Leaving Rome, we head North towards Tuscia, an area once inhabited by the Etruscans. This is also one of Italy’s biggest hazelnut groves, the small nut that Ferrero magically transforms into the famous Nutella spread. After a short break for your first good shot of Italian espresso in Ronciglione, we get back on the bikes and ride.  First the beautiful coastline roads that run along the shores of Lake Vico and Lake Bolsena, and then the scenic back roads of Val D’Orcia - an UNESCO World Heritage site. We arrive in Radicofani where we stop for lunch. Radicofani is a lovely “Orange Flag” awarded town. (The Orange Flag Award was an idea formed by the Italian Touring Club in 1998 with the aim of promoting tourism in lesser known places in Italy) This quaint town surrounds the base of a hill on which a majestic fortress has stood since 973AD. On the way to Siena we stop to visit Pienza, considered to be the incarnation of a Renaissance utopian city. Today it continues to show the world its’ sophisticated Renaissance urban plan. Its spaces and perspective of the 15th-Century “piazza and palazzo” are organized according to the era’s ideals of rationality and humanism. From Pienza, we ride the sweeping roads across the Crete Senesi, famous for its moonscape vistas. For your first dinner in Siena, you will be pampered to a delicious dinner by Ms. Letizia, the owner of our lovely 16th century Inn.  With views of Siena and nestled in olive groves, this is how we celebrate your first riding day Italy. Overnight is in Siena. (The view from the swimming pool here is divine, bring your swim suit)

A name you've heard so many times now comes alive and makes sense. Chianti wine, which is mostly made of Sangiovese grapes comes from... well yes a region called Chianti. The rolling hills and small villages of this region don't just make for excellent grapes, they also make for some excellent riding. Our first stop is San Galgano where we visit the remains of an old Abbey, and the little church of Montesiepi home to its very own “sword in the stone". Then will take the backroads to the hill town of San Gimignano. This frequently visited UNESCO world heritage site is known for it's numerous towers. Then we head north on more twisty roads to the small town of Greve in Chianti with it's charming little square adorned with statue of their local hero Giovanni Verrazzano the navigator who discovered New York Bay. We wick it up through the countryside on our way back to our little villa outside of Siena. Tonight we take Taxis into Siena and wander it's narrow streets and wide Piazza del Campo where the Palio horse race takes place. Grab some limoncello after dinner and toast a great day with friends.

From Siena we take the Strada Statale Cassia, the route of the famous Mille Miglia. A short break at San Casciano Val di Pesa and then we ride the winding roads that will take us through the mountains between Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna. As we cross the Abetone Pass we’ll give our right hands a workout! On the way to Borgo Panigale we will stop in Maranello to visit the one and only, Ferrari. As the sun begins to set, we will reach Borgo Panigale: the city of the speed…the city of Ducati! 

In the morning we will see and hear the red engines of Borgo Panigale at both the museum and a factory floor tour of Ducati. This company has always represented the unique motorcycle philosophy that fuses Italian passion to modern technology. They make a damn sexy bike! With our eyes, ears and hearts full of beauty we fire up our rides, to challenge the curves of the Tosco-Emiliano Pennine. That’s just a warm up. We then take on the Raticosa Pass, Futa Pass, and Giogo Pass: three of Italy’s most famous motorcycling roads. On the way to Riccione we stop in Coriano, the birthplace of Marco Simoncelli, and visit the small museum dedicated to “The History of Sic”.

Welcome to Misano…today is just a little aperitif of one of the best races in the world. We spend the morning watching the free practices and qualifying of Moto3, Moto 2 and Moto GP. In the afternoon we ride the scenic coastline road from Gabicce to Pesaro. This road has history…it is where Valentino Rossi, Marco Simoncelli, Andrea Dovizioso and Marco Melandri all grew up and learned how to break, lean and open the throttle! Overnight is in Riccione

This is it! Nothing compares to the excitement of watching MotoGP live, with a bunch of Italians! There’s a surge of adrenaline as you join a hundred thousand fans cheering on the best riders in the world. This is a track designed for maximum excitement and great viewing. The high speeds and tight turns make this a technical course that demands both skill and bravery to win. The tight course packs in the crowds and provides a great view of the spectacle from many places on the circuit. Set by the sea, the heat and humid air turns the rubber coated track into a high speed circuit that tests skills, courage and wisdom in tire choices. Who will choose what compound? Who will save their tires until the end? You will see. As you cheer in the stands you’ll realize, nothing compares to watching the drama unfold in person. Join the wild party as the track opens up to the fans at the end of the race, this is MotoGP the Italian way.

We leave Misano and join many other fellow riders making the pilgrimage to Tavullia, home of the great Valentino Rossi. We may have just enough time to get some souvenirs of The Doctor and then ride up and down the roads of the Marchigiano Pennine. Here we challenge the twisty Bocca Trabaria Pass. On the way to Orvieto we stop to visit Castiglion del Lago and then we join a sweeping backroad, plunging south our next destination. The ancient hill town of Orvieto.

Today we finish in style. We leave Orvieto heading East on, a stretch of road the locals call, ‘La Strada delle Mille Curve’ (the road of 1000 curves). It’s true that the world is too big to ride the same road twice... but with ‘La Strada delle Mille Curve’  we’ll make an exception! On the way to Rome we stop to take pictures of Civita di Bagnoregio, an enchanting town, magically perched on top of porous volcanic rock. Our last lunch on the road is a picnic. Yes, we stop on the shores of Lake Vico surrounded by the Cimini Mountains, to devour panini loaded with local prosciutto and cheese!