Pisa to Lucca Bike Tour

• Day tours by bike
• Italy
• Pisa

Pedal along the Puccini Cycle Path

Pedal from postcard-perfect Pisa to lustrous Lucca on a guided day tour following the picturesque Puccini Cycle Path, named after the famous Lucca-born composer, Giacomo Puccini. Along the way, you’ll feast your eyes on sensational sights, including the Rocca di Ripafratta, Guinigi Tower, Via Fillungo, and the resplendent Roman Amphitheater. This is a Tuscan bicycle tour with bike rental that takes you on a true journey of discovery, where vibrant vistas abound and memories are made at every turn of the handlebars.

Your picturesque day tour begins in Pisa, following a romantic route along the Serchio River to join the Puccini Cycle Path, which offers cyclists a leisurely way to discover the tantalizing sightseeing delights of Tuscany. You’ll ride to the Rocca di Ripafratta, a spell-binding ruined fortress rising from the dense green of the forest to display its crumbling polygonal wall and stunning square tower. As you ride, you’ll undoubtedly reflect on the sight as a symbol of the resilience of nature, eventually overcoming humankind’s pursuit of dominance and power.

As you glide into Lucca, your guide will lead you to the grand Guinigi Tower, a remarkable example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture that casts a proud shadow over the surrounding streets. You’ll notice something very novel about the tower as you get closer - the Guinigi is crowned with a copse of holm oaks! The magnificent medieval tower is thought to date back to 1384, a status symbol of wealthy silk merchants, and although no one really knows how old the rooftop garden is, a sketch of the city from 1600 shows the trees proudly atop the tower in the 17th Century.

Your guide will lead you onwards to the focal point of Lucca - Via Fillungo. This is the city’s main street, a lively stretch of Lucca lined with boutique shops and overlooked by the city’s famous clocktower, churches, and palaces. Weave your bicycle along this ancient street, soaking up the arresting atmosphere and breathing in the alluring aromas issuing from salted cecina and freshly baked buccellato.

Riding onwards to the remarkable Roman Amphitheater, also known as the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, admire the resplendent ring of buildings that forms one of Lucca’s legendary ‘squares’. Take a closer look at the central tile of the square to find a carving of a cross, with each arm pointing to one of the gateways of Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. It is thought that at its peak, the amphitheater could seat some 10,000 spectators. Although its live entertainment days are at an end, it is guaranteed to capture the imagination of its new audience of Lucca bike tourists!

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Highlights

Pisa, Serchio River, Puccini Cycle Path, Rocca di Ripafratta, Lucca, Guinigi Tower, Via Fillungo, Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

What’s included

• Trekking bike and helmet rental
• English-speaking guide

Meeting place & directions

Smile & Ride - Via Pietro Mascagni, 13 Pisa