It’s no secret: Italy is one of the major epicenters of cycling along with France, Spain, and Belgium. If you have any geographical knowledge and a little appreciation for history, then you are probably familiar with Rome, Florence, Girona, or Milan. They are, after all, the celebrated centers of ancient history known for their food, wine, and culture. These are all places you can experience with almost any bicycle travel company.
But what those companies will give you is a quick overview of Italy, perhaps a slightly different take where you can see these places as a bicyclist versus from a tour bus with a throng of tourists. But if you want a truly authentic Italy experience, the best way to ride through it is with Italians who live in the areas most tourists don’t bother to visit, a deep immersion in towns off the beaten path. If that is what you long to see, Living Roads wants to show them to you.
Who Is Living Roads? Why Should You Travel With Them?
Living Roads was founded by Guido Barocchi in 2023, but his family has worked in the travel and tourism business since 1923. Barocchi, however, didn’t discover bicycle tourism, and more specifically gravel riding, until much later.
Because of his interest in cycling, he joined an event riding through the Alps. That trip allowed him, as he says, to experience “the region in a completely different way.” After that, Barocchi says he enjoyed taking a bike ride to various places, being in nature, and discovering new places, then stopping off for a coffee afterwards. These rides are what gave him the idea for Living Roads.
This new venture also gave Barocchi a fresh take on his family heritage and traditions that matched his current interests in cycling. In fact, he states that Living Roads would still focus on the “… commitment to working with the best partners and suppliers, people we proudly collaborate with every day to deliver authentic, unforgettable travel experiences.”
Living Roads Destinations and Types of Trips
Italy is a big country with diverse regions. Other bicycle travel companies attempt to cover all these areas, but again, what you’ll actually experience and see will, most likely, be brief. You may pass through and spend a day or night here and there, but you’ll rarely (if ever) truly get the true essence of a place.
Living Roads will take you to places that other companies may just touch on or, worse, skip over completely. That’s why the company has whittled down the places it takes its guests to four key places: Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, and Sicily.
Guests can bike, hike, or choose to combine both activities. Living Roads has group or private tours that are guided, self-guided, or fully supported by the company’s staff. From those selections, guests can choose the activity level that works best for them, from very easy up to very challenging. There are 5 levels altogether.
Sample Trip: Renaissance Ride: from Siena to the Heart of Florence
For five days and four nights, guests will encounter a mix of easy to moderate riding as they depart Sienna on their way to Florence. Mileage ranges from 20 to 40 miles over four days and is mostly road riding with a little bit of gravel. The last day is a recovery day and involves no cycling.
This trip is considered a private tour and is a mix of history, wine, and culture with stays at high-end hotels. Price: 2,050 euros ($2333.49). Here’s what’s included.
- 4 nights accommodation in charming hotels or guesthouses (double occupancy)
- 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners featuring local cuisine
- Living Roads Kit: cycling cap and water bottle
- Helmet, Pedals and all necessary chargers and pump
- Detailed GPS routes
- Welcome briefing and orientation by a local representative
- Emergency phone support during the tour
- Secure bike storage at each overnight location
- Access to the Ride with GPS navigation app
- E-bike or premium road bike rental included for the entire tour (feel free to bring your own bike if you prefer)
- Private Siena Guided Visit with a professional guide
- Wine tasting experience with local Tuscan labels in an exclusive historic setting in Radda in Chianti
- Cooking class at a renowned cooking school
Last Thoughts
If you want to experience authentic Italy, Living Roads will make sure you see something not all tourists or even all bicycle travel companies include. You’ll get the feel for the history, the people, the food, the wine, and culture that makes Italy so special.
The company’s trips seem to be reasonably priced, or at least comparable to other bicycle travel companies. With the trip sampled, you won’t be doing big miles or hard climbs or riding lots of gravel (if that’s your thing), but Living Roads does offer this type of riding. So, if you want to get up close to the areas the company visits, then Living Roads is a good choice.
