Castles & Chianti: Miss Adventures on A Vespa
I have a confession: since my move to Italy, I have become completely obsessed with Vespas. Perhaps this stems from childhood Lizzie McGuire fantasies (after all, this is “what dreams are made of”) or simply comes from a desire to live “la vita bella”. Either way, from the very first ride I took on a Vespa, I was hooked.
It also helps that I happen to live in Florence, a short 20 minute ride from the famous Chianti region, where rolling hills, olive groves, vineyards, and scenic vistas abound-making it the perfect location for a zoom around the countryside.
Tuscany Cycle
Thanks to my friends at Tuscany Cycle, I have been able to hone my Vespa riding skills not once (read all about it here) but twice since my first adventure. If you are looking to experience your own Vespa Tour while visiting Florence, I highly recommend Tuscany Cycle. (Seriously, I took my parents on the tour when they visited) The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful (and hilarious, I might add!). Tuscany Cycle also offer an excellent bike tour of Chianti, as well as both long term and short term bike tours if you’d prefer to keep things old school. Oh, and did I mention they have pink Vespas? (Gentlemen, don’t worry, they have other colors too!)
Castello del Trebbio
After a short ride out of Florence, we arrived at Castello del Trebbio, a gorgeous 12th century castle that also happened to be our lunch spot.
Upon arrival, we were given a private tour of the castle’s winery and wine cellars, as well as a thorough telling of the castle’s colorful history. (Think intrigue, assassinations, wealthy Florentine banking families)
We also learned quite about about the wine production, and about Chianti wines in particular, while getting to see parts of the process firsthand.
Cruising Through Chianti
Once we were educated on where we were and the Chianti region’s winemaking history, we headed out to practice riding Vespas.
If you have never ridden a Vespa before, you are in good hands! It is easy to learn and the guide will patiently explain everything you need to know as well as take you for a quick test spin around to prepare you for the open road.
When the group felt comfortable (it didn’t take long as there were 5 of us) we set off down the scenic country lanes of Tuscany, enjoying the beautiful sights around us and the fun of traveling by Vespa.
Tuscan lunch
After a few hours whizzing around, our Vespa tour came to an end, just in time for lunch!
Our lunch included a delicious tasting of wines produced at Castello del Trebbio, including a 100% Chianti wine produced with all local grapes that was simply fantastic. (My parents even bought 2 bottles to take home!)
We also enjoyed some typical Tuscan dishes, starting with peccorino cheese and a selection of Tuscan meats and ending with pasta and of course an espresso and yummy biscotti for dessert.
From beginning to end the day was a blast-my parents even proclaimed it to be the highlight of their 2 week stay in Italy.
Is a Vespa tour of Chianti on your Italy bucket list?
