Leg 4
Milan to Rome
Rolling countryside punctuated by awesome historic cities
Ridden by the Pioneers — no longer available to book
This is the route and itinerary as it was planned for the ride, kept as a record of the journey so far. For legs you can still join, see the Book Now page.
- Dates
- 10th to 14th June 2015
- Start
- Central Milan 2pm on Wednesday 10th June 2015
- Finish
- The Vatican 6pm Sunday 14th June 2015
- Days Cycling
- 4.5
- Distance
- 724 km
- Total climbing
- 8,298 m
- Max capacity
- 125 people
- Countries
- 2 – Italy & The Vatican (the smallest country in the world!)
Itinerary
Day 1 – Milan to Piacenza – 98 km, 375 m total ascent
View the route on StravaLeave from Parc Sempione (Provisional start) and brush around the outskirts of central Milan before picking up the canal southbound taking us 37 km out of Milan to Pavia. We then cycle along the flat Po plain including crossing the vast River Po before reaching the historic city of Piacenza. Dinner in a private dining room at the beautiful Piazza Cavalli in the heart of the city.
Day 2 – Piacenza to Bologna – 174 km, 645 m total ascent
View the route on StravaAfter leaving Piacenza we cycle through the flat plains of Emilia-Romagna in the Po basin. The area is renowned for its agriculture, cheeses, hams…. and Ferrari manufacture. We cover a long distance but there are no significant hills with practically no climbing all day. The highlight of the day is arriving in the stunning city of Bologna for the evening after enjoying the last flat countryside of the trip. Dinner is in a historic building in the heart of the winding lanes in Bologna.
Day 3 – Bologna to Figline Valdarno – 146 km, 2,880 m total ascent
View the route on StravaSoon after leaving Bologna we start to get a taste for the day ahead – crossing the border into the rolling hills of Tuscany! We complete the two largest climbs of the Leg in the morning with lunch at a hilltop restaurant at the top of the 2nd climb at the Passadel Giogo. The afternoon involves more of the same but with 2 far less significant climbs. The highest point of the day is 966 m versus 2,478 m at the ‘Nurofen’ (Nufenen) Pass in Leg 3 and 1,719 m in Leg 2 over the Jura Mountains. In the evening we stay in Figline Valdarno with a dinner on a terrace overlooking this small historic town.
Day 4 –Figline Valdarno to Orvieto – 150 km, 2,114 m total ascent
View the route on StravaMore rolling Tuscan hills as we continue through Tuscany and move into Umbria. One climb in the morning with two in the afternoon but nothing too serious with a peak altitude all day of 534 m. Stay the night in the outstandingly stunning and dramatic city of Orvieto. Arrive early to enjoy roaming the medieval streets and take in the views. Dinner next to the stunning Duomo in a family owned restaurant renowned for its truffles.
Day 5 – Orvieto to Rome – 154 km, 2,339 m total ascent
View the route on StravaTwo climbs in the morning in the Umbrian countryside including the Lake Vico Nature reserve before having lunch and the opportunity for a cooling swim in Lake Vigo. After lunch we cycle through the national park and around Lake Bracciano before crossing the plains to Labaro and picking up a great cycle path that takes us almost entirely traffic free the last 16 km into the centre of Rome and 400 metres from the finish at The Vatican.