From Pistoia, it is possible to visit the most significant spots of Valdinievole by bicycle. The route combines beautiful art cities with the typical villages of the Valleriana, passing along river and marshland stretches. From the “Santiago of Italy”, the loop runs along the Cammino di San Jacopo, crossing the Montalbano and circling the southern part of the Padule di Fucecchio (Fucecchio Marshland).
Itinerary
Start pedalling from Piazza Duomo in Pistoia, where inside the Cathedral of San Zeno you can find the only relic of Saint James in the world outside Santiago de Compostela. Among the city’s architectural gems, follow the Cammino di San Jacopo, leaving the city and passing through some nurseries. The Montalbano mountain range lies on the horizon, and after passing the holm oak woods and olive groves that adorn the mountain, you descend to Larciano, soon reaching the Padule di Fucecchio, a protected area rich in biodiversity. The route offers vibrant aquatic landscapes, following the banks of the Pescia River up to the town of the same name. The loop continues through low mountain terrain and runs along the Alta Via della Valdinievole. After passing the village of Montecatini Alto, descend to the valley, rejoining the Cammino di San Jacopo, which, followed in reverse, leads back to Pistoia in about 16 kilometres.
Nearby
Monsummano Terme Grotta Giusti, MAC,n – Museum of Contemporary and 20th Century Art, City and Territory Museum
Larciano Archaeological Civic Museum of Larciano Castle, Museum of Rural Life Casa Dei
Padule di Fucecchio
Strada dell’olio e del vino del Montalbano
Lamporecchio San Giorgio Church in Porciano, Museum of Sacred Art
PesciaCathedral, Civic Museums, Paper Museum, Historic Garden of Villa Garzoni, Pinocchio Park
Borgo a Buggiano
Montecatini Terme Terme UNESCO heritage, MO.C.A – Montecatini Contemporary Art, funicular, Montecatini Alto
Distance
97,2 km
Elevation gain
2006 m
Difficulty
Muscle bike: high (due to elevation)
E-bike: high (due to distance)
Photo credit: Alice Russolo