Riding in Italy is magic and of course for us, it’s one of the things we love most about this incredible country. Whether you’re riding in the north of the country or the south, in Alpine terrain, through rolling hills or along the coast, there’s so many great riding challenges and a lot of fun to be had on two wheels, as you take in the incredible beauty that surrounds you each day.
But what else do we love about Italy?
There’s so much we love and the more time we spend here, the more this list seems to expand. Every day is an adventure of discovery, of beauty, of realising just how unique, diverse and special a country it is.
It’s a place that needs to be felt and experienced, in your own way.
Here we share 10 photo stories of some of the experiences we love most about Italy, and which shape our Italian cycling tours and curated itineraries.
1. The celebration of the regions of Chianti and the Val d’Orcia in Tuscany; we love the preservation of the old Roman roads and what that means for the region, and especially cycling in the region, including the Strade Bianche, everything vintage cycling, and of course L’Eroica. It’s where our journey began over 10 years ago and it still brings joy every time we return. There is something very special and undescribable about these areas of Tuscany and we love calling Chianti home.
2. The colours of Catania, Sicily; as a market stall holder goes about their daily activity of setting up for another day’s trade, we love nothing more than getting up early for a walk, photoshoot and to enjoy waking up with the people and their city.
3. A little hand pressed pomegranate juice or our personal favourite, the ‘spremuta di arancia rossa’ or sensational juice of blood oranges. We love that there are many people who still prefer to do and make things in a time honoured way, and with a passion for produce that is local and seasonal.
4. Home grown simplicity. In every corner of Italy, regardless of how remote, you not only eat well, but it’s usually home grown or from a local farm, and is made with a only a handful of ingredients. There’s no need for complicated techniques or sauces because the produce is just so good. People ask us whether we ever tire of Italian cuisine and our answer always is ‘how could we’? There’s just so much goodness around everything to do with food, and this is across the entire country.
5. We love the concept of ‘dolce far niente’, which translates to “the sweetness of doing nothing”. This is the enjoyment that comes from doing nothing in particular, but taking the time to enjoy the beauty and stillness as the afternoon sun lights up the old walls of the city…. and actually just being present to soak it all in.
6. The history and tradition of open air markets and the passion for freshness, and what is best in each season. But we also love that there is still a connection between the small grocers, fish mongers and shop owners with their daily customers.
7. It’s an absolute delight to be by the Mediterranean Sea during summer and to experience the vibrant colours and patterns that are an integral part of life by the sea, Italian style.
8. We love the Dolomites; It’s not just the amazing and challenging riding, it’s the dramatic natural beauty of the Dolomites and the diversity of its landscape, that leaves you in awe of how unforgettable a place it is – in every season.
9. We love the warmth and generosity of spirit of all the Italian people that we have the opportunity to meet, and especially when we are able to reconnect with old friends. They have a passion for life and an attitude that ‘life is for living’ – now and each day. We love this.
10. Italian food is delicious and we love that in each of Italy’s 20 regions, the cuisine is very different, but across all that there is a national obsession with food and a cultural appreciation for the tradition of what, how or when something is eaten. From the kids walking to school in the morning to the late afternoon aperitivo hour and family lunch each Sunday, food is a part of nearly every conversation in Italy. And we love it.
There is beauty in so many different forms in Italy and literally everywhere you turn, there is something that you can find that is mesmerising. If you would like to experience the beauty, passion and colour of Italy with us on and off the bike, click the link here to request more information.
