Cooking & Cycling is one of our favorite tours as it offers a balanced experience of exploring the local culture and relaxing with new friends. We will host you in our hometown village of Castagneto Carducci and spend the week cycling the amazing roads from the Mediterranean to the wooded inlands, learning Italian cuisine from a local chef, visiting a favorite local winery, and sampling other local delicacies along the way. For cyclists and non-cyclists alike this itinerary has something for everyone.
This tour is full. Please email elaine@cinghiale.com to be added to the waitlist.
WHERE WE STAY
We’ll pass the entire tour at a family run inn, Hotel Zi Martino. We’ve become family with the crew at Hotel Zi’ Martino, a simple inn built by a former Tour de France rider, Carlo Guarguaglini, and his wife, Isa. Now run by their son, Fausto and his family, the Guarguaglinis understand what we’re looking for in a vacation–the best riding, a great kitchen, and a family atmosphere with fun people.
We are also a few kilometers away from the beach and sparkling Mediterranean Sea. We’ll show you the way early on in the week in case you want to spend some afternoons laying in the sand.
GEARED FOR
This is our most flexible recipe for an unbelievable week in Italy. You get a bit of everything on this itinerary—the chance to immerse yourself in the local cuisine and culture, great cycling, and plenty of time to relax, too. Non-cycling chefs meet at least four mornings, learning a different recipe or technique, while the cyclists spin through rolling vineyards, chestnut forests, and over the hilly countryside.
Cooking lessons are limited to 10 people and non-cycling guests are prioritized for each lesson. If you are interested in mixing cycling and cooking throughout the week let us know on your booking form. Lessons begin at 11:00 to allow for some light exercise beforehand and last roughly 3 hours. Our rides leave at 9:00 meaning you have to choose between cycling or cooking.
The terrain is rolling hills with some sustained, shorter climbs, and very little flat. Cyclists should come prepared for the terrain and be willing to ride at a 2-pig level pace despite their earned summer fitness. On several days we’ll have the opportunity to ride longer for those interested, but our goal most days is to be back at the hotel in time for lunch.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
This is a quiet, untrammeled corner of Italy and we ride the roads around Castagneto during our shorter days, with longer rides taking us to through ancient villages of the maremma and in to the wilds of the Metaliferi hills. The Mediterranean sparkles from the hill tops and we hope to be lured to the beach at least one afternoon.
Two cooking classes will be led by Chicca Maione of Cooking in Tuscany. In each class she will guide us through a selection of recipes–antipasto, primo, secondo, contorno, dolce– that incorporate into our everyday lives using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Classes are limited to 10 people to allow a hands on experience.
Other cooking lessons will be led by various local chefs sharing their traditions whether savory or sweet.
TRAVEL DETAILS
Cooking & Cycling begins and ends with transportation to Pisa airport [PSA].
Pick-up: 11:00 Saturday, Sept 14th
Drop off: Sunday, Sept 22nd: we will coordinate two shuttle times to the Pisa Airport to accommodate departures based on departure needs. We will also provide drop-offs at the local train station in Castagneto.
Please email us your travel information, including arrival & departure details (flight number, times, scheduled trains) when you have them booked. Departure flights scheduled before 8 a.m. may not be accommodated in our shuttle times, so please alert us if you have an early flight.
INCLUDED IN TOUR
Airport and local train station transportation on the first and ninth day
8 nights, 9 days accommodations
8 breakfast, 7 lunches, 7 dinners—all with wine
Fully supported riding, mechanic support, follow vehicle
Food and drinks on rides
Transportation and admission to scheduled tastings, sightseeing & special events
Cooking Classes
TOUR DETAILS
Riding days: 8
Single Supplement of $300 extra, please indicate on booking form
Final Balance $3,100/$3,400 (single) due by June 10 , 2024
Weather: Mid 70’s to mid 80’s and cooling off at night
Road bike rentals available, town bike rentals available for cooks 125 euros/week
