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Home » Reading Room » Travel Stories » Walls, Wine, and More! Walls, Wine and More!Our two newest tours in Italy promise fascinating medieval walled cities, famous local wines, and scenic rides you won’t forget. ExperiencePlus! has offered bicycle tours in Italy since 1972–that's longer than any other bike tour operator! We pride ourselves on our ability to offer guides, bicycling routes, and cultural experiences that help you discover the true magic of Italy. And while we've got our tried and true tours, like our popular ride from Venice to Florence, we're always trying to offer new and exciting departures that take you to other regions. In 2008, we'll offer two new tours in Italy: Bicycling Italy from Faenza to Verona across the Po Valley and Cycling the Coast of Tuscany Plus! Vineyards and Olive Groves. From the rich and fertile lands of the Po Valley to the stunning coastal views of Tuscany, both tours offer a glimpse of Italian history, architecture, agriculture, and more.  Our customers have been asking for a more relaxed tour of Tuscany as well, and here it is! Rated level 201, both the long and short version of our Cycling the Coast of Tuscany tours include flat coastal rides as well as hills and some longer days. Like the Faenza to Verona trip, this tour offers a fabulous mix of agriculture and architecture--adding coastal views, the tastes of Tuscany, and thermal spa towns to the itinerary! Biking from Cecina Marina to Venturina, we'll ride along a coastal plain that was once mostly swamp but has now gone through an "agricultural reclamation" and  become rich in olive oil and wine production. We'll stop in Bolgheri, a town known for the famous Sassicaia wine. A unique Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux-style wine, Sassicaia was developed by Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta. Since its first vintage was released in 1968, the wine has become renowned and earned many awards; recently, it was even granted its own DOC (a label indicating a high level of quality not often given to individual wines)! Towards the end of the long version of this tour we'll enjoy more of the agricultural heart of Tuscany when we stay on a working olive and grape farm. At this agriturismo you can enjoy views of the fields with the coast as a backdrop, and then enjoy fresh, home cooked Tuscan food!  Both the long and short version of the Cycling the Coast of Tuscany tour offer intriguing medieval and Renaissance cities as well. One of the most compelling historical towns we'll visit is Lari, a small town located where the 3 ridges of the highest Pisan hills meet. Because of its location between Pisa, Florence and Volterra, Lari was historically coveted and fought over as a strategic border town. The large castle in there was an important fortress on the border of the Republic of Pisa, but in 1406 the town came under the rule of Florence. After that, the castle became a luxury residence for Florentine governors and members of aristocratic families, including the Medici family. Inside, the castle is still decorated with 92 coats-of-arms of the important families who have lived there. Italy's major cities and tourist attractions are well worth a visit, but there's much to be discovered in the rest of the country too. That's why we're so excited to be offering two new, unique tours in the country we know best. Join us and pedal through orchards, olive groves, and vineyards; walk the walls of ancient fortified cities; sample famous olive oils and wine; and on the Coast of Tuscany tour you can even soak in a natural hot spring when the day is done! Bicycling Faenza to Verona across the Po Valley runs once a month from May through September, with a family designated tour in June. Both the Cycling the Coast of Tuscany and Cycling the Coast of Tuscany Plus! Vineyards & Olive Groves tour run in May, June, and twice in September. We hope you’ll join us!
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The ride from Faenza to Verona will allow you to experience the Po River Valley (named the breadbasket of Italy) up close. After riding along the wetlands and deltas, likely meeting the many herons and egrets along the way, we'll stop at the Malpezzi farm for a picnic of fresh, locally grown foods. Afterwards, you can explore the family's vineyards and peach orchards, and a few days later in Soave, we'll have great views of the vineyards that produce grapes for the famous Soave wine. Soave is often honored with the title "Classico Italian white wine;" it is one of the top-selling wines in Italy and is highly exported as well. Historians say that the wine has been produced in the Soave region for centuries: even ancient documents mention it! A yellow straw-like color, Soave is known to be delicate and light, with a hint of almonds. On day 7 of the tour we’ll visit a historic wine cellar, learn how Soave is made, and enjoy a sample. 
In addition to rich farmlands, the Po Valley also offers fascinating cities full of history. You're sure to feel the influence of years past high in the hilltop town of Brisighella as you stroll through a labyrinth of ancient alleys dating back to medieval times. We'll also stop in Montagna, a fortress town with some of the most well-preserved walls (including 24 watchtowers!) dating from the 14th century. And one of the most notable stops will be Ferrara, a medieval town that was updated to modern Renaissance style in the 1400s. Ferrara became one of the Italian centers of the Renaissance in the 15th and 16th centuries, and artists including Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, and Petrarch all spent time there under the patronage of the Este family. The relaxed riding days on this tour allow plenty of time to walk the walls surrounding old fortress towns, visit museums, sample local wines, and take in the charm and history of the area. 
Julie Van Scoy joined the Fort Collins staff this spring. Originally from Iowa, she moved to Colorado to pursue an MA in English at Colorado State University. When she's not working on her thesis, she enjoys writing creative nonfiction, dancing, cooking, and spending time outside. Julie has lived in both China and Malta and traveled to many other parts of the world, but she still can't wait for her next trip! She can be reached at julievanscoy@experienceplus.com.