Outline:

A sensational ride down the Mediterranean coast of Italy from the iconic leaning tower, finishing with a day in Sicily with a rest day in Pompeii.

The route follows the coastal road before heading inland to enjoy the beautiful Tuscan fields and villas.  As we approach Rome we pass Lake Bracciano before squeezing past the city for a night just south of Fiumincino.

Once south of Rome we follow the coast road before once again heading inland to skirt the bustling sprawl of Naples before our rest day in Pompeii. From Pompeii we begin 3 shorter but hilly days as we climb over the hills to Amalfi and then follow the Amalfi coast.

Eventually the terrain becomes flatter with many tunnels and viaducts to ease the way as we head down to the foot of Italy, before boarding a ferry for the short crossing to Messina and a final day of riding along the southern Sicilian coast to Catania.

Itinerary:

Day 0 – Arrive in Pisa

Day 1 – Pisa to San Vincenzo  – 66 miles
We follow the coast road, first passing through the busy resort town of Livorno, after which the route becomes quieter with occasional small towns. Towards the end of the day we briefly head inland to cross a small headland, arriving in the resort town of San Vincenzo.

Day 2 – San Vincenzo to Magliano – 63 Miles
We follow a cycle path along the seafront through Follonica before veering inland across another headland through open Tuscan farmland then through shady woods as we return to the coast. We then follow a canal path inland to skirt the busy town of Groseto before heading into gently rolling Tuscan hills with pretty villas and picture postcard hill-top villages..

Day 3 – Magliano to  Tarquina – 58 Miles
A slightly hillier day spent mostly inland to avoid the busy coastal highway. We start the day on a cycle path through a nature reserve then climb for coffee in the hill-top town of Capalbio before many miles of open countryside, bypassing Montalto di Castro before arriving at another medieval resting spot – Tarquinia.

Day 4 – Tarquina to Lido Di Ostia – 76 miles
They say all roads lead to Rome but many are busy and make for unpleasant cycling.  In exchange for a rather long day we follow much quieter roads as we skirt Rome, first heading inland to clip Lago di Bracciano before returning to the coast to squeeze between Leonardo da Vinci  airport and the sea. We pass through Fiuminino then take a minor bridge across the Tiber, passing, close to the ancient roman port of Ostia finishing in Lido di Ostia.

Day 5 – Lido Di Ostia to Sabaudia – 59 miles
We return to costal riding on the quieter roads with one brief foray inland to sneak behind Anzio and Nettuno. The  riding is easier as we ride many miles of causeway across the marshy coastal flats.

Day 6 – Sabaudia to Baia Domizio – 57 miles
We start the day with more flat riding along the coast, passing inland behind San Felice Circeo to the busy port of Terracina. We then head inland via Fondi for some variety (and a few hills) as well as to avoid the busy coastal road and some hairy tunnels! We rejoin the coast in Formia and, after a few busier miles, pick up a quiet seafront route to Baia Domizio – a resort community south of Scauri.

Day 7 – Baia Domizio to Pompeii- 68 miles
Ask anyone who has visited Naples and they will tell you it is a fascinating place…just do NOT cycle there! Our day is spent getting past this major sprawling coastal population centre. Inevitably it is not the quietest day’s cycling but our route exploits every possible minor road as we work our way past the city. The first part of the day passes through relatively few towns before  we thread our way between Caserta and Naples, while also avoiding the many major roads and motorways that serve these communities. Once past Naples we approach Vesuvius from the north and skirt the edge of the Volcano all the way to Pompeii where we spend the night.

Day 8 – Rest Day in Pompeii 
Your only challenge today is deciding which of the many options for sight-seeing to go for!

Day 9 – Pompei to Megazzeno – 47 Miles
A short but hilly day.  We are quickly out of Pompei and immediately head inland to climb over the hills to Amalfi, missing the very hilly coastal route via Sorrento. There is a stiff climb of some 6 miles but the reward is a sensational plunge down to Amalfi after which the coast road continues to be lumpy before eventually flattening out for the last few miles through Salerno.

Day 10 – Megazzenno to Marina Di Ascea – 53 Miles
The early miles are easy as we head along the coast through the archaeological sites around Paestum , then the road begins to rise and fall again as we pass Santa Maria di Castellabate. Our night is spent in Marina di Ascea with its Roman tower and amphitheatre.

Day 11 – Marina Di Ascea to Sapri- 45 Miles
The day starts with  some stiff climbs but the stunning coastal road offers plenty of compensation for the effort!The road flattens for the rest of the morning then, after  a lunch break in Marina di Camerota there is more climbing to be done as the road turns inland before rejoining the coast for a final run in to Sapri. The views today are amongst the best of the trip.

Day 12 – Sapri to Guardia Piemontese – 60 miles
We now enter an area where the application of money and heavy engineering has resolved the problem of hills. For many miles we ride on bridges and through tunnels and the route is reasonably flat, though still very pretty. We follow the coast all day, occasionally leaving the coastal highway to exploit quieter roads through seaside towns or along seafronts.

Day 13 – Guardia Piemontese to Porto Salvo – 70 miles
Our route now hugs the coast for the remainder of the trip as we follow S18, detouring onto quieter roads wherever posisble.

Day 14 – Porto Salvo to Messina- 61 miles
An easy last day on the Italian mainland, finishing with a short ferry crossing to Sicily and Messina where we stay the night.

Day 15 – Messina to Catania- 66 miles
A brief taste of riding with the sea to the left for a change as we ride west, skirting Mount Etna, to arrive at Catania.

Day 16 – Transfer to Catania airport for the journey home.

Total 849 miles – average 61 miles per day.