Cycling in the Mugello hills

Starting from Borgo San Lorenzo, the largest town in Mugello, as well as the main hub of services in the whole area, the route takes you towards Florence along the via Faentina. After crossing the river, leave the provincial road, immediately turning left in the direction of Sagginale. As you cross the valley floor of the River Sieve the road widens, but traffic is light.

As you leave the valley bottom and turn right in the direction of San Cresci, the traffic is virtually nonexistent. The road is much narrower, and the terrain rougher with an increasingly rockier road surface. The slopes also increase in gradient, at some points the road climbs in excess of 12-14%. The reward for a 5.9 km climb comes as a very welcome, 100-meter flat section, allowing time to catch your breath. Hereafter the route starts to ascend again but offers reprieve in the form of a few gentler slopes. At 7km in the bell tower of the beautiful church of San Cresci appears among the trees indicating that we are almost at the end of the climb.  A further 300 meters takes us to the start of a much-needed downhill stretch. Villas and farmhouses dot this area where time seems to flow more slowly than in the city.

After 8.5km the road starts to climb again, leading us to Arliano. The final kilometer of gentle ascent takes us to Campestri and the highest point of this excursion (461 meters above sea level). Here begins a steep and winding descent that affords wonderful panoramas of the Sieve valley and the Mugello town of Vicchio, off in the distance. At 12.2km there is a good place to stop and rest with a fresh water fountain, allowing you to replenish your water bottle. Back on the bike, a further kilometer and a half takes us back to the valley.

Turn right in the direction of Vicchio. Travel a few hundred meters and cross the road to reach the village of Barbiana (a 5-km detour). This tiny village is where the controversial event involving Don Lorenzo Milani took place. 16.4km further on, we reach Ponte a Vicchio with its distinctive climb over the Sieve. As you continue to cycle towards Dicomano your senses will be roused by the scent of local wine and cured meats wafting across the ancient Tuscan Landscape. This gentle route winds its way through the shady valley floor nestled between Mount Giovi and the Sieve river.

After passing the small town of Bovino, turn left for Dicomano; crossing the center of the town, be sure to take the provincial road that leads back towards Borgo San Lorenzo. The 15-kilometer section between the two towns is the same route used for the Giro d'Italia in the Spoleto - Scarperia stage (since 2007), after competitors have crossed the Apennines towards the Passo di Croce ai Mori.