Motorcycle touring · Apennines · Chianti

Motorcycle Routes in Tuscany: 7 Passes Between Chianti and Emilia

The Tuscan-Emilian Apennines are not a barrier: they are a huge playground for riders, with perfect tarmac, ancient forests, medieval villages and breathtaking views.

A motorcycle weekend needs the right base. Pontassieve, in the heart of the Valdisieve, sits right between two worlds: the great technical Apennine passes to the north and the gentle Chianti bends to the south. You can plan loop rides and return to the same place every night without repacking.

The great Apennine passes loop

The passes linking the province of Florence with Romagna and Emilia are legendary in Italian motorcycling. Each has its own character, surface and riding rhythm.

Mugello and Upper Mugello side

1. Futa and Raticosa passes
   The classic pair. The Futa (903 m) offers smooth, flowing riding, historically linked to car and motorcycle testing. Continue on the SS65 to the Raticosa (968 m), the riders’ meeting point over coffee, with views over the Bologna hills.
2. Giogo pass
   At 882 m it links Scarperia and Firenzuola. Narrower and more technical than the Futa, with tight hairpins that call for clean riding and good use of the gearbox: a favourite of purists.
3. Colla pass
   The Colla di Casaglia (913 m) connects the Mugello and Upper Mugello. The climb from Borgo San Lorenzo runs through dense woods that stay cool even in midsummer; from here head down to Emilia or turn off for the Muraglione.

Casentino and Romagna side

1. Muraglione pass
   On the SS67 at 907 m, perhaps the most famous pass among Tuscan and Romagna riders. The climb from San Godenzo, close to Pontassieve, offers a flawless sequence of bends on grippy tarmac. At the top, a stop at the pass bar is a ritual.
2. Calla pass
   At 1,296 m it is the highest road pass in the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines, linking the Casentino with the Bidente valley. Flowing bends deep in the Casentino Forests, shaded by ancient trees.
3. Consuma pass
   On the SS70 at 1,050 m it links the Valdisieve directly with the Casentino: the quickest pass from Pontassieve. It owes its fame to the Coppa della Consuma hill climb, first run in 1902. Excellent tarmac, fast sweeping bends through chestnut and fir woods and, at the top, the famous stuffed schiacciata from the small grocery shops.

Technical Apennine passes to the north, gentle Chianti bends to the south: Pontassieve is right in the middle.

Detours not to miss: Stia and Chianti

Stia, in the Casentino

Coming down from the Calla pass or along the inner roads of the Valdisieve you reach Stia, a gem of the Casentino. This medieval village, famous for Piazza Tanucci (a set of the film Il Ciclone), grew around its old wool mill: the perfect place to rest your arms with a stroll under the arcades.

The wine route: the Chiantigiana to Castellina in Chianti

The next day the landscape changes as you head south. From Pontassieve take the SR222, the Via Chiantigiana: wooded mountains give way to hills of vine rows, cypresses and medieval castles. The riding gets gentler, at touring pace, all the way to the heart of historic Chianti.

Why Tassinaia is the ideal base for your motorcycle weekend

1. Strategic location
   In under 15 minutes you are at the start of the Muraglione road or on the way to the Casentino, and just as quickly heading for Chianti.
2. Parking and security
   Large private, protected spaces to leave your bike overnight.
3. Relaxing after the ride
   Back at the farmhouse, the outdoor hot tub eases tired muscles while you watch the sunset over the hills.
4. An evening in Florence without the bike
   Leave the bike at the farmhouse and take the train from Pontassieve to central Florence in about 25 minutes: see our Florence by train guide.