When the Landscape Tells a Story
Some events have the power to reveal the soul of a place. L’Eroica is one of them. On 3 and 4 October 2026, Gaiole in Chianti will once again welcome vintage bicycles and cyclists from around the world, brought together by a different way of experiencing sport and travel.
Along Siena’s white roads, amid the autumn light and the gentle outline of the hills, the bicycle becomes a means of discovery and the landscape itself becomes part of the challenge.
Much More Than a Race
Founded in 1997 with just 92 ‘hunters of feelings and emotions’, L’Eroica has grown into an international event while remaining true to its popular roots. The five routes of the 2026 edition, ranging from 45 to 211 kilometres, wind through Chianti, the Val d’Arbia and the Crete Senesi.
The value of the experience goes far beyond the finish line. It lives in the shared effort, the refreshment stops, the encounters along the way and the pleasure of moving slowly through an extraordinary landscape. It is cycling at its most human: shaped by respect, perseverance and wonder.
Hotel Chiusarelli, a Natural Continuation of the Journey
Experiencing L’Eroica while staying at Hotel Chiusarelli means bringing together two expressions of the same Tuscany: an event that preserves the memory of great cycling and a historic residence dating back to 1870, welcoming travellers in the heart of Siena.
The connection is not merely geographical. L’Eroica looks to the past to rediscover values that remain relevant today; Hotel Chiusarelli preserves the harmony of its neoclassical villa and frescoed rooms while combining them with contemporary comforts. Both celebrate the value of time, care and understated elegance.
The hotel thus becomes more than simply a place to stay: it is a natural part of the experience.
From the Dust of the Roads to the Tranquillity of the Villa
After a day between Gaiole and the hills of Chianti, returning to Hotel Chiusarelli becomes the second chapter of the journey. The garden and terrace invite you to slow down, the rooms offer the pleasure of rest, and the Gli Orti di San Domenico restaurant rounds off the evening with the flavours of Tuscan cuisine.
The energy of L’Eroica gives way to the tranquillity of the villa without interrupting the story: from historic bicycles to nineteenth-century architecture, everything continues in the spirit of authenticity.
Two Sides of the Same Land
A stay here makes it possible to combine L’Eroica with the discovery of Siena. While cyclists take on the route or recover their energy, those accompanying them can set off on foot from the hotel and reach Piazza del Campo, the Cathedral and the city’s main landmarks in just a few minutes.
On one side are the white roads, villages and rolling hills; on the other, the history and elegance of Siena. The race and the hotel become two moments in a single journey.
L’Eroica invites us to rediscover the beauty of taking the time, of shared effort and of landscapes experienced at a slower pace. At Hotel Chiusarelli, that same sense of authenticity continues in the elegance of the villa and the charm of Siena. From the white roads to the heart of the city, the journey becomes an experience that goes beyond the finish line and stays with you long after.
