The tour starts at the north-western tip of Tuscany, in Massa. The route heads inland over the southern foothills of the Apennines and via Lucca and Vinci to Florence. From there, through all kinds of vineyards through the Chianti region to San Gimignano - the "city of a thousand towers" - and on to Siena. Over relaxed landscapes with cypresses, vineyards and lonely farmsteads southwards to Pienza, up to Radicofani and Pitigliano. The route then flattens out towards the sea. Monte Argentario towers up before the destination of Capalbio Scalo. It is essential to use a GPS device for orientation - the trail cannot be found without one.
The route is neither signposted nor closed off, so car traffic must be expected at all times. Lights are only necessary if you also ride at night, and a helmet is mandatory. The trail mainly follows natural tracks that fluctuate between fine gravel and trails interspersed with roots or steps. There are also single trails. The difficulty often lies in the steep downhills with loose gravel, which require good bike control. In 2019, 65 per cent of the route was unpaved. In the terrain, gradients and inclines of more than twenty per cent are often reached - an excessive demand on the usual gear ratios of gravel bikes with luggage. We saw several participants who had fitted a 50cc escape sprocket to their mountain bikes.
