4-DAY RUNNING HOLIDAY – HISTORY & ARCHITECTURE OF TUSCANY

This is the ultimate 4-Day Holiday in Tuscany while running! Discover different locations with an expert local guide to dive into Tuscany’s history and architecture.

HOW IT WORKS
You book a private running guide that each day will guide you in a different location of Tuscany so you can decide to find an accommodation (that is not included in this package) in each town or you can use public or private transport (that is not included in this package) to reach each location. Considering that Tuscany is not that big, you may transfer to each town within a maximum of one hour by car, train, or bus. So you can stay in one place, for example, you may stay in Florence and you can easily run in Siena, Pisa, and Lucca. We are ready to help you to find the best accommodation and transport, just ask!

We have on purpose excluded accommodation and meals from our holidays, as it enables guests to book the hotels and eat at the restaurants they prefer.

This running holiday is fully customisable. We can add more days or adjust routes to your preference. Just reach out and let’s plan for your perfect holiday!

What’s Included in the Price?

• Private guide on every run
• Pictures
• Hotel Pick-up (when located close to the route)

What’s NOT Included in the Price?

• Accommodation
• Meals
• Transport

Each town of Tuscany has a history that goes back for centuries. Each town is different but still similar. With this running holiday you’ll learn a lot about Tuscany and architecture of the cities from the roman era, through middle ages to the eighteen and nineteen hundred.

Your itinerary for the perfect 4-Day Running Holiday – History and Architecture of Tuscany:

1) A RUN WITH A VIEW IN FLORENCE – 10K

From the heart of historical Florence we will bring you up to the best sightseeing point from which you’ll admire the “cradle of Renaissance”, which the city is also known as. We will run along Ponte Vecchio and enjoy the view of the Arno and the small shops that still today surround the bridge.Thereafter we run uphill by the Garden of Roses to arrive in Piazzale Michelangelo, that offers panoramic views of Florence. Especially early morning or late evenings are great times to enjoy the view as there are less people and the light is nothing less than incredible. On our way back, runners will find themselves immersed in the typical narrow streets of Florence.We will see some of the nicest squares and most famous florentine architectures like P.za Santa Croce, San Lorenzo and the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore and we will tell you some secret stories about them.

This tour is suitable for every kind of runner and the slope uphill is short and easy. The duration of the tour depends on your personal pace and is from 1h and 15 mins to 1h and 45 mins

Distance: 10k
Time: from 1h and 15 mins to 1h and 45 mins
Pace: individual
Stops: 6-8stops/10km
Route: Circular – starts and ends at the same place.

2) ANCIENT WALLS OF LUCCA – 10K

The ancient walls of Lucca are so tempting that they urge you to grab your running shoes and go!
The walls of Lucca bound an ideal track: flat, tree-lined, wide, pedestrian-friendly, and with gorgeous views all year round. You will enjoy beautiful views of the rooftops, the pretty balconies and secret gardens of the old palaces, the bell towers popping up here and there, the high mountains in the far distance. Join me up and down the walls and even inside them. Let me describe the history and curiosities of this incredible Renaissance fortification that intimidated even the mighty Medici family from Florence.

We will further run through the narrow winding city streets. When you least expect it, you’ll see the shiny mosaic of Saint Frediano. Next comes the intricate patterns on the facade of Saint Martin, the famous fountains, the lively Napoleon square and the unique oval square of the Amphitheater.
The tour is suitable for every kind of runner. There are no difficult uphill climbs or uneven ground.

Distance: 10k
Time: from 1h and 15 mins to 1h and 45 mins
Pace: individual
Stops: 6-8stops/10km
Route: Circular – starts and ends at the same place.

3) BEAUTIES OF SIENA TOUR – 10K

Siena is well known in the world for the Palio (a horse race held in the main square of the town “il Campo”) as well as for its incredible architectural variety and for the marvelous landscape surrounding the city. On this running  tour you will enjoy all aspects of Siena’s city centre by running through each “Contrada”, which is a very special kind of “district” that only Siena has.
You will have the opportunity to dive into the wide and ancient culture and history of this town. Running by the old fountain of Fontebranda, a fountain which Dante has written about in his poems; you will see the magnificent cathedral as well as the small squares in which each Contrada has its own fountain and headquarters.

Passing by the city walls and the hidden gardens runners have the opportunity to admire the stunning and unique Tuscan landscape surrounding Siena. We continue our run on the walls of the Medici’s fortress (when did you last run on walls from the 1500s ?????) while we dive into the history of Tuscany and have a stop to stretch with some  gym tools that also locals use.
Crossing Piazza del Campo, with its shell shape, will be a blast of emotions, as we imagine being on a horse and part of the most exciting and oldest races of the world.

The running route is hilly because Siena has grown on the crossing of three hills, but the uphill are generally short so this tour is suitable for any kind of runner but a little bit challenging because of the hills.

Distance: 10k
Time: from 1h and 15 mins to 1h and 45 mins
Pace: individual
Stops: 6-8stops/10km
Route: Circular – starts and ends at the same place.

4) RUNNING UNDER THE TOWER IN PISA – 10K

There’s no better way to visit Pisa that a nice run through this wonderful city  we will visit all the best known spots of Pisa such as the famous leaning tower, the cathedral, the Cavalieri square and the nice and picturesque historical centre, as well as lesser known gems away from the main touristic routes!
The former city walls, recently restored, will impress runners as much as the arches of aqueduct built by the Medici Family, or the peculiar “Canale dei Navicelli”. While running we’ll discover nice stories about the history of this famous city, the former Maritime Republic of Pisa, and we will enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of the markets under the arcades of the old Borgo.

This tour is suitable for any kind of runner as the course is completely flat.

Distance: 10k
Time: from 1h and 15 mins to 1h and 45 mins
Pace: individual
Stops: 6-8stops/10km
Route: Circular – starts and ends at the same place.