You leave in Montespertoli, where you can rent a holiday home (airbnb). This ride takes us north. We combine enjoying nature and the landscape with a taste of the culture.

Empoli is a busy region that you will leave behind as soon as possible. Vinci with its famous resident Leonardo da Vinci is well worth a visit.
Housed in a 13th-century castle, Museo Leonardiano focuses on Leonardo's inventions. There is an exhibition space where designs of his inventions can be found. There are changing exhibitions on the top floor. This is located in Palazzina Uzielli. The other part of the museum, Castello dei Conti Guidi, houses some 60 models of his inventions, such as flying machines and scientific instruments. In addition, all inventions are provided with digital and interactive images and videos to make it as clear as possible to the visitor. Museo Leonardiano is located at Via della Torre 2.
Museo Ideal Leonardo da Vinci is underground, below the town's castle. Above the museum is a square with a large 3D model of the Vitruvian man. In this museum you can see the diversity of the versatile artist / scientist. Both original documents and replicas of inventions can be admired. Of course you can also admire artworks by Leonardo. Museo Ideal Leonardo da Vinci is located at Via di Montalbano 2.
Leonardo was baptized in Santa Croce in Vinci and moved to Florence in 1468. The church can be visited from the inside and the baptismal font, which is centuries old, is present here. It is therefore assumed that Leonardo was also baptized in this baptismal font. Chiesa di Santa Croce is located at 9 Via Giorgio la Pira.

3 km from the museum, in Anchiano, is the house where Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1542. The rural house has recently been restored and is open to the public again. At the T-junction, turn right to visit the birthplace. The house itself is simple, in contrast to the modern interior of the museum. In the house there are a large number of sketches of the surrounding nature drawn by Leonardo. For those who have little time, a visit to the house is not really recommended, it is better to spend the full time at the museum.

The road winds on. There are few, if any, straights, but there is no shortage of hairpin turns. The road is in good condition, which makes it a lot of fun to drive. You leave Pistoia on the right and continue north. The Montagna pistoiese is without a doubt the nature reserve to visit in the province of Pistoia. Due to its high elevation, it is one of the coolest places in Tuscany and there are mainly pines, chestnut trees, beech trees and oaks. In some places microclimates have arisen, resulting in an enormous diversity of fauna.
A final visit on this ride is in Poggio a Caiano, the Medici villa. Well worth a stop. The Villa Medici in Poggio a Caiano was built in the late 15th and early 16th century for Lorenzo de'Medici (Lorenzo il Magnifico) as a summer residence. In the centuries since, the villa has been regularly expanded and renovated and inhabited by several important figures. Like the king of Italy when Florence was the country's capital. The villa, which is now a museum, was one of the most interesting buildings of the early Renaissance. Striking are the grand entrance, which is reminiscent of the reception area of Roman villas, and the open loggia that runs the entire length of the ground floor.

This route receives 4.5 stars. The landscape is varied, the roads are mostly in good condition and there are also some interesting visits.