Active Away has discovered a newly constructed 4* private hotel set in the depths of Southern Tuscan countryside at Saturnia between Sienna and Rome and about 50km from the coast. Saturnia is famous as a spa for its natural health giving hot springs. The hotel opened in June 2007 and specialises in daily cycling and walking tours using the hotel as a base.
The hotel has purchased some high spec bikes which can be hired or you can transport your own bikes.
Flight times should allow for arriving at the hotel for a late lunch thereby giving us the afternoon to have a good introduction to the area and make use of the facilities in and around the hotel. The whole trip will be based at the same hotel with 4 varied tours which have been personally researched - 2 circular trips and two whereby you are transported with bikes to you start or collected on short transfers of about one hour.
Return to UK will be on the 5th day possibly allowing some time for relaxation in the morning at the hotel's glorious 25 metre heated pool and spa facilities or indeed further riding.
The hotel is of course very comfortable and there will be the option for single room (with supplement). There is also a laundry service for cycling attire.
The food quality is excellent and the chef is well geared up for vegetarian/fish alternatives and any other diet for that matter.
Wines are all Italian - mostly local, superb and very good value.
Highlights
- Warm sunny weather
- Temperatures should be ideal for cycling
- Varied scenic routes
- Some good hills but not that tough with grades, virtually all around or below 7%;
- 75 to 100 km (max) per day - but this can be tailored to your requirements
- Generally excellent road surfaces and little traffic
- Mix of rolling countryside, lakes and coastline
- Rich cultural heritage in the form of necropolitic (prehistoric) sites, Etruscan and Roman history
- Very comfortable hotel with facilities and good local Italian food and wines
- A strong support team with an English/Italian speaker guide
- and of course a marvellous group of cyclists
Itinerary
Day 1
Travel to Italy and Settle into Hotel
Natural sulphur -rich hot water cascades down from the Terme di Saturnia. In the spa baths the temperature is 37.5°C whilst at these waterfalls open to the public 1000m downstream it is a pleasant 32°C.
Day 2 - Cycle Day 1
Saturnia Etruscan Round 75km
Circular Tour from Saturnia to Montemerano, Manciano and to the stunning town of Pitigliano where there will be the opportunity to stroll around for a while. Then on to Sorano with views of distant mountains and finally completing the circuit via Capanne back to the hotel.
The route is undulating but with no long hills. It follows part of the Gran Fondo cycle route (see later). Cycling time should be about four hours - say six with stops and for a restaurant lunch.
A 3 course dinner will be served al fresco in the hotel.
Pitigliano is built on a high tufa cliff promontory which is chiselled with a thousand caves and tower-houses. Its heritage goes back to the prehistoric period with tombs discovered along the city wall, and roman and medieval periods with structures such as the 13th century Orsini palace. The town is also famous for its Jewish ghetto. This extraordinary town has been called ‘little Jerusalem’ because of its large active Jewish population which settled there beginning in the 15th century. The synagogue is open to the public after extensive restoration as is the cemetery , kosher butcher and wine making cellar. The view of the town as you can see is breathtaking.
Day 3 - Cycle Day 2
Roccalbegna and towards Monte Amieta - up to 100km
Another circular ride to the north of Saturnia through very peaceful countryside to Roccalbegna and then a circuitous route around the forested Monte Labbro with extensive views, eventually reaching the highest point on our tour, 900m (3000ft) at Triana. Then to a great downhill back to Saturnia –albeit that you have a final 3km climb back up to the hotel from the valley of the hot springs. We shall picnic en route and return to the hotel early enough for a swim and use of the pool and facilities.
Roccalbegna. Built in the 13th century by the republic of Siena it is set into the side of a granite outcrop on the edge of the mountains in a remarkable location.This small town retains its ancient character.
Day 4 - Cycle Day 3
The Argentario Coastal ride 75km
The ride commences on the coast at the small fortress town and port of Talamone. We cycle around the bay and under the coast expressway through some pretty countryside towards the resort of Albinia. We then ride along a one km wide spit onto the almost island of Monte Argentario. We follow the island coastline to Porto Santo Stefano and then a round tour of the island's coast and inland finally crossing another spit to Orbetello which is also connected to the mainland.
Orbetello The town is set in the middle of the lagoon linked to Monte Argentario by an artificial causeway. It was founded by the Etruscans in V11 cent BC
Orbetello is like the Venice of Tuscany –being surrounded on all sides by water and also has some canalways. We retrace our route for 2km and now cycle round to the east of the island to to the pretty town of Port Ercole before finally coasting our way to the beach for a welcome swim at Cala Galera where we shall be picked up and wisked back to Saturnia. We will dine out tonight in the village of Saturnia
Porto Ercole. An evocative seaside village with a well equipped tourist port overlooked by the imposing Spanish fortress
Day 5 - Cycle Day 4
Orvieto and Bosena 100km
We will start at Saturnia and retrace our first day's route with a small variation to Pitigliano where once again there will be the opportunity to stop in the town –this time to visit the Jewish quarter. Its then the fast smooth almost flat road to the fascinating town of Bolsena on the volcanic lake where we will stop for a restaurant lunch.
The Estruscan/Roman town of Bolsena in Latzio which is situated on the ancient volcanic Lake Bolsena which is seen in the background of the insert photo.
The afternoon will comprise of a 43km round trip to Orvieto, one of the most impressive old towns in Lazio where we will have tea and have time to explore. Then its back to Bolsena for a welcome swim in the lake's (fairly) warm waters before being transported back to Saturnia for our finale evening meal at the hotel.
Orvieto A city in southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff. The site of the city is among the most dramatic in Europe, rising above the almost-vertical faces of tufa cliffs that are completed by defensive walls built of the same stone.
Orvieto is noted for its Gothic cathedral, or duomo. The church is striped in white travertine and greenish-black basalt in narrow bands. Construction began in 1290.
Day 6
Return to UK
There should be ample opportunity to swim, use the hotel spa or visit the Saturnia hot springs before lunch at the hotel and transfer back to Rome for a late afternoon flight. Alternatively you can climb the hill into the village to pay homage to Marco Pantani's memorial as you can see below or indeed have a further short cycle tour in the morning.
The route of the Massimiliano Lelli Gran Fondo passes through Saturnia. We shall cover some of this 161km cycling route during our visit. The renowned Italian cyclist Marco Pantani was associated with the village of Poggio Morella 1km up the steep hill from the hotel and this plaque and bicycle are placed in the village in his memory. The road from the village passed the hotel has been formally named Strada Marco Pantani by the hotel owner.
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