Massa Marittima's commitment to welcoming cycling enthusiasts is truly remarkable, so much so that the area's leading hotels have joined forces in the "Bike in Massa Marittima" project to offer the best possible service to cyclists, finding an exceptional partner in Scott Italia . What's unique is that each of the logistics facilities has found its own unique style, differentiating itself from the others . Among these, Tenuta del Fontino has chosen the Road of Food and Wine, thus offering guests an added value to make their holiday a memorable one.
Sophie Puncher , the facility manager, says : "Our facility is relatively new compared to others. We've been in this sector for 8-10 years and have immediately found a welcoming environment in the local community . We're located in the Lago dell'Accesa area, where the entire trail area is located, and it's been growing rapidly in recent years thanks to its beauty."
What type of structure are you?
We are a farmhouse with 26 rooms and 6 apartments. We have a very large estate, about 700 hectares, much of which is woodland, where we are developing new trails. We are an organic, biodynamic farm; we make wine and have an on-site cellar, we produce extra virgin olive oil, and we offer a full range of hospitality , offering active vacations. In addition to cycling, we also have tennis courts and yoga sessions. We also have about 23 horses on site for excursions, which are a much-appreciated bonus. And let's not forget our outdoor pool.
It's kind of your trademark, offering other activities that fill out the existing cycle tourist schedules...
Exactly, for us, the key is to give guests an experience. They can combine cycling and horseback riding, but also do other things to create a wonderful memory of their vacation. It's a sign of the market; nowadays, we no longer sell the stay, we sell the experience. We're particularly committed to this, to offer something unique.
What specific services do you offer for cycle tourists?
We offer bike rentals on site, all Scott bikes, including e-bikes. We also have a small workshop available, and a guide is always here on site, available for any maintenance or small repairs. About three years ago, we held a trail building week where we built a whole network of trails that lead to the Accesa trail area . We also offer bike washes and a garage with video surveillance and an alarm. We can also arrange shuttles to take cyclists to the coastal trails.
How far is it?
We're just 15 kilometers from the truly special beach of Cala Violina . From there, Punta Ala is easily accessible; we offer shuttles there. We're organized to allow visitors to get an up-close and personal experience of our entire region.
In Massa Marittima, there are several logistics facilities dedicated to bike-friendly activities. What's the relationship between you and how do you develop competition and collaboration?
We all try to showcase an authentic region through hospitality. Since we're all very diverse, each one strives to stand out and offer something different. While Massavecchia is very well-versed in cycling, we also combine cycling tourism with food and wine. Then there are facilities like Pian dei Mucci that have many more places to welcome guests. Each one does different things to help sell the region.
So much supply means there's also a lot of demand. Where do your customers come from?
The market is primarily foreign. We work very well with Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. We offer fairly long stays; those who come aren't usually just weekenders; they want to explore and enjoy the area. They might stay for a week, organizing each day with a different program, and this is the type of customer that makes us proud of what we do. We also now have many loyal customers, which means we're working the right way...
