Cinghiale in Italian loosely translates to “wild boar”, which is a popular ingredient in local Tuscan cuisine. It also is a good descriptor for the motorcycle that we would be riding for this 7 day tour around the region!
This is our 4th tour with Central Italy Motorcycle Tours with owner and guide Francesco. This trip started and finished in Rome after 7 days and approximately 1600 kms around Tuscany. We travelled mostly on lesser known roads with a group of 10 moto’s, and with the great local knowledge of our friend and guide Francesco.
The bike this year is a rental 2023 BMW 1250 RT from Hertz Bike, a bike that is very familiar to us since we have been riding RT’s since 2008. This one has plenty of power and is quite comfortable but is a bit on the heavy side at about 650 lbs empty. It still is pretty nimble though and I liken it to and agile pig, or perhaps a wild boar, so it is christened as “Cinghiale.”
After picking up the bikes at the agency in Rome we headed back to the hotel to get organized. We would be travelling pretty light since we had a support van to carry our luggage. Our support driver Alessandro was delightful and looked after us very well, not only on the road but at the end of each days travels.
The itinerary
Day 1: Departed Rome on the Via Aurelia to Lake Bracciano and Lago di Vico before crossing into Umbria and ending the day in Orvieto, all on twisty backroads.
Day 2: A loop ride day to Assisi and back to Orvieto with a stop at the Santuario Madonna dei Bagni and it’s amazing Deruta tiles. The story of the tiles are here!
On our way home near the town of Deruta, we stop at a small church, the Santuario Madonna dei Bagni where worshipers honor the Madonna “for grace received” (Per Grazia Ricevuta) via small art tiles produced locally which depict an accident or illness which was survived. There are quite a few tiles with motorcycles as the theme.
Day 3: We head to Siena by way of Lake Bolsena, Pitigliano and the Etruscan switchbacks, then on to Montalcino and into Siena at rush hour!
Day 4: Another loop ride day to San Galgano, the Massa Maritima, Volterra, San Gimignano and Monteriggioni before returning to Siena.
At a small church above the Abbey of San Galgano there is a sword in the stone placed there by Galgano Guidotti after he received a vision. Later a man who doubted this miracle tried to remove the sword from the stone but he failed. Soon after the doubter was attacked by a wolf who tore off his arms as punishment for the attempt. These bones have been dated to that era and are preserved as a lesson to doubters.
Day 5: This day takes us into the Chianti region for an wonderful series of twisty roads with amazing views! We pass through Pienza and Montepulciano before reaching Cortona for the night.
Day 6: Another layover day returning to Cortona with some riders opting for a longer loop while we settled in for a half day of 120 k on the bike.
The streets of Cortona before the tourists arrive.
The fresco of the Madonna del Parto in Monterchi, one of the rare depictions in the renaissance era of a pregnant Madonna. She is dressed in clothing which is traditional for that time period as was the custom. Two angels hold open the entry to the shelter, presenting the Virgin Mary.
Day 7: The final day of our ride would bring us back to Roma via Lake Trasimeno, and passing by Orvieto, once again on the lesser roads which were packed with motorcycles since it was the weekend.
Our group for this tour included our guide Francesco, my wife Sara and myself, frequent riding partners Craig from Utah and Lynn from Oregon, Craig’s brother Scott, Yossi and Davide from SoCal, Denis from France, Guy from Israel and Desert Dave also from SoCal. It was a good group of interesting people to ride with for the week!
Trail of the Cinghiale
Parting shots
MotoWolff 
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