GIVI Magazine - Maggio 2017

ENGLISH TEXT Givi Magazine May 2017 - Turismo  35 In the first case you can head south-west, on the beautiful SR68, to reach Querceto (its castle is extraordinary), later themedieval village of Pomarance (stretch all the way to Rocca di Sillano on the surroundingmountains, where you can enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the Tuscan region); from here, through the SR439, you ride along the Berignone Natural Reserve. If you choose the latter and opt for a quick stop at San Gimignano, the road to take is the SR68 and then the SP47 which, passing through Castel San Gimignano, takes you to the BorgoDelle SetteTorri, one of the highlights of this itinerary. It was founded in themists of time, within a territory that has been populated since prehistoric times. The development occurred in the first three centuries of the second millennium; its extraordinary architecture which is admired to this day was born around that time. Its historic centre (a sort of frozenmediaeval setting) is a Unesco World Heritage Site. If you’re up for even more beautiful vistas, take the SP1 and at the crossing for Bibbiano take a turn towards the Colle di Val d’Elsa, otherwise just head straight toPoggibonsi, SanCasciano andTavernelle Val di Pesa. The path continues along secondary roads, suchas theSP3which takes you to Imbruneta, then with the SP70 and the SR222 you reach Bagno aRipoli, anarea scatteredwithcastles, countryhouses and renaissance villas (a must try is the restaurant OsteriaStacciaBuratta, ViaPulicciano22)where you can take theSS67 leavingFlorenceon the left, following theArno river all theway toPontassieve, which takes its name from the Medici bridge on the River Sieve. These villages immersed in the typical Tuscan landscape look like paintings and they should definitely be covered at moderate speed for two main reasons: the heavy presence of speed cameras and speed checks… obviously, we are only joking. The truth is you need to take all the time necessary and travel almost in suspension. Stop once ormore to explore everything that the region and its landscape have to offer. The daily route we suggest takes you across the boot of Italy horizontallywithCervia as a destination, passing through the epic “Passo del Muraglione”. On the SS67 we brush past; Selvapiana, Rufina, Scopeti, Sandetole and Dicomano. Then it’s a constant succession of bends, hairpins and slopes towards the passage (il Passo) the virtual motorcycling border between Tuscany and Emilia Romagna, a must for lovers of “knee on the ground” riding. Even here, for the high number of bikers and for the type of route, don’t get too excited and speed. There are no chronometers, just landscapes which deserve an observant look. Once at the top, a must stop is at Giovanni themotorcyclists bar where the coffee aroma mixes with the smell of leathermotorcycle clothing. For those of you who haven’t been here, it’s a lovely sensation, making you feel part of something that can’t quite be defined as family, but something that feels very much like it. Staying on the SS67 you cover a pleasurable downhill stretch, a roadwhere the asphalt is verywell-maintained with spacious bends that are an invitation to ride virtuously. Once in San Godenzo, you leave Tuscany to enter Romagna. The stop we suggest is the village of Rocca SanCasciano near River Montone and known for the Festa dei Falò (Bonfire Party), a tradition from the 13th century that could have originated as a pagan rite, probably Celtic. The SS67 continues and crosses Dovadola andCastrocaroTerme, where you can rest by the Fortezza (fortress) dominating the village, the latter enclosed in three well-preserved walls. A fewmiles away is Cesena Nord, then head toCervia on the SS3bis, passing through San Zaccaria, Castiglione di Ravenna, where you finally see a splendid, immense, deserted Adriatic beach with stormy clouds and a somehow Gothic sunset. 5) NELL’ALTRA PAGINA: VICOLI DI VOLTERRA E LA ROCCA SILLANA A POMARANCE. IN QUESTA PAGINA: PANORAMI DEL BORGO DI POMARANCE E DI SAN GIMIGNANO VISTA DA MONTE OLIVETO; LA PIAZZA DI ROCCA SAN CASCIANO (CREDIT: CONSORZIO TURISTICO VOLTERRA - PROLOCO SAN GIMIGNANO).