Sport and culture, culture and sport. Since the inception of the Olympics, when the cultural supremacy of Greece was showcased through the harmonious athletic displays of its athletes, the context of the event has been an integral part of the experience. So, what better combination in this sense than the Tour de France and Florence? On one side, the ultimate cycling competition, and on the other, the cradle of the Renaissance, a place where the sense of art and beauty is breathed at every corner.
For the first time in 121 years, with the Tour de France 2024 the “Grand Boucle” started from Italy: after Florence the riders headed towards Emilia-Romagna, closing the first stage in Rimini. Then, before returning to French soil, Cesenatico, Piacenza and Pinerolo hosted the second, third and fourth stages, finishing in Bologna, Turin and Valloire.
The programme of the Grand Départ
From 27 to 29 June the Tour de France 2024 turned Florence into the pulsating heart of the cycling world. This was the programme of those three days:
- Thursday, June 27: Team presentation at Piazzale Michelangelo and Palazzo Vecchio.
- Saturday, June 29: Departure from Parco delle Cascine at 12:00 PM.
- Saturday, June 29: Official start from Piazza della Signoria.
Piazza Santa Croce hosted a public area with promotional stands. For three days the city was painted yellow, the colour of the Tour.
The first stage route
The city route on 29 June ran through Florence’s most iconic locations:
- Start: Piazzale delle Cascine
- Itinerary: Viale degli Olmi, Piazzale Thomas Jefferson, Viale del Visarno, Via del Fosso Macinante, Via Luciano Berio, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Viale Fratelli Rosselli, Piazzale di Porta al Prato, Via Curtatone, Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, Piazzale Carlo Goldoni, Via della Vigna Nuova, Piazza di San Giovanni, Piazza del Duomo, Via dei Calzaiuoli, Piazza della Signoria (official start), Via Vacchereccia, Via Por Santa Maria, Ponte Vecchio, Via dei Guicciardini, Piazza dei Pitti, Piazza di San Felice, Via Romana, Piazza della Calza, Piazzale di Porta Romana, Viale Niccolò Machiavelli, Piazzale Galileo, Viale Galileo, Piazzale Michelangelo, Viale Michelangelo, Via Carlo Marsuppini, Via Coluccio Salutati, Piazza Gavinana, Viale Donato Giannotti, Viale Europa, Piazza Gastone Nencini, Viale Europa, Viale del Pian di Ripoli, Bagno a Ripoli (Viola Park, official start).
Tribute to Gino Bartali
The Grand Départ in Florence symbolically passed by the Gino Bartali Cycling Museum in Ponte a Ema. Here, the champion, who won 3 Giro d’Italia and 2 Tour de France titles, became a true legend of cycling. The museum houses a vast collection of historic bicycles, jerseys, memorabilia, and documents celebrating Bartali’s exploits and those of other great cyclists.
A bond of passion and history
Florence and Emilia-Romagna are united not only geographically but also by a passion for cycling. With champions like Gino Bartali, Gastone Nencini, and Marco Pantani, the cycling tradition of these lands is deeply rooted. Choosing Florence as the starting point for the Tour de France 2024 was a tribute to this heritage.
The Tour de France 2024 seen from Florence
On the eve of the start the favourites were the Dane Jonas Vingegaard, chasing a third consecutive win, and the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar. Whatever the sporting verdict, the fact remains: for the first time in 121 years the most famous race in the world set off from Italy, and it did so from Florence.
If you would like to retrace those streets at your own pace, our one-day itinerary in Florence takes in many of the same places, from the Duomo to Piazzale Michelangelo.
