Tuscany by Scooter
We are delighted to welcome our guests from North America and Canada to Tuscany. Tonight, we will hold an extensive and interesting briefing and get to know each other a little better.
Our delicious breakfast provides the energy we need for our first day of riding, which will take us south to San Gimignano. After putting on our motorcycle gear, we meet in the lobby for the daily briefing, where we receive lots of exciting information about the tour and the places we will visit along the way. And already, the Italian blue (azzuro) sky is shining down on us. We search for Italian in our personal riding style mapping, get into the flow of local traffic, and cruise out of the Renaissance city. We stop in Greve in Chianti for a coffee and take a cheerful tour of the macelleria and the Giovanni da Verrazzano statue. Curve after curve, we reach the Manhattan of the Middle Ages, San Gimignano. Lunch is fantastic, and fortified, we make our way to the market square to try what is probably the best ice cream dealer in the world. With our heads full of impressions, we gratefully make our way back to Florence. Grazie a tutti and see you tomorrow, your tour guides Gottfried and Tom.
Today isn't exactly ideal weather for scootering, but we're really looking forward to today's tour because we're heading east to Arezzo in Tuscany, about 170 km away. Surfing along the road that meanders through the Arno Valley feels great. We have escaped the morning hustle and bustle of Florence on our scooters and are heading for the Passo della Consuma at an altitude of around 1000m. On the way downhill, some of the riders lose sight of the beautiful landscape. No wonder, because the pass really offers pure riding pleasure. We park at the post office and stroll through the delightful alleys – it's like traveling back in time. There's no sign of tourist hotspots – grandioso. We have an excellent lunch in Piazza Grande and the girls love strolling over the cobblestones and looking at the creative shop windows. The way back deserves to be described as unique, winding, and picturesque. Due to a temporary road closure, we sometimes discover new beautiful roads. We make another coffee stop and arrive happily at Villa Neroli.
Today's trip gets every scooter enthusiast's heart pumping with adrenaline. Mugello. The name will quickly remind motorsport fans of the racetrack. On the way from Mugello to Passo del Giogo, there is one curve after another. The scenery we're riding through sometimes makes it hard to focus on driving. Before the Passo, we make a very interesting coffee stop. Some people would have preferred to stay there when they saw the “steaks.” The route is so perfect that you want to stop every 100 meters to take a photo. In Firenzuola, we enjoy another wonderful caffè. At the Hotel Europa, we fill our stomachs with a delicious 3-course lunch. Because a wonderful stage still lies ahead of us: the Passo dela Sambuca takes us back up to altitude, both geographically and emotionally. The view from the 1000-meter-high point over the mountain landscape of Mugello is not exactly ideal today. BUT: roads as if they were built for us. Yes, even on a scooter, you can enjoy the technical hairpin bends and sharp curves with pure driving pleasure. In the afternoon, we arrive back at Villa Neroli a little damp but with big smiles on our faces. It was a little adventure – well done.
“Back in the saddle again.” The mood is fantastic even at breakfast. Today, we're in for another treat with hairpin bends, curves, and breathtaking views. We're heading south today, and the sun is coming with us. Bzzzzzz... The wasps are out and about. Weaving through Florentine traffic has become child's play. Castellina offers superb cappuccino and brioches – I swear they melt in your mouth. And then there are these roads – they are not optional, no, they are a must. We reach the parking lot at the stadium in Siena. We have time to explore Siena – we grab some pizza and coffee and sit in the sun. The buildings on the Campo, the cathedral, the Palazzo Publico, the Pinacoteca, the shops, the restaurants – they shine in the sunlight in shades of red, orange, ochre, yellow – a riot of color. Everyone is back at the Vespas on time and the road takes us back north. Radda in Chianti awaits us on the way. We take a stroll through this tranquil, beautiful village and, after some refreshments, continue our “ride.” We have a little time left at the hotel before taking a taxi to the Restaurante “Omero” for a sumptuous and delicious 3-course dinner. An all-round successful day of touring. We are already looking forward to tomorrow. Gottfried & Tom
It's sad, but even the most beautiful tour must come to an end at some point. Today is our last day of riding—this time covering less distance—but with no less riding pleasure and all the more flavor. We steer our Vespas out of Florence via Villa Pitiana in Donini to Vallombrosa Abbey. What began as a small wooden hut belonging to a hermit was supplemented by a brick church in 1058. This was expanded around 1450 and took on its current appearance at the end of the 15th century. This mystical place is located in the middle of a national park, one of the oldest “primeval forests” in Italy. Today's highlight is a visit to Frantoio Pasquini, where Giulia Pasquinin tells us many interesting things about high-quality olive oil.