Island Interlude Overview
- Countries: Italy & France
- Explore intimate Florence
- Enjoy a top-class cabin on the overnight ferry to Sardinia
- Twist the throttle over miles of serpentine roads on Sardinia
- Ride "The Mountain in the Sea"—Corsica
- Cross the historical WWII "Gothic Line" in Tuscany
- Discover delightful Lucca
The Island Interlude is French and Italian cultures and Mediterranean sunshine packaged into two glorious weeks of motorcycle riding pleasure! Beginning and ending in the Tuscan hills, the Island Interlude is a unique adventure spanning a variety of cultures, terrain, and history.
Following a walking tour of Florence on the arrival day, the tour gets down to the business of riding on Monday. With the destination of the seaside town of Livorno in mind, your routing choices may include a visit to the city of towers, San Gimignano, and a walk through the impressive walls of Monteriggioni Castle. Then it is a simple task to follow the curves (and there are plenty!) to the seaside. Or visit and explore Pisa, with its famous leaning tower before our rendezvous at the wharf.
Enjoying a great motorcycling road in Chianti, on the way to the Mediterranean
Cross The Tyrrhenian Sea
Enjoy the comfort of a top-class cabin as the overnight ferry makes its way to Italy’s emerald in the Mediterranean, Sardinia. This beautiful, wild island has been inhabited for 8000 years, and is now criss-crossed with perfect motorcycle roads.
Catching the ferry to Sardinia, Italy
After disembarking from the ferry we waste no time getting into the mountains. A wonderfully sweeping road with endless views of the sea is our magic carpet for the ride along the west coast.
Bosa, the day’s destination, is a tiny urban area built in a riot of color. Spectacular sunsets are the norm here and, should we have the luck to enjoy one, the pastels of nature to the west will compliment the pastels of man to the north!
More of those special Sardinian roads lead into the rugged hills around Gusipini. Remote is a great descriptor, as there is little here but old mine claims, scenery, and mountains.
A perfectly set double-overnight in Oliena means twisty roads in every direction. Corners here aren’t counted by hundreds, but rather thousands! Beware. Our spectacular accommodation may lead some to relax by the pool and enjoy a day of... nothing!
Sardinia's wonderful, twisty roads are perfect for motorcycling
Majestic Beaches
Our last stop on Sardinia, on the northern end of the island, is framed by mountains and brightened by flowering trees. Minutes from many of the Island’s best beaches, this popular spot offers something for everyone.
On Monday morning it is time to set sail, destination France, and the island of Corsica, birthplace of Napoleon. Hey, that sounds grander than “let’s take an hour long ferry trip to the other island,” doesn’t it? If Sardinia is an emerald, Corsica is a diamond—in the rough. The fantastic roads, stunning views, miles of coastline and breathtaking sunsets are there. Like Sardinia, Corsica has a small population inland, and is a place you may have all to yourself day after day.
Magnificent mountain scenery and a very dramatic coastline sum up Corsica, and it begins with the approach to Bonifacio. La Haute Ville (the high village) seems to be built over the ocean, precipitously placed on the very edge of impressive chalk cliffs undermined by the sea.
Disembarking on Corsica. The magic begins!
Unbelievably, It Keeps Getting Better
Rides on the free day in Olmeto follow impossibly twisty roads into the mountains. Those who ride will not be disappointed, and those who elect to walk to the beach and lounge on the seashore will be equally satisfied. It is just another perfect day on the Island Interlude!
As this is a motorcycle tour, amazing roads and scenery are always welcome. Corsica has both in quantity and quality that is difficult to grasp. We turn inland, to the mountain town of Corte, closely following rivers that have—over eons—cut their way through the terrain. Our accommodation, unsurprisingly, is perfectly situated on a mountain stream, and the meal here is typically Corsican—hearty, delicious, and unique.
The inland reprieve is short, as there is too much coast to see and explore. So back to the seaside we go, via the Scala Di Santa Regina, Corsica’s most impressive gorge. Breathtaking doesn’t say enough.
While thinking “it doesn’t get better than this” roll into Piana, tonight’s destination. Sunsets from our hotel balcony overlooking the Calanques de Piana are unforgettable.
Riding up from sea level on Corsica's west coast
Some of Corsica’s wildest coastal roads, perched high above the pounding sea, lead to Calvi. The road seems impossibly situated in places, and makes California’s Highway 1 seem like a superhighway. From Calvi the route passes one perfect beach after another.
In Bastia we have another double-overnight in a great sea-side hotel. There are views of the ferries coming and going to the busy port.
Cap Corse
The restless will likely spend the free-day traveling around Cap Corse, the finger of Corsica. The Corniche road circling the Cap was built by Napoleon III. Prior to this, Cap Corse was cut off from the rest of the Island and accessible only by sea, leading to the moniker “an island within an island.” A ride around the Cap offers stunning and varied scenery on pavement that seems attached to the very edge of the land.
Riding along the coast on Cap Corse, Corsica
Corsica provides for some fabulous once-in-a-lifetime rides. Often known as the Mountain in the Sea, Corsica has more mountains and rivers than any Mediterranean island. While the coastal roads offer grip and continuous views of the Mediterranean sea, inland there are enchanted valleys with alpine scenery and green hills with prehistoric settlements to visit. It will be difficult to say goodbye to what must be the loveliest place on earth, but….
Tuscany Awaits
From Corsica sail across the Tyrrhenian Sea to disembark at Livorno. Here we get a sample—a small, but piquant, sample of Tuscany. Along the coastline in Castiglionello, inland to the Etruscan city of Volterra, and finally to the walled city of Lucca.
Walk along the city walls to the other side of town and spend time browsing shops and piazzas and mingling with the locals. This is what Italy is all about!
Tranquil Tuscany
The tour wraps up in Florence, and the ride from Lucca to our hotel high above the city is simply the icing on the cake. More turns, unique sights and great riding take us back to where we began this great adventure. Indeed, this magical trip will live long in your memory.
