Join an 8-day electric bike holiday in Italy, where you'll be tracing the steps of the Via Francigena, an ancient route packed full of historical gems and idyllic Italian countryside. Once the favoured route for merchants, armies and pilgrims travelling from Canterbury to Rome, this version of the Via Francigena picks up the trail in Tuscany and offers an inspiring journey through the heart of Italy, right up to the mighty St Peter's Square in Rome.
Starting just outside of the enthralling Siena, you'll have a chance to explore this unique, authentic town and admire the Duomo and Piazza Campo. Here you’ll get a great introduction to the Tuscan way of life, a landscape famed for its idyllic cypress-lined horizons, endless fields of golden corn and medieval hilltop towns. You’ll then head south following the Via Francigena on a range of quiet country lanes, ancient Roman roads, over rolling hills, through woodland and passing through ancient towns. This route joins up some of the major Tuscan highlights, including Siena, Monteriggioni and San Quirico.
The journey has two distinct halves and as you leave Tuscany and enter Lazio, the landscape changes as well as the feel of the towns, a change which only adds to the sense of journey. Heading ever south, you’ll cycle through varying scenery and changing terrain, eventually pedalling into the outskirts of Rome where your own pilgrimage comes to a dramatic end, riding into St. Peter's Square. Along the way, you’ll stay in a range of good quality local hotels and agriturismi, which enable you to experience true Italian hospitality and of course indulge in some delicious local cuisine.
Exclusively on electric bikes, this is a great option for any couples or friends with differing levels of fitness to ride together by adjusting the power of the bike according to personal preference. The often gravelly and uneven nature of some of the terrain and the cheeky climbs throughout do however make the route relatively challenging, and even on e-bikes the riding does require a decent level of fitness. The tour certainly isn't for beginners but it's a great option if you have some experience riding off-road on uneven terrain (particularly on an e-bike) and are looking for a challenge.