Cycle from Pisa to Cinque Terre

Arrival in Pisa, the beautiful university city by the river Arno. In the evening, a personal welcome meeting is held where you receive all practical information and your bicycle. Take the opportunity to stroll through the historic quarters, see Piazza dei miracoli with the leaning tower, baptistery and cathedral – all listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

You leave Pisa by bicycle through the protected area Parco Naturale di Migliarino San Rossore Massaciuccoli. The road leads through forests and wetlands with the scent of pine and sea, and soon you reach the coastal town of Viareggio with its long beaches and lively promenade. The city is also known for one of Italy's most colorful carnivals. Here awaits your first dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Today's stage goes along the coast before you turn inland. You follow the pilgrimage route Via Francigena, pass small villages and olive groves and reach the Serchio river. Soon Lucca's city walls tower up – one of the best preserved in Europe. Cycle a lap up on the wall and enjoy the view over rooftops and battlements before exploring the old town center in search of a perfect aperitivo.

You follow the Serchio valley northward toward the mountains of Garfagnana. Nature becomes greener and the mountains closer. A highlight is the stop at Ponte della Maddalena, better known as the Devil's Bridge, a masterful medieval stone bridge. After a few more kilometers you reach the small town of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, surrounded by the hills of the Apennines. Here you are surrounded by a medieval atmosphere.

This stage begins with a longer climb (about 550 meters of elevation over the first 20 km), but the view makes the effort worthwhile. You now cycle through the Apuan Alps and reach Carrara, known worldwide for its white marble. The road passes close to some of the old quarries where the stone has been extracted since Roman times. Then follows a lovely long descent toward the sea and the elegant seaside resort of Forte dei Marmi.

You continue following the coast northward and leave Tuscany behind you. The landscape changes as you cross the border into Liguria. From Bocca di Magra you follow the beautiful road along the sea, passing villages with colorful houses and small harbors. Today's destination is La Spezia, the gateway to Cinque Terre. Napoleon called the bay "the world's most beautiful harbor".

Today you exchange your bicycle for hiking boots! By train you travel to Monterosso and then hike between Cinque Terre's five villages – Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The trail winds along the cliffs with magnificent views over the sea. You can shorten the hike by taking train or boat between the villages. The villages are almost impossibly picturesque and invite breaks with swimming, lunch and just sitting in the sun listening to the water lapping and reflecting the pastel-colored facades. Return journey to La Spezia by train.

The trip ends after breakfast, or extend with extra nights in La Spezia or Pisa.