Pedal from Celebration to Celebration in 2024!

Biking through Italy will leave you smitten by the stunning scenery, architecture, the art everywhere, and of course the savory food wherever you go.  Add to the magical recipe, a festival or two and you’ve got a Super Special tour to enjoy with friends and family.

At Ciclismo, whenever we can, we love to weave a local festival or special event into our itineraries because our guests love to experience authentic fanfare which is fueled by the Italian passion for celebrations.

To get you pumped up to Pedal in 2024, we are highlighting our amazing festivals to experience while on tour in 2024! Kicking off in May with the Festival of Ceri in Umbria and wrapping up in October with the Truffle Fair in Alba, these festivals are absolute must-sees for your itinerary. Don’t miss out on the fun!

The Festival of Ceri (The Candle Race) in Umbria

Every year on May 15, hundreds gather in the town of Gubbio in Umbria for the Festa dei Ceri (Race of the Candles).  On this day, teams race the streets carrying three giant wooden saints: Saint Ubaldo who is the patron saint and the protector of the town, St. Antonio the protector of farmers, and St Giorgio the protector of merchants. This is an exciting event to witness and is guaranteed to make our Bike Across Italy tour extra special. One of our Alumni said it best: “One of my “life“ events. Spectacular. I still hear the drums beating.” 2024 Tour date:  May 11-21.  Explore Bike Across Italy Bike Tour.

Tour de France in Italy

Watching the Tour de France live is a pure adrenaline rush! The peloton whizzing by, the cheers of the crowd, and the breathtaking landscapes – it’s a two-wheeled dream come true!  Two of our 2024 bike tours will get you up and close to this bucket list event:  our Piedmont bike tour (June 27-July 4) as well as our Heart of Tuscany Special Edition bike tour (June 28-July 5)! The Tour de France will start in Florence, Italy for the first time ever to celebrate the centenary of Ottavio Bottecchia’s Tour de France Win in 1924, the first ever for an Italian.

Schedule a call so we can help decide which tour is best for you!  We guarantee that these elite riders will leave you inspired.

Palio di Siena in Tuscany

The Palio di Siena horse race is a thrilling burst of medieval adrenaline in the heart of Italy! Imagine vibrant flags, pounding hooves, and centuries-old rivalries colliding in a heart-pounding 90-second horse race. This historic spectacle, set in Siena’s Piazza del Campo, is a rush of passion, tradition, and pageantry that leaves you breathless. Witness the city’s Contrade (districts) compete on our Heart of Tuscany Special Edition Bike Tour (June 28-July 5).  The ONLY tour that combines the Opening Day of the Tour de France (in Florence) with this centuries old event.

We have already SOLD OUT two departures. We have added a third but there are only a few spaces available.

L’Eroica – The World’s Most Vintage Cycling Festival

Riding “L’Eroica” – the world’s most famous vintage cycling festival – was best described by one of our Alumni as “The Best Bike Party on Earth!”  It’s iconically Italian and a must on every cyclist’s bucket list. For one magical day, cyclists from all over the world ride vintage bicycles across white gravel Tuscan roads. Along the way, you’ll feast on fresh Tuscan bread, local cheese and abundant pours of Chianti Classico.  2024 Tour date: Oct 4-8.   Explore Strade Bianche and L’Eroica Bike Tour.

Truffle Fair in Alba

To say the town of Alba is a foodie town is an understatement. Located in Italy’s Northwestern region of Piedmont, this quaint town is complete with Michelin-starred restaurants and is most well-known for its white truffle festival in October. La Fiera Internazionale Tartufo Bianco d’Alba. This festival makes Alba the most talked about food destination of the season!  Our October guests will feast on plenty of tastings of wine, truffles, local cheeses, Piedmont hazelnuts and chestnuts, traditional dishes at gastronomic stands, and enjoy plenty of entertainment!  2024 Tour date: Oct 12–19.  Explore Piedmont Bike Tour.