Around Florence by bike

Start pedaling from the Cascine Park, taking the street of the same name to the right of the Palazzina Reale. Shortly after, on the left you come to the ex Manifattura Tabacchi, designed in the 1930s by Engineer Pier Luigi Nervi. This industrial area is now a vibrant hub of urban regeneration, replete with artisan workshops, clubs and stores, including a bike sale/rental/repair point. Leaving the city along Via della Petraia, savor the first cultural stops of your journey. First you come to the Medici Villa La Petraia, part of the Tuscan museum centers, then shortly afterwards the Medici Villa of Castello, which now houses the Accademia della Crusca. Both Villas are embraced by manicured and attractive gardens that are accessible to the public.

After passing Sesto Fiorentino, prepare for the most challenging climb of the itinerary, along the slopes of Mount Morello. The trail climbs with a few hairpin turns, then becomes even steeper, with long stretches of gradients above 10% alternating with a short stretch above 20%. These gradients can be tackled with good legs or a convenient e-bike. Along the way are some historic fountains, while at the top, your fatigue is rewarded with panoramic vistas of Florence and a refreshment point where you can recharge your energy.

After a well-deserved break, begin the long descent to Pratolino. Here, another unmissable stop awaits you: the Pratolino Medici Park, also known as Villa Demidoff, where you can ride along the internal paths to admire the Apennine Colossus, a 46-foot or 14-meter sculpture created by Giambologna in 1579. Leaving the park behind, continue downhill toward Fiesole. At Ponte alla Badia, the descent ends where the ascent begins again. In sequence, you’ll pass the Badia Fiesolana, the Convent of San Domenico, Villa San Michele and the Medici Villa of Fiesole.

After a brief and necessary stop in Fiesole, set off along an extensive descent on secondary roads (with rough asphalt in places) that leads to the village of San Jacopo al Girone. From here, take the bike path that runs along the right bank of the Arno River. Crossing the river at Bagno a Ripoli, proceed to Osteria Nuova. Next, face a series of short but steep climbs to reach the Medici Villa of Lilliano. After some miles, skirt the Medici Villa of Lappeggi, which cannot be visited, before descending and passing through the village of Grassina.

Continue pedaling toward the imposing Montauto Castle then another Medici Villa, the Villa Corsini a Mezzomonte, whose garden you can traverse. Cross a dirt stretch beneath the highway to reach Pozzolatico then climb back up to Poggio al Sole. Your last cultural stop is the impressive Charterhouse in Galluzzo, the historic Charterhouse dominating the valley from the top of Mount Acuto. Leaving the hamlet, follow the bicycle path to the Villa and Castle of Marignolle complex before beginning the final descent toward Florence along Via di Soffiano. The itinerary concludes with a passage within the Villa Strozzi Park at Boschetto, emerging onto Via Pisana to quickly reach the bridge over the Arno river and the Cascine Park.

The route is almost all on asphalt, except for a few sections of the Lungarno bike path (that flanking the Arno), well traveled and doable even on road bikes. A gravel bike may be recommended for tackling some particularly steep sections with greater ease.

This route is part of the project Strade Zitte (Silent Roads), a name inspired by a song by Paolo Conte. These are “collector’s routes” for quality cycling tourism along secondary country and mountain roads, away from the rev of engines. See details on the www.turbolento.net website.