Etruscan Explorer main pictures
Etruscan Explorer main pictures

Etruscan Explorer

A journey between Umbria, Tuscany, and Lazio, to discover the ancient Etruria, land of the refined civilization of Etruscans. We’ll pedal along the Via Francigena, immersing ourselves in the silences of Val d’Orcia with its well groomed hills and vineyards producing the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the Brunello di Montalcino wines, then crossing the colorful Maremma countryside with its tufa stone villages to end our journey at the fascinating thermal baths of Saturnia.

Highlights


The tufa villages

The tufa villages

Pienza, the Renaissance

Pienza, the Renaissance "ideal city"

The Brunello di Montalcino vineyards

The Brunello di Montalcino vineyards

Saturnia thermal baths

Saturnia thermal baths

Day to Day

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner;
1Arrival in RomeWarm up rideD
2Cerveteri to Vico LakeCycling 60Km/1200mB L D
3Vico Lake to OrvietoCycling 75Km/1300mB
4Orvieto to ChiancianoCycling 70Km/1400mB
5Chianciano to MontalcinoCycling 55Km/1200mB
6Montalcino to SaturniaCycling 70Km/1200mB
7Saturnia LoopCycling 70Km/1100mB
8Shuttle and departure from RomeDepartureB

Tour Map


Day 1: Arrival in Rome

Welcome in the Lazio region!
arrival-in-rome 9697

We'll welcome you at the Rome Fiumicino airport, and we’ll shuttle you to our first hotel in the Etruscan town of Cerveteri, hosting one of the biggest necropolis in the Med.

Overnight: Cerveteri
Included: Dinner

Day 2: Cerveteri to Vico Lake

Etruscans Necropolis and Renaissance gems
cerveteri-to-vico-lake 8017

By the north of Rome coutryside to the charming towns of Ronciglione and Caprarola by the Vico lake

Overnight: Ronciglione
Included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 3: Vico Lake to Orvieto

The dying town and Umbria Countryside
vico-lake-to-orvieto 9725

From the lush shores of Vico Lake, we go up towards the ancient Via Francigena. Then we pass through the enchanting medieval village of Civita di Bagnoregio, built on a ravine that is gradually falling apart, before to ends our stage at the magnificent Cathedral of Orvieto, absolute jewel of architecture in this Umbrian town surrounded by peaceful hills and olive groves.

Overnight: Orvieto
Included: Breakfast

Day 4: Orvieto to Chianciano

Tracing the origin of Renaissance
orvieto-to-chianciano 9136

Città della Pieve is the birthplace of “Il Perugino" (1450 approx. - 1523) one of the most important painters of the Italian Renaissance and teacher of Raffaello.
We'll end the stage in Chianciano, perfect spot to relax at its delightful thermal baths.

Overnight: Chianciano
Included: Breakfast

Day 5: Chianciano to Montalcino

Quintessential Tuscan Landscapes and Wines
chianciano-to-montalcino 1844

Beauty is everywhere, in the landscape and in the charming villages of Montepulciano, Pienza and San Quirico until the famous Montalcino, right at the heart of one among the best wine growing areas of the world.

Overnight: Montalcino
Included: Breakfast

Day 6: Montalcino to Saturnia

Gregorian chant and Thermal baths
montalcino-to-saturnia 8939

We'll ride across vineyards and olive groves stopping at the solemn Sant’Antimo Romanic abbey, our stage ends in Saturnia, probably Italy’s most scenic thermal baths with its “Cascate del Mulino” natural hot spring waterfalls.

Overnight: Saturnia
Included: Breakfast

Day 7: Saturnia Loop

Perched Tufa Villages and Etruscan Tombs

Today’s ride is quite rolling, with the fairytale scenery along the climb to the towns of Pitigliano, Sovana and Sorano, creating the archaeological park of Tufa towns, a magical place to end your holiday in this part of Italy.

Overnight: Saturnia
Included: Breakfast

Day 8: Shuttle and departure from Rome

Arrivederci Amici!

It’s time to say goodbye, but we know this part of Central Italy touched your heart and you want to be back here with us!

Overnight: Saturnia
Included: Breakfast

Bikes

You can bring your own bike or rent one from us, we offer great bikes from selected Italian and international brands: road bikes, leisure cycling, mountain bikes, e-bikes, all in perfect working conditions. We'll find the best solution for you during the tour customization.

This is a Sample tour

These itineraries are original tours created for real guests, so you may want something different specifically designed to suit your own wishes.
The price of every tour is available upon requests, and varies by time of year, number of guests and level of guiding.
Start dreaming looking through it, then contact us and let's talk. We'll listen to your needs, we'll suggest ideas and propose experiences, and together we'll create your perfect voyage.


Looking for something Ready to Book?

Check our GUIDED or SELF-GUIDED sections with active and cycle tours in our Mediterranean destinations.


Brendan NevinBrendan Nevin
15:07 07 Jun 23
Mediterras supported 8 of us on the cycling Gran Tour down the west coast. I would strongly recommend them - brilliant support, great local knowledge led routes and excellent bikes, We would use them again without hesitation.
Lesley KovarLesley Kovar
11:20 08 May 23
We just finished a custom tour with Mediterras, from Palermo to Marsala. What a fantastic experience! Our guide Gian Mario was so knowledgeable and attentive, his planning was meticulous. The choice of boutique hotels, as well as the restaurants he selected, were all wonderful. The rides were well planned, taking us through beautiful countryside and along spectacular coasts. Our van driver Giovanni was also awesome, he could be a professional naturalist. We are already planning our next trip with them (to Sardinia). What a treat to use a small local company that gave us such a memorable trip!
Bernie CreavenBernie Creaven
11:09 08 May 23
We loved traveling with Mediterrras!Mario and Giovanni were amazing, professional, detailed and thoughtful. They made planning this trip easy, they were super flexible when we had to change plans. They supplied us with excellent equipment (I loved my road bike), detailed maps, fun rides, history lessons, in fact we laughed our way around Sicily!We enjoyed our meals together and they booked us into beautiful hotels. Unfortunately, one member of our group had a medical emergency, they looked after him like they would a family member.I can’t wait to bike again with our new best friends!Go ahead book these local guys, you’re guaranteed a fabulous experience!Bernadette (Irish woman living and biking in Seattle).
Rich GundlachRich Gundlach
13:15 24 Sep 22
Great planning, exceptional guides. We enjoyed everything about our trip. We learned a great deal about the history and culture of Sardinia. Marcello at Mediterras made sure that everything was properly arranged and made adjustments when necessary. A great part of our enjoyment came from our interaction with our guides (Giovanni, Stefano and Danilo). They were all very knowledgeable and friendly. When it came time to part we felt like we were leaving old friends.
Doris ChapatteDoris Chapatte
11:53 12 Sep 22
We did the "big-loop" from the 20.08.2022.The big loop ist 12 days road bike around the island. We have booked the trip 1.5 weeks before (last minute) and everything has been organised perfectly. We had an extra break day every 4 days biking. And was great.Mediterras has answer to all our questions. On the day of departure, our bikes we ready, we got time to get full explanation of the tour. We got a navigation system with all the routes. Everything was very clear and very well organised. Our lugage was every evening delivered at the next hotels.The hotel has been wonderfully selected, and always at some nice location and not too far away from the center or the beach. Thank again to Mediterras team for the wonderful holidays.I would give more than a 5 Stars for this trip and the wonderful team.Doris & Jean-Luc - from Swizerland
Tadhg CookeTadhg Cooke
12:46 09 Jun 22
A fantastic introduction to cycling in Sardinia. I just rented the bike in Cagliari for a few days at the end of my holiday, with no particular routes in mind. Gian Mario kindly suggested two nice challenging routes, and sent the GPX files. I only had time for one of them - but it was an absolute gem. Starting in the city, cycling along Poetto, before turning towards the hills. After one tiny village, I didn't pass another café or shop for 40 or 50 km. Just me and the pain in my legs. Superb. The bike was a gem - a former Lotto Jumbo team bike which was ridden in the Paris Roubaix by Tom Leezer. I was a *bit* slower, but I probably enjoyed it more! Wonderful experience - lovely people - always available on whatsapp if I needed anything, which was very reassuring when I don't speak Italian or Sardu! I will definitely use them again if/when I return to Sardegna.Thanks again!
We did the Sicily Baroque tour with Mediterras. Self guided on bikes (el and manual). Gian and his team did adapt the tour for our needs and did all to make the tour enjoyable. Few problems surfaced but all were solved. The trail was interesting and added a lot to our understanding of Sicily, its landscape and life in the rural areas. Accommodations were all good, and the quality of the food in the restaurants Gian had arranged varied from good to excellent. At the end of our tour we did a walk in the hillsides of Etna arranged by Mediterras.The Etna tour was wonderful. We were lucky with weather given the circumstances. It was a bit foggy and a bit cold, but it did not rain. The guides did a good job of explaining the geology of Etna for us and the two geology-educated persons in the group! The hike was challenging, which suited the group well. The food and wine at Barbaras place was totally excellent! Six stars out of five.We were not as lucky in Taormina! It did rain cats and dogs. The drivers did adapt quite well. Did stop at several foto-ops and at the entry gate to the pedestrian street. We did wander through the Greek theatre and the pedestrian walk, did have a stop at a fancy coffe-shop/bar and then decided to skip the dinner and return early back to Syracusa.
W. B.W. B.
16:03 20 Oct 21
I found this company using google and right away Gian was very responsive. I told them what we were looking for, gave specific parameters for distance and elevation, and they put together an itinerary very quickly that completely matched what I asked for. The entire trip was seamless from the 1am pickup at airport to drop off after 10 days of cycling. The routes were on quiet wonderful roads and the hotels they chose were all great. A really good local company which does what they claim to do very well. Highly recommend.
Ilja WinkertIlja Winkert
11:14 17 Sep 21
I rented quite spontaneously a city bike for my whole stay here near Cagliari. The workshop is very well located. Grocery shopping, going to the beach and the city worked very well. Bike were in a good condition. I was properly advised. Fully recommend this place.
ZosiaZosia
14:46 23 Aug 21
We are so happy that we found this rental. Very nice, helpfull and professional customer service. We recommend to everyone!
juliet clarkejuliet clarke
17:20 15 Jun 21
Mediterras arranged a self guided cycling trip through South Eastern sicily stopping in beautiful baroque towns. They arranged everything with less than a weeks notice, keeping us up to date on accommodation, bikes equipment etc.My husband and I had a wonderful time. The ride was perfect, having both been off a bike for several months, the ride was the perfect combination of hills and flats for us to really enjoy it. The accommodation was far better than what we were expecting for the price and recommendations for dinner and stops spot on. We ate incredibly well and all the hosts in the villas and hotels very welcoming and helpful.I would certainly recommend them especially arranging it all with such little notice.
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