Bike itineraries
Montelupo by bike
The cycling path system in Montelupo Fiorentino was inaugurated on September 13th, 2009, and it offers more than 10 km of bike itineraries that will take you on a journey through nature and local history. While riding down the cycling path system in Montelupo Fiorentino, you can immerse yourself in a unique area, rich in culture, artistic craftsmanship and centuries-old traditions.
The full route reaches the border with the Municipality of Empoli on one side and the Roman Villa of Vergigno, near Ginestra Fiorentina, on the other. The part of the itinerary within the Municipality of Montelupo Fiorentino follows the two main rivers that flow through the town: the Arno River and the Pesa stream. Thanks to this cycling path system, residents and tourists can explore the main local areas of cultural, historical, artistic, and natural interest.
From the city center to the new Museum of Ceramics
The cycling path in Montelupo Fiorentino will lead you to the historic city center, a pedestrian area where you can take a break and discover some ceramics shops, businesses that continue an ancient local tradition, once traded from the Netherlands to North Africa by the most powerful Florentine families. Then, riding through via Garibaldi, you will finally reach the MMAB, the new location of the Museum of Ceramics of Montelupo.
Towards the Archaeological Museum
The cycling path system also leads tourists and bike-enthusiasts to the Archaeological Museum, opened in 2007 in the former complex of San Quirico and Santa Lucia. It is one of the most important of its kind in the whole Tuscany, both for the number of artifacts displayed (about 3000) and for the diversity in its research.
Discovering our historical and artistic heritage
Riding through the many itineraries of the cycling path system of Montelupo Fiorentino you will discover some incredible places. Starting from the panoramic area, which once hosted a medieval castle that was built in 1203 by the Florentine Republic, you can ride your bike downhill until you reach the ancient town walls and the Frescobaldi Tower, both dating back to the 14th century. This place was once a toll station for river traffic and before that a hunting lodge. The historical and artistic bike itinerary 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 his School, and the Medici Villa of Ambrogiana, one of the perfect places for hunting, fishing and relaxation for the Florentine court at the time, thanks to its vast park.
A separate chapter should be dedicated to the Roman Villa of Vergigno, dating back to the 1st century BC, and to the Archaeological Park of Montereggi, rich in Etruscan-era artifacts.
The river
Riding through the cycling path system of Montelupo Fiorentino, you will also discover the natural beauty of the area along the Pesa stream. This bike itinerary stretches for a total length of about 7 km and runs alongside the Turbone detention 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.
