IT-Florence-4legsLoop
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Florence Apennines Grand Loop
Muraglione · Garfagnana · Passo della Cisa · Val Trebbia · Passo del Bracco
Start / Finish: Florence
Florence Airport (FLR)
approx. 20–30 min to central Florence
Pisa Airport (PSA)
practical west-side access
Overview
This four-stage motorcycle loop starts and ends in Florence, linking three classic riding worlds: the café-and-corners culture of Passo del Muraglione, the remote Tuscan mountain roads of the Garfagnana, and the flowing river bends of Val Trebbia. The loop is designed for late May touring: long daylight, open passes, green valleys and manageable temperatures.
Stage 1 now follows the attached MyRouteApp export from Florence to Abetone, via San Godenzo, Passo del Muraglione, Marradi, Borgo San Lorenzo, Colla di Casaglia, the Barberino del Mugello circuit area, Lizzano in Belvedere, Fanano, Sestola and Montecreto. Stage 2 continues from Abetone through San Marcello Piteglio, Borgo a Mozzano, Lucca, Barga, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Careggine / Via d’Arni, Massa and Aulla. Stage 3 follows Pontremoli, Passo della Cisa, Berceto, Bedonia, Vigolzone / Val Nure and Bobbio. Stage 4 completes the PDF route via Ottone, Genoa, Chiavari, Passo del Bocco, Maissana / Colle di Cento Croci, La Spezia, Pisa and back to Florence.
The attached MyRouteApp / OSM export gives a total route distance of 1,064.48 km (661 mi) and an estimated riding duration of 19 h 19 min. Distances below remain planning distances; use the final GPX trace for navigation.
Interactive map
Legend: black = waypoint, red = POI, blue = B&B / guesthouse, green = restaurant. The route polyline closes the loop only at the end.
Technical overview
1,064.48 km (661 mi)
4
Mountain passes, ridge roads, woodland bends, river valleys and historic towns.
All-tarmac touring roads, secondary mountain roads and short urban sections.
Late May to October.
Moderate: frequent bends, variable surfaces and a longer final stage.
Seasonality
Late May, June, September and early October give the best balance between daylight, open passes and manageable traffic.
Possible, but start early on Muraglione and Val Trebbia. Heat and weekend traffic can affect the lower valleys.
After rain, expect damp woodland bends, gravel on apexes and debris near road edges.
Practical riding notes
Mostly good tarmac with patched sections in smaller mountain valleys.
Muraglione and Val Trebbia can be busy with bikes and cars on sunny weekends.
Ride the famous sections early and keep fuel margins before the smaller Apennine crossings.
Safety and effort level
Moderate.
Medium-high on narrow bends, shaded roads and the longer final stage.
Tourist traffic, cyclists, speed controls, damp woodland surfaces and occasional gravel.
Roadbook · stage-by-stage route
Stage 1 — Florence → San Godenzo → Passo del Muraglione → Marradi → Borgo San Lorenzo → Colla di Casaglia → Lizzano in Belvedere → Fanano → Sestola → Montecreto → Abetone (~303 km / 188 mi)
The second half moves north-west with a broader Apennine arc, touching the Barberino del Mugello circuit area before crossing towards Lizzano in Belvedere, Fanano, Sestola and Montecreto. It finishes in Abetone, giving the day a much more faithful line to the PDF export: long, mountainous, varied and continuous.
This revised first stage follows the attached MyRouteApp line rather than the earlier simplified loop. It leaves Florence and climbs steadily through San Godenzo to the classic Passo del Muraglione. The road then drops towards Marradi and continues along the rider-friendly Mugello side through Borgo San Lorenzo and Colla di Casaglia.
POI
Passo del Muraglione Passo della Colla di Casaglia AbetoneB&B / agriturismi · Abetone area (motorcycle garage / secure parking)
True B&B option in Abetone, close to Val di Luce, with free private parking reported on Booking. Good first overnight for riders who want to keep the bike off the street; ask the host in advance for the most protected motorcycle space.
motorcycle note: private parking / confirm covered garage at booking
Booking.com propertyGoogle MapsSmall mountain B&B in Abetone, practical for a motorcycle stop before dropping into Garfagnana. Use it as the simple, central alternative; check the garage/covered-space availability directly with the owner when booking.
Profile: B&B · motorcycle note: private/nearby parking to confirm
Booking.com property/searchGoogle MapsHighly rated B&B in Riolunato, around 17 km (11 mi) from Abetone/Val di Luce, with free private parking reported by Booking. A quieter overnight with strong mountain-rider logistics.
motorcycle note: free private parking / ask for covered garage space
Booking.com property/searchGoogle MapsRestaurant
Mountain cooking, grilled meats, pasta, mushrooms and warming Apennine dishes.
Google MapsRestaurants near AbetoneActivity
Best viewpoints near AbetoneStage 2 — Abetone → San Marcello Piteglio → Borgo a Mozzano → Lucca → Barga → Castelnuovo di Garfagnana → Careggine / Arni → Massa → Aulla (~198 km / 123 mi)
The route then uses Barga and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana as the scenic core of the day, then climbs towards Careggine / Via d’Arni. This is a more coherent Apuan-side crossing than the previous version: it avoids pointless loops, reaches the Massa side and continues to Aulla, ready for the Cisa and Val Trebbia section.
Stage 2 has been corrected against the attached PDF and now follows the exact directional logic of the MyRouteApp export. From Abetone, it descends towards San Marcello Piteglio and Borgo a Mozzano, then reaches Lucca before turning back into the Garfagnana corridor.
POI
Bagni di Lucca Barga Castelnuovo di Garfagnana Isola SantaB&B / guesthouses · Lucca (motorcycle garage / secure parking)
Quiet B&B just outside Lucca’s walls, with garden setting and practical private parking. A very good motorcycle base because you avoid the old-town access stress and can walk or taxi into the centre.
motorcycle note: internal/private parking; request protected bike space
Booking.com propertyGoogle MapsVilla-style B&B very close to the walls, with private on-site parking reported by Booking and guest reviews. Strong option for riders who want easy city access without leaving the bike exposed.
motorcycle note: private parking inside the structure, confirm garage/covered space
Booking.com propertyGoogle MapsElegant B&B-style villa accommodation with free private parking. Best suited to riders wanting a more polished stay close to the city walls while keeping secure parking logistics.
motorcycle note: free private parking; ask for safest motorcycle position
Booking.com propertyGoogle MapsRestaurant
Refined Tuscan cooking and local wines in the old town; suitable for a relaxed post-ride dinner.
Book onlineGoogle MapsRestaurants near LuccaActivity
Lucca guided e-bike & wine tour Lucca private bike sightseeing tourStage 3 — Aulla → Pontremoli → Passo della Cisa → Berceto → Bedonia → Vigolzone / Val Nure → Bobbio (~179 km / 111 mi)
Instead of cutting directly to Bobbio, the attached route creates a wider northern sweep through the Piacenza hills around Vigolzone / Val Nure. This gives the stage a better riding rhythm before joining the Val Trebbia road and arriving in Bobbio. The result is cleaner and closer to the MyRouteApp file, with no unnecessary return over the same roads.
Stage 3 starts from the Lunigiana side and follows the PDF export north through Aulla and Pontremoli. The main classic of the day is Passo della Cisa, followed by the descent towards Berceto and the inland progression to Bedonia.
POI
Pontremoli Passo della Cisa Val Trebbia BobbioB&B / agriturismi · Bobbio / Val Trebbia (motorcycle garage / secure parking)
True B&B in the Bobbio area with private on-site parking reported by Booking. Quiet, green setting and ideal for a Val Trebbia motorcycle overnight.
motorcycle note: private parking on site; confirm covered/garage space
Booking.com propertyGoogle MapsRural agriturismo around Bobbio, listed among the popular parking-friendly stays in the area. Good for riders who prefer countryside quiet after Val Trebbia.
Profile: agriturismo · motorcycle note: parking-friendly; confirm garage/covered bike storage directly
Booking.com property/searchGoogle MapsPanoramic agriturismo/B&B-style stay above Bobbio with private parking reported by Booking. Strongest comfort option for the Trebbia overnight.
motorcycle note: private parking on site; request covered garage if available
Booking.com propertyGoogle MapsRestaurant
Local cuisine and wines in Bobbio’s historic centre; ideal after the Cisa and Val Trebbia stage.
Official siteGoogle MapsRestaurants near BobbioActivity
Best things to see near BobbioStage 4 — Bobbio → Ottone → Genoa → Chiavari → Passo del Bocco → Maissana / Cento Croci → La Spezia → Pisa → Florence (~384 km / 239 mi)
The route then crosses the inland ridge through the Maissana / Colle di Cento Croci area and descends towards La Spezia. The final return follows the Tuscan side via Pisa and then closes the loop in Florence. It is the longest and most demanding day, but now it reflects the attached MyRouteApp route accurately.
The final stage has been corrected to follow the attached PDF: it is a wide Ligurian return rather than the earlier simplified Bracco-only loop. From Bobbio, the road follows the Trebbia corridor to Ottone, then heads towards Genoa. From there the route reaches the coast around Chiavari before climbing again to Passo del Bocco.
POI
Santo Stefano d’Aveto Passo del Bocco Portofino / Tigullio Passo del Bracco PisaB&B / guesthouses · Florence return area (motorcycle garage / secure parking)
Guesthouse-style stay outside the Florence centre, with free private parking reported on Booking. Very practical for a motorcycle return because it avoids the most congested central access.
Profile: guesthouse/B&B · motorcycle note: free private parking; ask for enclosed bike space
Booking.com propertyGoogle MapsQuiet villa-style accommodation on the hills above Florence, with free private parking confirmed by the official site and Booking. Good for riders returning from Pistoia and wanting easier parking than the city centre.
motorcycle note: free private parking until spaces last; confirm garage/covered area
Booking.com propertyGoogle MapsBoutique B&B close to the Boboli / Porta Romana side, with private parking noted on Booking. Better for riders who want a city finish while still prioritising a protected parking solution.
Profile: boutique B&B · motorcycle note: private parking; confirm motorcycle garage access before booking
Booking.com propertyGoogle MapsRestaurant
Use the live Google Maps link for current opening times and parking-friendly access.
Restaurants near FlorenceActivity
La Spezia · Cinque Terre boat tour Florence cooking classLoop-closing summary
This corrected version now follows the attached MyRouteApp PDF: total route 1,064.48 km (661 mi), estimated riding time 19 h 19 min, and a continuous Florence–Apennines–Garfagnana–Cisa–Val Trebbia–Ligurian coast–Pisa–Florence loop. The main correction is the removal of the previous Stage 2 distortion: the route now progresses through Lucca, Barga, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Careggine / Via d’Arni, Massa and Aulla exactly in the PDF direction.
Motorcycle parking note
All overnight suggestions in this upgraded version prioritise B&Bs, guesthouses or agriturismi with private or secure parking information available online. Because “garage” can mean covered garage, enclosed courtyard or private on-site parking depending on the property, riders should confirm the exact covered/locked motorcycle space before booking.
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Photo credits: images from Wikimedia Commons. See source file pages for authors and licences. Used under CC BY-SA / public domain terms where applicable.
