16-Day Italy and Islands Motorcycle Tour from Venice via Sardinia

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Day 01

Arrival in Venice and Tour Welcome

• Greet the team at Venice airport, and enjoy a short introduction to the area on the way to the hotel.
• Meet at 3:30 pm in the hotel lobby to officially start the tour with a briefing and a small amount of paperwork. You will meet the other riders and view the motorcycles you will ride.
• End the first day in a traditional Italian restaurant with a special welcome dinner.

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Day 02

Ride to Bologna and Florence

• Ride to Bologna, famous for its cuisine, la Cucina Bolognese, and one of Italy's most beautifully maintained medieval cities. No journey to Bologna would be complete without visiting its famous Ducati factory and museum.
• After lunch, enjoy a delightful ride over the wooded green Apennine mountains, passing through villages unchanged since the Second World War, before continuing to the famous Tuscan city of Florence.

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Day 03

Rest Day in Florence

• Florence was the centre of the Italian Renaissance, rising to economic and cultural heights under the powerful noble Medici family in the 15th and 16th centuries.
• Climb to visit the 13th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
• The Church of Santa Croce contains the monumental tombs of Galileo, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Dante, and others.
• The city's two most famous art galleries, the Uffizi - one of the world's finest fine art museums - and the Pitti Palace, the former Medici palace, contain their art and treasures.

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Day 04

Through Tuscany to Siena

• A reawakening of your senses may be a cliche, but as you bike through the many medieval hilltop towns of Tuscany, the experience will undoubtedly delight.
• Stop at Caprese di Michelangelo, majestic in its natural setting and rich in art history. It is the birthplace of the famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo, whose influence on Western art is unparalleled.
• Explore the scenic vineyards of the Chianti wine-growing region, which beckon along the way.
• Arrive in Siena.

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Day 05

Rest Day in Siena

• Siena is one of the largest Tuscan hill towns. You could spend the day exploring the winding streets that converge on the enormous Piazza del Campo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While most Italian cities have a church in their main square, Piazza del Campo instead has an exquisite medieval city hall and the tallest secular tower in Italy. Three hundred steps are all it takes for one of Italy's finest views. Twice each summer for the last 300 years, the square has been the centre of a hair-raising horse race, with riders circling three times and trying to avoid collisions.
• If riding your bike is more to your liking, then head south towards the heart of Tuscany and enjoy the lazy rhythms of the world-famous small towns of Moltanchino, Montepulciano, and Pienza.
• Indulge in a typical, delicious, inexpensive Tuscan lunch: Alimentari, a plate of cold meats, cheese, tomatoes, gherkin, bread, water, and the local rich, heady, and complex Chianti wine.

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Day 06

Medieval Towns to Livorno and Ferry to Sardinia

• Monteriggioni, a short ride from Siena and your stop for morning coffee, is a well-known classical Italian walled town, perfectly matching the archetypal image most of us have of such a place. Inside, there is almost no traffic, and the buildings are, for the most part, original, reinforced by fourteen massive square towers.
• Eat lunch at San Gimignano, whose distinctive skyline stands like a mirage on its hilltop. It is an enchanting medieval walled town with impressive towers and a dreamlike setting, truly a little gem. It is so precious that UNESCO has declared it a World Heritage Site.
• A walk through the Old City gives you a taste of the town's past, with many narrow streets full of souvenir shops, restaurants, and the best ice cream shop in Italy.
• Ride along some of the most scenic roads in Tuscany, with a quick stop at the hill town of Volterra, another famous medieval city, before heading on to the seaport of Livorno, where you board the ferry to Sardinia.
• Spend the night in a luxurious cabin.

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Day 07

Arrival in Sardinia and Ride to Cala Gonone

• Welcome to Sardinia, one of the best motorcycle destinations in Europe.
• Ride on twisty mountain roads with tight curves, through cork plantations and small villages, and along unspoiled beaches with stunning views of gorges and valleys.
• Head to the small port of Cala Gonone.

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Day 08

Full Rest Day in Cala Gonone

• Enjoy a chance to relax in Cala Gonone, perhaps soaking up the sun on a gorgeous gleaming white sandy beach, or you could go for a ride.
• There are many exciting roads to discover on the island, some with sweeping curves and others twisting and challenging enough to exhilarate your senses, or you could simply take a scenic ride and let the scenery unfold.
• Cliffs, beaches, and the gorgeous blue sea all form part of the landscape, along with a scattering of more than 7,000 nuraghi - conical defensive stone towers dating to Paleolithic times, with no parallel anywhere else in the world. They are well worth exploring.

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Day 09

Across Western Sardinia to Alghero

• Riding on the western side of Sardinia, there are many kilometres ahead and impressive views of gorges and rugged rocks as you travel through this mountainous interior. Sardinia does not have huge cities, but you will see beautiful towns full of character and atmosphere, such as Orgosolo.
• Sicily is known for the Mafia in the town of Montelepre; Sardinia has its version in the form of Orgosolo, a town that had at least one murder every two months between 1901 and 1950. Orgosolo is famous for the murals adorning the town, which became an expression of social discontent in the late 1960s during Italy's collapsing economy.
• Do not linger, though, as the remoter parts of the island entice, such as Bosa, where startling brightly painted houses nestle in a wine-growing valley close to the sea.
• Finally, ride the scenic coastal road to the medieval walled city of Alghero, which makes a strong visual impression as you round the last twisty bend. It is famous for its beautiful beaches and mouthwatering dishes influenced by its long Catalan history.

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Day 10

Rest Day in Alghero

• Alghero is a bustling town with a thriving working harbour. To the north of the marina are fine sandy beaches, yet it is only a short stroll to the historic centre, with its labyrinth of narrow lanes in which to lose yourself.
• Or you could enjoy a day on your bike, attacking more twisties just a few kilometres from town.

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Day 11

Castelsardo, Ferry Crossing, and Bonifacio

• Leave Sardinia behind and continue towards Corsica Island, with one last medieval town to visit: Castelsardo.
• A stiff walk to the fortress is necessary to admire the spectacular views of the bay and let your imagination wander to how people lived there in medieval times.
• After lunch, follow the coastal road to the port of Santa Teresa and board a ferry to Corsica, a distance of just 12 km.
• As you sail closer to Bonifacio, the city appears from the sea as a white city gleaming in the sun, floating on turquoise waters.
• A few hours before dinner, explore the narrow streets and medieval houses teetering on the edge of the imposing limestone cliffs, some five or six storeys high yet often just one room deep. They dominate the clifftop.

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Day 12

Corsican Mountain Roads to Corte

• Corsica is a mountainous French island, and once again some of the world's best motorbiking roads are to be found here. Ride through this hilly area, but do not gaze too long at the fantastic views, for there will be many stops to enjoy them.
• Do not pass Napoleon Bonaparte's birthplace without stopping at his ancestral home, Casa Buonaparte.
• Riding further north, pass through the most scenic part of Corsica, Les Chalanche, where fantastic rock formations and sea views are in plentiful supply, before ending your riding day in the beautiful old town of Corte.

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Day 13

Rest Day in Corte

• Corte is spectacularly set among fiery red granite cliffs, carved into bizarre shapes by the force of wind and water. These multicoloured spires look dazzling against the surrounding green foliage of pine and chestnut forests and the vertical cliffs that descend to the sea far below.
• A ride could be your preferred choice for soaking up the views. You could follow one of the walking trails, or simply relax in the hotel and wander the narrow streets.

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Day 14

Cape Corse, Pisa, and Lucca

• On your last day in Corsica, ride to the northernmost part of the island, Cape Corse, before leaving for the mainland on a 4-hour ferry crossing back to Livorno.
• Then it is a short ride to Pisa to view one of the most remarkable architectural structures of medieval Europe, the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• Finish the day riding to the heavily fortified town of Lucca. Almost perfectly preserved, Lucca emanates charm, showing layers of history on every corner of its narrow winding streets - one of Tuscany's best-kept secrets.

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Day 15

Maranello and Return to Venice

• Ride back over the Apennine mountain range to Maranello, home of Ferrari's factory, for a tour of the famous museum, followed by your last ride in beautiful Tuscany before returning to where your remarkable tour began, Venice.

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Day 16

Departure from Venice

• Clutch Team will transfer you to the airport or any other point in Venice from where you will continue your travels.