BIKING THE APENNINE RIDGE

Day 1 : Pracchia - Vernio - 43 km. (15 offroad) - Elevation gain : 900 m. - After reaching the tiny village of Pracchia by train we'll start climbing the Apennine ridge following a mountain road across a cool forest. Once on the ridge we'll enjoy gorgeous views over the city of Pistoia and its plan before starting an exciting 10 km. downhill across the Acquerino-Cantagallo Natural Reserve to the little town of Vernio.

Day 2 : Vernio - Firenzuola - 43 km. ( 10 offroad) - Elevation gain : 1250 m. - During this leg we'll be passing a suggestive ghost town in the middle of the wood, before reaching the Futa pass. The German War Cemetery that stands right at the pass reminds us that we just rode a section of the famous Gothic Line, the last military outpost of the German Army during World war II. From there a well deserved 9 km. downhill will lead us to the cosy little town of Firenzuola, where we'll stop for the night.

Day 3 : Firenzuola - Colla di Casaglia - 24 km. ( 10 offroad) - Elevation gain : 800 m. - After a long but gradual uphill towards the ridge we'll be riding a very scenic dirt road all along the ridge with stunning views over the sea of mountains of the so-called "Alto Mugello" on our left and the lush Mugello Valley on our right.

Day 4 : Colla di Casaglia - San Benedetto in Alpe -

Today's leg has 2 options : a challenging and technical one (34 km. all offroad - elevation gain : 650 m.) follows the ridge for about 20 km. - mostly on single track (some of which walking the bike) - before entering the Falterona National Park and descending to the Acquacheta Waterfalls Valley, where 9 consecutive fords of the creek that generates the famous waterfall will be a lot of fun.

The other option is a much easier - at least in terms of road bed, because it's all on paved roads - but still challenging ride (38 km. long with an elevation gain of 650 m.).

Day 5 : San Benedetto in Alpe - Passo della Calla - 32 km. (12 offroad ) - Elevation gain : 1350 m. - During this particularly scenic leg we'll be biking along the panoramic ridge that divides Tuscany from Romagna enjoying stunning views over Tuscany.

Day 6 : Passo della Calla - Poppi - 35 km. ( 17 offroad) - Cycling entirely inside the Foreste Casentinesi National Park we'll reach the scenic Poggio Scali, one of the most panoramic spots of the whole Apennine range (during particularly clear days one can even see the Adriatic Sea). A few chilometers before the end of the leg we'll be passing the ancient Eremo di Camaldoli, a monastery founded by San Romualdo 1000 years ago.