Any cycling enthusiasts who have been considering a villa in Florence at the end of June 2024 should stop wondering and book their vacation immediately because, for the first time in 121 years, the race is kicking off in Italy and specifically from Florence before passing through the Apuan Alps and into Emilia Romagna.
The oldest and most celebrated by far of the three big Grand Tour events in cycling, this men’s multiple-stage race causes a true fever of excitement each summer in Europe, especially in the towns through which the speeding competitors pass.
Florence, as a city, seems especially fitting as a spot for this grand cycling event to begin as it is a place with a great passion for the activity and Emilia-Romagna, too, has long and impressive affiliations with the history of cycling as a sport.
As is quoted in the official statements of Stefano Bonaccini (the President of the Region of Emilia-Romagna) and Dario Nardella (the Mayor of Florence) on the Tour de France website: “The other tie that binds our city and our region is our passion for cycling. Three of our scions —Gino Bartali, Gastone Nencini and Marco Pantani— have won the Tour, and our other champions are too numerous to mention. Yet one name stands out from the legend: Alfonsina Strada, a pioneer from Castelfranco Emilia, who in 1924 became the first —and only— woman to take part in the men’s Giro d’Italia. For the Tour de France, this Grand Départ from Florence and Emilia-Romagna will feel just like home.”
Taking place on the 29th of June, this historic event will mark the beginning of the 111th edition of the Tour de France, the first kick-off from Florence and from Italy itself. Just book your holiday rental in Florence and you can watch this momentous occasion and historic event all play out right before your very eyes!
The "Grand Départ" headquarters will be set up at the Teatro del Maggio and will take a route from the Cascine to Piazza della Signoria for the ribbon-cutting and institutional start as scheduled. This will then see the various teams parade through the famously lovely historic core of this grand city and then pass symbolically by the Gino Bartali Cycling Museum, dedicated to the great cycling champion in Ponte a Ema.
From there, the Italian leg of the Tour de France will proceed over three days, the 29th and the 30th of June and the first of July. The route will kick off from Florence, head through various towns, up into the Apennines and through the Valico Tre Faggi towards steeper slopes and into the Republic of San Marino, before finishing for the day on the Adriatic seafront in Rimini. Day two will take the caravan through the Apennines and green heart of Emilia-Romagna, before finishing in Bologna. The final full day within the country of the Italian leg will then take the race into Piedmont, through the lush and fertile Langhe area, and to the elegant city of Turin.
With all sorts of events and excitement related to the event taking place in the days leading up to the Grand Départ and then the thrill of this famous race itself, Florence will truly be a must-see at during over the course of this weekend this summer for any sports enthusiasts and cycling-lovers, in particular, who were dreaming of a getaway in Tuscany this year. Book now and secure your vacation rental in Florence for this time of the year and then you can experience all of the thrills, excitement, and impressive sportsmanship of the world-renowned Tour de France for yourself while enjoying a Tuscan getaway!
