Gippo Bike - Casole d'Elsa - San Gimignano . Very scenic route with possible stops in famous medieval village San Gimignano and Casole d'Elsa. Hilly terrain. A

The history of Casole d’Elsa dates back to the eleventh century when Volterra founded a castle on the site of the village. This castle was enlarged with the passing of years and became a possession of Siena in the thirteenth century. The village of Casole was positioned near the border between Siena and Florence and to better defend it the republic of Siena on several occasions strengthened the fortifications of Casole.

San Gimignano delle belle Torri' is in Tuscany, 56 km south of Florence. It served as an important relay point for pilgrims travelling to or from Rome on the Via Francigena. The patrician families who controlled the town built around 72 tower-houses (some as high as 50 m) as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived, San Gimignano has retained its feudal atmosphere and appearance. The town also has several masterpieces of 14th- and 15th-century Italian art.