bicycle came to represent the nobility of the Italian working class. Perhaps Italy’s most famous cyclist was Enrico Toti, the First World War volunteer who cycled with just one leg and became a national hero after his death on the front.
Famous races in Italy
Italy plays host to a wide range of well-known cycling races. Chief amongst them is the Giro d'Italia (Italy’s equivalent of the Tour de France). However, there are a multitude of other famous races including the Giro de Medio Brenta, Milano Torino, Gran Piemonte and Coppa Agostoni - Giro delle Brianze to name but a few. The amateur scene is also big with a whole host of events in the Gran Fondo sporting calendar including the Nove Colli, Strade Bianche, Granfondo La Fausto Coppi, Eroica and the Gran Fondo Prosecco to call out just a few.
When to Visit
July and August can be punishingly hot in Italy, not to mention extremely busy due to the influx of tourists. September is still fairly busy, although not quite as bad as August and offers far more clement weather.
Nestled in the Valtellina valley and immediately south of the vertiginous Passo dello Stelvio lays Bormio, a cycling mecca of Northern Italy. The Stelvio has a staggering 48 hairpins and is a route carved…
Better known for its winter sports, the Dolomites are an inspiring destination to visit between late spring and autumn too. Once the snow melts and skiers disperse, cyclists flock to the ‘Pale Mountains’…
Straddling the borders of three distinct regions – Lombardy, Trentino Alto-Adige and the Veneto – Lake Garda attracts a variety of visitors. For warm weather cyclists, pedal eastwards and explore the…
Set in the shadow of the snow-covered Rhaetian Alps and nestled in between vertiginous, green hillsides, Lake Como is the most beautiful of Italy’s major lakes. Wend your way along a shoreline littered…
Stretching from the Gulf of Venice in the north to the Capo d'Otranto in the south, Italy’s Adriatic coastline is a beautiful but largely unknown destination to many except its locals. Based near the…
Known as Italys premier pasta region, and the countries culinary capital, Emilia-Romagna is the perfect destination for cyclists with a big appetite. This guided group trip takes you on memorable rides…
The Tiber valley runs from Mount Fumaiolo, on the Tuscan border with Emilia Romagna, through the Valtibertina and onwards through Umbria, to Rome and the Tirreno sea. On this tour, we show you the Upper…
Picture Tuscany in yourimagination and chances are you are picturing therolling hills, beautiful towns and spectacular colours that make thisone of our best new itineraries for 2020.Ride between the Chianti…
Picture Tuscany in yourimagination and chances are you are picturing therolling hills, beautiful towns and spectacular colours that make thisone of our most exciting new itineraries for 2020.Ride between…
Tuscany is a road cycling heartland.Few places in the world are as perfectly suited toa drop handlebar bike quite as well as Tuscany is. The famous hills, that roll endlessly, blanketed inrich, green vegetation…
Starting in Vicenza, famed for Palladian villas and a UNESCO world heritage site, this tour takes you on a grand tour of the Veneto region of Italy. Your route takes you through the staggeringly beautiful…
This guided tour encompasses all the best aspects of Tuscany: fine wine, stunning country views, medieval hilltop towns and exceptional cuisine. Youre-bike will help you make the most of your time, preserving…
With an expert guide to lead you, youll be shownTuscany and Umbria s best bits all made blissfullyeasy with a power assisted e-bike. Starting on the Tuscany borders, this magical, seven night, eight day…
Enjoy iconic Italian countryside with fine wines and gastronomic delights. Pedal your way gently along quiet side roads and tracks; travel the ancient via Flaminia highway of the Roman empire; and feast…
From the cypress-lined paths of Gladiator to the beautiful villa featured in Kenneth Brannaghs Much Ado About Nothing, this dreamy Tuscan self guided cycling tour seems to take you from one beautiful film…
Pedal your way gently along quiet side roads and tracks; travel the ancient via Flaminia highway of the Roman empire; and feast on wondrous Italian fayre and delicious Italian wines…