Cycling between Empolese Valdelsa and Montalbano

Let's start with the itineraries linked to the figure of the great Leonardo da Vinci, and they are not called the Genius Paths for nothing.

These are 5 easy-to-follow itineraries that allow travelers to visit Vinci and its surroundings in the Montalbano area, passing through the places where Leonardo spent his childhood and that were always a source of inspiration for him.  

Among the itineraries, the most famous is La Strada Verde, which connects the center of the village of Vinci to Leonardo's birthplace in Anchiano. After visiting the Museo Leonardiano, you can take a bicycle on the route that begins on the north side of Vinci and continues through olive groves and vineyards, offering splendid views. Along the way, you can also stop to visit the Acquaria Park and the village of Leoano. 

For mountain bike lovers instead, here is the Via del Vincio, which connects Montalbano to the Via Francigena, crossing the three municipalities of Vinci, Cerreto Guidi and Fucecchio and reaching the famous Padule. A ride that combines nature history and art and that will also allow you to visit the splendid Villa Medicea, a Unesco heritage site, in Cerreto Guidi.

We move along the Arno River to visit the Empoli and Montelupo Fiorentino area, thanks to the Arno cycle path. The bicycle path is the regional project to build a route along the entire Arno River from its source to its mouth at Marina di Pisa. 

In Empolese Valdelsa and Montalbano, the cycle path already connects Empoli, a city rich in museums, to Montelupo Fiorentino, home of artistic ceramics. The route is mostly unpaved but easy to ride and with rare changes in elevation, perfect for a ride even with young children. 

In Montelupo Fiorentino you can then continue following the bike routes, a nearly 15-km route to the Roman Villa del Vergigno, and on to Val di Pesa.  Along the route you will encounter numerous attractions such as the Archaeological Museum, the Ceramics Museum, the Villa dell'Ambrogiana and the 14th-century Frescobaldi Tower.

Montaione and its nature are a perfect territory to explore by bicycle in the Valdelsa region.
Here you will find as many as 6 dedicated routes that allow you to visit the whole territory touching places of high historical and scenic value: these are the Itinerari nel Verde (Green Itineraries). 

The trails are easy to ride and wind for about 83km, starting from Montaione or the surrounding area.  

Most of them are ring routes, so you can easily return to your starting point. Among the places you will encounter on your hikes that you can visit are the beautiful Jerusalem of San Vivaldo and the ancient village of Castelfalfi. 

Finally, here we are in Montespertoli, a town crossed by the Strada del Vino (the Wine Route), well known to bicycle lovers, who enjoy riding it in every season, among the hills planted with vineyards.

Here you can take the opportunity to visit the Museum of Sacred Art before setting off by bicycle to explore the area. If during your ride you want to learn more about the history and culture of Tuscan wine, you can also stop also at the Vine and Wine Museum.  

In Castelfiorentino, on the other hand, you can enjoy riding the Giracastello. This is a double route that moves along the course of the Elsa River, bordering the municipalities of Gambassi Terme and Certaldo. 

Both routes allow you to discover the beauty of the area, touching on historic places such as the Tabernacle of the Madonna della Tosse, the Villa di Cambiano and Villa Tinti, where Garibaldi stayed overnight.