To have the luxury of going slow through the beautiful country of Italy is the way to go. Riding a bicycle will take you through olive groves, right up to the steps of castles and ancient ruins and get you closer to nature and the people of Italy. Going independently or going with a bicycle tour group depends on how experienced you are in traveling and riding a bike. Check with your travel agent on bicycle tours that are available and learn what would be most comfortable for you.
When arriving in Italy try to stay somewhere for a few days, if possible, to recover from jet lag, before taking off on your biking adventure. Check your bike at the train station and stay in a hotel for a few days while you explore the surrounding area.
When you fly into and out of Italy from another country you should have your bike boxed up. If you take a tour then they will provide the bike you will need. Some bikes are made to tour and this is what you will want to have. Plan on traveling about 30-70 miles per day depending on your ability as a cyclist and how fast you wish to go. You can stay in cities or towns as long as you wish. Depending on the time of year will determine if you need hotel reservations or not. Biking in Italy during the cooler months is recommended. September is good because the temperature is about 70 degrees.
Purchase a good map of Italy with elevations noted. You will want to know how steep the hills are, especially if you are biking through Umbria, which is called the ‘Green Heart of Italy’. A town in Umbria called Montefalco, is known as the ‘Balcony of Italy’, so that tells you there are some hills and mountains to climb. Choose a route that will not be all hills or all ugly, straight roads. After all, you are in Italy and you want to see the scenic views too. Tours can choose better roads and avoid ones that are crowded with smelly cars and dull sites.
Carry a compass with you and it’s a good idea to have an odometer on hand. You will most likely travel on some old Roman roads. Plan a coastal trip or an inland trip. Don’t expect to see it all in one trip to Italy. A Ten day vacation on bicycle will be long enough to travel 300-700 miles or so zigzagging around the country. Venice, Assisi, Florence and Rome are bigger cities but are well worth the visit. Urbino, Gubbio, and Ravenna are wonderful smaller cities to explore on a bicycle.
Whenever traveling be sure to think about safety. Keep your passport in a safe place. Keep well hydrated. Try eating the fine Italian cuisine wherever you visit. You will find the food quite wonderful and quite different from the Americanized Italian food. The food will even be different from region to region in Italy. Try to learn the local language and plan ahead. The better prepared you are the better trip you will have. You may have to be flexible at times, but that will keep it exciting.
