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Arrival at Capo Conero
Conero is one of the nicest spot on the Adriatic coast and the view from the top is outstanding. Adjust to jet-lag relaxing on the beach or making a short loop to Ancona.
As soon as we get away from the plaintraffic slow down and we bike on winding roads on a soft hills landscape dotted with nice villages.
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Crossing the Appennino mountains
The road starts climbing, gradually at first, then it becomes steeper and steeper. Crossing the Appennino mountains is certainly the toughest part of the tour. We are in the Sibillini Mountains park. We ride up to 1500 meters then descend to Norcia, the roman walled town famous for truffle. |
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The heart of Umbria
Bike part of Valnerina with high perched villages and peaceful small Romanic churches hiding unexpected frescoes, then descend into olive trees country reaching Assisi with its basilica and famous Giotto's frescoes.
The tour continue to Perugia and on to a lovely country Inn
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Coasting Trasimeno lake
The soft hills covered by olive trees make a charming crown to this lake, famous for a very old battle in which Hannibal defeated the Romans. Make a detour to reach Cortona then enter Tuscany heading for Montepulciano. It is wine country and we bike among vineyards. An ezceptional night in a superb Tuscan villa.
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"Le Crete" moonlike landscape
The Crete landscape is no doubt
one of the most famous in the world: rolling hills in all the shades of brown
or green; sturdy brick farmhouses or imposing mansions crowning the
hilltops and cypress lined alleys design a perfect scenary that inspired
painters since the Middleages. We visit Pienza and Montepulciano.
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Montalcino, the home town of Brunello
We spend 2 days in Brunello land.
Almost unknown untik 20 years ago, Brunello is now, one of the most famous Italian wines. Tasting it should not prevent us from appreciating the beautiful town of Montalcino and the peaceful St Antimo Abbey.
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Etruscan lands
An almost unknown part of Tuscany: Sorano, Sovana and Pitigliano, the high perched tufo towns, made of soft rock that turns golden at sundown. The monumental, 3000 year old Etruscan tombs, the romanesque churches and and a timeless atmosphere.
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Deep your feet in the Mediterranean
A last ride through Maremma, a land that for ages has been feared because of Marshes and Malaria. "My heart cries whenever you travel to Maremma fearing that you will not come back" says an old popular song. Nowaday it is a fertile land where cattle is grazing and wine is good. At the end of the day you will be able do dip your toes in the salty Mediterranean sea.
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