The Italian Ride motorcycle tour

Welcome Riders!

Book before December 31 and get two free nights – one before and one after the tour – and a Vespa tour in Rome!

It’s ten years that we run tours along the scenic roads of our beautiful Italy. And that’s why we want celebrate our 10th Anniversary with this special tour that covers many of the regions in Central Italy.

It’s an 11days – 10 nights trip.
Nine days of motorcycling passion discovering the most genuine values of rural Italy, where country-folk and solitary shepherds still live following traditional ideals; and visiting art-cities such as Siena and San Marino: a real rollercoaster trip for riders that love to ride more than anything else.

Evenings will be spent tasting and enjoying the local traditional food and wines.

As a guest, you will be in very capable hands during your days here in Central Italy. Tour Leader Enrico Grassi, founder of Hear the Road Tours, has spent many hours developing the routes to ride, the cities to visit, the sites to see, as well as the hotels and food options which are key to making this kind of an adventure something to remember and cherish.

The tour starts and ends in Rome.

Highlights

Where We Ride – What We See – What We Hear

• Day 01

  Day1 - Welcome to Rome

  A private car will take you from the airport to your hotel where your host of Hear The Road will be awaiting for a friendly Italian welcome.

  Arrival in the late morning/early afternoon is recommended.

  Freshen up and settle into your room before gathering in the bar of the hotel for a “Meet and Greet” to get to know your tour colleagues. We are now ready to pick up the bikes and bring them to the hotel garage.

  Back in the hotel your guide will brief you on the tour and answer all your questions.

  It’s finally time to go out and enjoy our “Welcome Dinner”, where you’ll have the chance to learn more about the stimulating next 10 days.
  OVERNIGHT IS IN ROME.

  Highlights:

  Meet your motorcycle, Meet your guide, Meet your fellow riders. Welcome Dinner.

• Day 02

  Day2 - Rome to Siena

  282 Km / 176 miles

  We start by heading north towards Tuscia, the land of the ancient Etruscans. Here we have one of Italy’s biggest hazelnut-growing areas, the tasty nut that Ferrero transforms into the world-famous Nutella spread.

  On the road, we will stop shortly in Civita Castellana for a cup of good Italian coffee, and then, back on the bikes, we’ll ride the lovely lakeshore roads around Lake Vico and Lake Bolsena, and continue through the scenic backroads of Val D’Orcia – one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

  Arriving in Radicofani we will stop for lunch. Radicofani is a small, stunning town that has been awarded an Orange Flag (the Orange Flag is the Italian Touring Club award for less-known, well-kept tourist sites, promoted since 1998). The town perches on top of a small hill, just below a majestic fortress dated 973 AD.

  On the way to Siena we stop to visit Pienza, considered to be the incarnation of a Renaissance utopia and an ideal city. Today it continues to show off to the world its refined and sophisticated Renaissance urban plan: its spaces and perspective onto its 15th-Century “piazza and palazzo” are organized according to the era’s ideals of rationality and humanism.

  Back on the bikes we ride the sweeping roads that cross the Crete Senesi, famous for its stunning moonscape.
  The delicious arrival dinner in Siena is home-cooked by Mrs. Letizia, proprietor of a lovely 16th century Inn. You will be truly spoilt in celebration of your first ride in the heart of Italy.
  OVERNIGHT IS IN SIENA (The hotel has a swimming pool).

  Highlights:

  Tuscia Viterbese, Lake Bolsena, Radicofani, Val d’Orcia, Pienza.

• Day 03

  Day3 - Siena to Siena (Chianti loop)

  247 Km / 154 miles

  Today we will be overcome by the beauty of Tuscany, and in particular the Chianti area, where one of the best red wines in the world comes from.
  A fascinating itinerary on some of the most beautiful roads in Central Italy, riding through forests, gentle hills dotted with vineyards and secular olive groves, and sweeping landscapes inhabited mostly by flocks of sheep.

  This is what we like to call an emotional ride: behind every turn there is a surprise… a lonesome, roofless chapel on a green slope; homesteads built with ancient stones; a town made of towers; long avenues of cypress trees leading to magnificent villas; sudden drops, breathtaking descents.

  At the end of the day our eyes will be sated, but our bellies will be crying out for food! So: on to Siena for a leisurely stroll along its ancient streets leading to the magnificent Piazza del Campo and finally to our seats round the restaurant table where we will celebrate another unforgettable day!
  OVERNIGHT IS AGAIN IN SIENA.

  Highlights:

  San Galgano, San Gimignano, Chianti Region, Greve in Chianti, Siena by night.

• Day 04

  Day4 - Siena to Verucchio

  241 Km / 150 miles

  From Siena we will head East, first along the exciting road to San Savino – a real sanctuary for local riders.

  Lunch stop is in Anghiari a small medieval jewel set on a hill made of stone built up over the centuries from the Tiber River at its feet.

  Back on the bikes we will need to ask our bikes for their best effort in order to challenge the thrilling roads of the Passo di Bocca Trabaria, ending the day on the narrow road that winds up Monte Carpegna and into Verrucchio where we we’ll spend the next 2 nights.
  OVERNIGHT IS IN VERUCCHIO.

  Highlights:

  More Tuscan back roads, Anghiari, Bocca Trabaria, Verucchio.

• Day 05

  Day5 - A rest day or a day in the history or a short riding day?

  Today is dedicated to pure relaxing!
  We will spend the day hanging out lazily in the beautiful hamlet of Verucchio.

  Or perhaps you might prefer to explore San Marino, a mountainous microstate surrounded by north-central Italy and above all the world’s oldest republic in the world.

  Then again, if you want more curves, all you have to do is put your helmet on and ride the bends towards the famous road that unfolds along the Adriatic coast. Why is it famous? Easy: this is the road that awesome Valentino Rossi learnt to ride his bike (which apparently he does pretty well!), and become the pilot who won 9 World Motorcycle Championships.
  And of course there will be time for a beach-side lunch and a dive into the Mediterranean Sea.

  So, we at HTR offer several alternatives: it’s now up to you to decide what you want to do! And we’re happy to make all of you happy.
  OVERNIGHT IS AGAIN IN VERUCCHIO.

  Highlights:

  It’s your free day. Just let us know what you want to do!

• Day 06

  Day6 - Verucchio to Cascia

  284 Km / 177 miles

  We leave lovely Verucchio behind us as we head for Tavullia, hometown to Valentino Rossi, where we just have to stop for a cup of coffee in his favorite bar.

  Back on the bikes we ride along the sweeping roads of the Marche Region, and then we challenge the stunning Furlo Pass, a gorge on the ancient roman road Via Flaminia.

  But only half the day has passed, and there’s still time for a lot of fun! Very quickly we’re on the road that connects Scheggia to Gubbio, a road known for it’s uphill motorcycle race.

  And it’s now time for lunch… we need to recharge our batteries!
  With a full belly we’re ready to ride the twisty Passo del Cerro road. We hate having to repeat ourselves, but this road is also used for an uphill motorbike race. Wow.. today is perfect for true passionate motorcycle riders!

  After a few more bends we will arrive in Cascia, where we’ll spend the next two nights. We’ll meet for dinner to celebrate our great day, and then: time for bed! Another great adventure is in store for us tomorrow, with our hearts, throttles and eyes wide open.
  OVERNIGHT IS IN CASCIA.

  Highlights:

  Tavullia, beautiful roads of Marche and Umbria region, Furlo Pass, Gubbio, Cascia.

• Day 07

  Day7 - Cascia to Cascia (Monti Sibillini Loop)

  192 Km / 120 miles

  Today is dedicated to discovering the National Park of the Monti Sibillini, the land of shepherds and breeders, hard-working men and women whose ancient art brings to our tables incredible cheeses and cured meats.
  We’ll start the day in a big way, devouring the 28-kilometres that climb up towards Castelluccio, famous for its immense and colourful lentil-flower plane.

  We’ll stop to take dozens of photos of the One Thousand and One colours in the plane before descending on the other side, towards Visso, a small town on the outskirts of the Park.

  We’ll continue towards Colfiorito where we will ride the “nearly unknown“ backroads, joining the main road – the Valnerina – to head North to Preci and then South back to Cascia.
  OVERNIGHT IS AGAIN IN CASCIA.

  Highlights:

  Castelluccio di Norcia, Sibillini National Park.

• Day 08

  Day8 - Cascia to Sulmona

  252 Km / 157 miles

  We leave Cascia heading South toward Amatrice, the birthplace of the Pasta Amatriciana.
  A short stop for a cup of coffee at the artificial lake Campostosto, and then off again on the slopes of the Capannelle Pass.

  At the Capannelle Pass we turn left and enter the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park, riding along the road of Campo Imperatore, known as Italy’s “Little Tibet”.

  Here the views are stunning: virgin forests and alpine meadows, curves and bends and long stretches of straight roads. In the background the beautiful peeks of the Gran Sasso and the Corno Grande Mountain (2012 metres high).
  At lunch time we stop at Ristoro Mucciante for a grilled meat feast.

  We saddle up again for our last ride of the day that brings us to the beautiful town of Sulmona, famous for the production of the sugar-coated almond “confetti”, where we will spend the next 2 nights.
  OVERNIGHT IS IN SULMONA.

  Highlights:

  Lake Campotosto, Capannelle Pass, Monti della Laga, Campo Imperatore, lunch at Ristoro Mucciante, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Sulmona.

• Day 09

  Day9 - Sulmona to Sulmona (Maiella Loop)

  181 Km / 113 miles

  This is a tour where it is not easy to find time to take a breath!
  So, are you ready for another great riding day up and down along the roads around Sulmona?

  A wonderful loop on your bikes will give us the opportunity to challenge the Lanciano Pass and – why not – stop to sip a cup of Italian Espresso in the picturesque villages that we’ll find on the way!
  OUR OVERNIGHT IS AGAIN IN SULMONA.

  Highlights:

  The Maiella National Park.

• Day 10

  Day10 - Sulmona to Rome

  220 Km / 137 miles

  We want to leave you a special memory of this great tour!

  So our last day will be as superb as the previous! From Sulmona we head west towards the beautiful roads of the Sirente Regional Park.

  Then we will join the Via Salaria, one of the seven Roman Consular road; that will bring us to Rome, where we will return the bikes.
  A quick shower and then we all go for dinner to celebrate this wonderful Italian experience. Overnight in Rome
  OVERNIGHT IS IN ROME.

  Highlights:

  Sirente Regional Park, Rocca di Mezzo, Farewell dinner.

• Day 11

  Day11 - Departure day

  Time to say good-bye, collect the souvenirs and cameras and pack the bags. After breakfast, guests will be transferred to the airport.

Included, excluded & terms

• What is included?

  • motorcycle rental with side cases, top case, locks and alarm. (For rented bikes a deposit for damage, theft, and fire, between € 1.500 and € 3.000 is requested, depending on the chosen model).
    WHAT IS THE DAMAGE SECURITY DEPOSIT? Each motorcycle has a damage deposit. This amount will be frozen on your credit card, but not cashed. The deposit is your maximum liability for theft or damage to the vehicle. Please ensure that you have enough funds to cover the damage deposit on your cards.
  • the bike rental prices include costs for public-liability insurance and insurance for any road assistance in case of break-down.
  • welcome and farewell dinners in Rome.
  • accommodation: 2 nights including breakfast in 4-star hotel in Rome, and 8 nights including breakfast in 3 or 4-star hotels in the towns where we will stop during the tour.
  • transfer from and to the airport.
  • Italian tour leader.
  • courtesy van to pick up and leave the bikes.
  • support van driven by Enrico’s assistant. The van will be carrying a tool-kit for small repairs. You’ll be able to leave your cases (1 suitcase + 1 handbag per person) in the van, as well as any souvenirs you pick up along the way. The van also has a couple of seats that passengers might like to use if they feel they need a little rest from the bikes!
    a detailed Road-book with all the information you’ll need; a map with the route well marked; the “Wordless Travel Book”, and a Hear the Road T-shirt.
  • Insurance covering most any medical issue during the trip including, doctors, ambulance, hospital and any appropriate family travel.

• What is not included?

  • fuel for your motorcycle.
  • tolls on motorways.
  • entrance fees to museums or other sites.
  • gratuities and tips.
  • all meals except for the welcome and farewell dinners in Rome.
  • all beverages.
  • flights to and from Rome.

  We also suggest that anyone traveling abroad for one of our Tours consider purchasing a “Travel Insurance”. It can take the worry out of the unexpected situations that can arise in any travel plan.

• Terms of payment

  • €800 Deposit, to be paid, on reserving a place on the tour.
    (The deposit is totally refundable in case we don’t reach the minimum number of participants).
  • Balance, to be paid, 60 days before the starting date when you get confirmation from HEAR THE ROAD.

• In case of cancellation

  If you decide to cancel the tour for whatever reason that does not depend on HEAR THE ROAD, these are the penalties that will incur:

  • up to 60 days prior to the starting date, HTR holds the deposit, that you can use for another tour in the same or in the following year.
  • between 59 and 10 days prior to the starting date you lose the deposit. HTR holds the balance that you can use for another tour in the same or in the following year.
  • from 9 days prior to the starting date you lose 50% of the total amount. HTR holds the remaining 50% that you can use for another tour in the same or in the following year.

Gallery

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Creation of the tour: Associazione Culturale Hear The Road.
Organization and marketing: Hear The Road srl.