Starting off in the small town of Lucca in the Tuscany region, we travel on to the neighboring Emilia-Romagna region before we make our way to the heart of Firenze for this amazing twilight event, officially the second oldest road race in Italy (88th edition). The San Giovanni 9.9 km event starts at dusk (9:00pm) right beside the famous Duomo Cathedral, through the city squares and streets, back over the Ponte Vecchio. For lovers of running, this event will have you pinching yourself

3 Towns (Lucca - Pavullo Nel Frignano - Firenze) | 2 Regions (Tuscany - Emilia Romagna) | group training | all transfers | ALL meals every day | Guaranteed Event Entry

Day 1 - Sunday, 13 June- LUCCA

Arriving either at Pisa International Airport or Lucca train station, you will be met and taken to your apartment within the ancient city walls. Early evening, you’ll have the option for a light ~8km jog around the city walls of Lucca before we head off to an Opera performance - a ‘Puccini Recital’ in an amazing church. This is Italian immersion at its authentic best. After the recital, we walk all of a few hundred metres for a delightful dinner at a lovely modern ‘Lucchese’ restaurant

Day 2 - Monday, 14 June - LUCCA

8am:  Easy Run (8-12km) along the river trail, followed by a free morning in Lucca. You are encouraged to climb the Giungi Tower or visit Puccini's birthplace, or some shopping, of course

Lunch is a short 10min drive outside the city walls, serving typical Tuscan-style food

Afternoon: We take the short trip to Viareggio for a splash in the ocean. Alternatively, you might choose a siesta instead

For Dinner tonight, we’ll travel to the nearby town of Calci for an amazing setting in a local Agriturismo

Day 3 - Tuesday, 15 June- LUCCA-PISA-LUCCA

 8am:  Today’s session is a 8-10km Tempo run, or a series of 2x3min, 3x2min & 4x1 min efforts (totalling ~16 minutes of efforts)

Lunch We head to Pisa for lunch to learn that a humble ‘panini’ with local ingredients can pack some flavours

Dinner You will experience a fully immersive cooking class with a direct connection to Tuscan authentic home cooking. The focus is on practical, hands-on learning in a local kitchen. We’ll experience an intimate 3-hour home cooking class with a local chef-host, along with local wines

Day 4 - Wednesday, 16 June – LUCCA - PAVULLO NEL FRIGNANO

8am:  8-12 km easy run, our last around the walls of Lucca. We then head off to the town of Pavullo Nel Frignano

Lunch: after check-in, it’s a short trip out of town to the local Trattoria for a showcase of local produce and dishes

Over the coming days, you’ll be booked into the local physiotherapist for a sports massage, this afternoon or tomorrow afternoon

5pm: Optional 4-8km jog or walk around the local airfield, followed by an aperitivo at the local bar

Dinner: after a full lunch, it’s a lighter meal tonight at the local and delightful pizzeria where the pizzaiolo from Naples loves his craft, serving the best pizzas in town. We dine with locals on pizzas, pasta and dessert, of course

Day 5 - Thursday, 17 June - PAVULLO NEL FRIGNANO

8am:  Tempo run (8-12 km), around the relatively flat airfield

10am:  We visit the local ‘caseificio’ to learn how Parmesan cheese is made and the specific criteria that allows it to be called ‘Parmesan cheese’

Lunch: a relatively light lunch today ahead of a gastronomic experience this evening

5pm: Optional 4-8km jog or walk around the local airfield, followed by an aperitivo at the local bar

Dinner: we head to an amazing castle, the food highlight of our Tour

Day 6 - Friday, 18 June- PAVULLO NEL FRIGNANO - FIRENZE

8am:  8km easy jog on trails in Pavullo before we head off to Firenze, the location of our event tomorrow evening

Lunch just outside of Firenze before we check-in to our Hotel in the centre of town

6pm:  light 4-8km jog (walk) in Firenze

Dinner at a typical Fiorentine restaurant

Day 7 - Saturday, 19 June - FIRENZE - Event Day - Notturna Di San Giovanni 9.9km

8am:  light 4km jog (walk) followed by a free morning in Firenze (Saturday markets)

Lunch at the local pizzeria

3pm:  rest (siesta) ahead of this evening’s event

7pm:  event check-in, warm-up jog

9pm:  Notturno di San Giovanni 9.9 km

v.late Dinner at a local diner. Trying to find a meal at around 10:30pm has always been a challenge, even by Italian standards, so dinner will be a little basic, enough to refuel and recall the event.

Day 8 - Sunday, 20 June - FIRENZE

08:00am: Optional 8km. After an early morning optional light recovery jog and breakfast, we check-out of our hotel and farewell the Tour.

Your drop-off location options are Firenze Airport or PISA International Airport.