Bike itineraries
Montelupo on two wheels
The cycling path system in Montelupo Fiorentino was inaugurated on September 13, 2009, offering more than 10 km of trails: a journey through nature and history in Montelupo Fiorentino. The cycling path system in Montelupo Fiorentino allows you to immerse yourself in a unique area, rich in culture, artistic craftsmanship, and centuries-old traditions.
The complete route reaches the border with the Municipality of Empoli on one side and the Roman Villa of Vergigno on the other, near Ginestra Fiorentina. The section within the municipality of Montelupo Fiorentino follows the paths of the two main rivers that flow through the city: the Arno and the Pesa stream. Thanks to the cycling path system, residents and tourists can explore the main areas of cultural, historical-artistic, and natural interest.
From the city center to the new Ceramics Museum
The cycling path in Montelupo Fiorentino allows for a stop in the historic city center, a pedestrian area lined with some of the ceramics shops, businesses that continue an ancient local tradition once traded from the Netherlands to North Africa by the most powerful Florentine families. Continuing along via Garibaldi, you finally reach the MMAB, the new location of the Ceramics Museum.
Towards the Archaeological Museum
The cycling path system leads tourists and enthusiasts to the Archaeological Museum, inaugurated in 2007 in the former complex of San Quirico and Santa Lucia. It is one of the most important of its kind at the regional level, both for the number of artifacts (about 3000) and for the diversity in the type of research.
Discovering the historical-artistic heritage
From top to bottom, the cycling path system of Montelupo Fiorentino allows you to discover some precious places. From the panoramic area, which once hosted a medieval castle built in 1203 by the Florentine Republic, you descend to encounter the 14th-century walls and the Frescobaldi Tower, dating back to the 14th century. The place was once a toll station for river traffic and even earlier a hunting lodge. The historical-artistic route also passes by the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista, where you can admire the Altarpiece of the “Madonna with Child and Saints”, attributed to Botticelli and School, and the Medici Villa of Ambrogiana, one of the ideal places for hunting, fishing, and relaxation for the Florentine court, thanks to its vast park.
A separate chapter is deserved by the Roman Villa of Vergigno, dating back to the 1st century BC, and the Archaeological Park of Montereggi, rich in Etruscan-era artifacts.
The river nature
The cycling path system of Montelupo Fiorentino also allows you to discover the natural area along the Pesa stream. In this case, the trail stretches for a total length of about 7 km and runs alongside the Turbone expansion basin. Here, a particular species of swallow, known as the sand martin, nests due to its habit of digging its nest into the wall. The path also runs alongside the “dei Capitani” and “delle Topole” weirs, constant water reserves and summer refuges for fish species.
