Vespa Road Trip Tuscany Elba 2024 by SIP Scootershop
April is really early in the year for the SIP team to embark on the joint trip, the SIP tour. After all, it's twice as much fun to explore new landscapes and destinations on a Vespa when the sun is shining and it's warm in summer. in 2024, we still decided to set off earlier than usual because a very special event was beckoning: the "Scooter Rally Toscano" on the island of Elba. This rally didn't start until 3 May, but we wanted to take the opportunity to ride through Tuscany for a few days before the scooter meeting.
The SIP tour in spring 2024: on classic scooters through Tuscany and across Elba
The tour started on 29 April. As there was still snow in the Alps at that time, we decided to start the tour in Italy, in Florence to be precise. This year we were: Alex, Ralf, André, Basti, Salve, Luigi, Haasi and me. After a quick breakfast and an unfortunately somewhat too short tour of the city, we set off in the direction of Siena. However, a fault thwarted our schedule and we unfortunately had to leave Florence far too quickly to arrive in Siena on time.
In the evening, the "Hotwheels Scooter Club" was waiting for us for a barbecue. Our friend Gegio was already waiting outside our accommodation in Siena. He had invited us to Siena and drove us to the Hotwheels clubhouse. There we were surprised by a long table set for a traditional Tuscan barbecue. The Hotwheels' hospitality was just as outstanding as the food. Around 50 club members and guests attended. There was a huge Grill on a terrace, from which thick, dense clouds of smoke rose. There was Amatriciana, steaks and, of course, wine. As difficult as it is to cook for such a large number of guests, the food was exceptionally good. Kudos to the chef and grill master! Many thanks to our hosts, our first evening came to an end with a good atmosphere and pleasant conversations.
On the ferry to Elba by Vespa
A tour through Tuscany and sightseeing in Siena were on the programme for the second day. Unfortunately, it rained non-stop all day. At least it was a good opportunity to take our time to repair the little things on the scooters and weld Luigi's cracked Exhaust without missing anything. Even if nothing came of our programme that day, there is one thing you can always rely on in Italy: good food and drink. With Gegio as our sherpa, Siena at least showed its best side here.
Thursday was reserved for the journey to Elba. Around two hours' drive through Tuscany to the ferry harbour in Piombino. Unfortunately, the weather was still not what you would expect for a holiday in Italy. So we boarded the ferry as quickly as possible to reach the main island of the Tuscan archipelago. While we were still at sea, the sky opened up and we were able to roll across the island in the afternoon sun to the Green Onions Scooter Rally.
Friday 3 May and Saturday 4 May were the days on which the long-missed scooter rally finally took place again. Thirteen years had passed since the last "Scooter Rally Toscano" on the Isola d'Elba. The event organised by the Green Onions from Siena had been very popular and always very international. The number of visitors quickly showed just how much this event was missed. It felt like the whole island was made up of classic scooters, with Vespa and Lambretta in almost equal measure. We used Friday for an extensive tour of the island. It's not very high, but there are lots of smaller mountains with hairpin bends, fantastic coastal roads and wonderful viewpoints. We stopped for lunch at a cosy beach bar in a picturesque Book. At last, Italy was just as we had missed it all winter.
Travelling through vineyards and hilly landscapes on a Vespa
Saturday was a busy day at the Beach Bar, where the meeting took place. Dealer mile, custom show, DJs and, of course, a short ride across the eastern part of the island including an aperitif. Visitors came to the island from over ten different countries. The international flair alone was worth the trip. In the evening there were concerts and niter at its best. (Here is a report about the meeting on Elba.)
On Sunday we travelled back to Florence. After the eventful days and, above all, short nights, with a pinch of hangover mood. On the return journey, however, we were able to drive through the picture-book landscapes of Tuscany in the sunshine. Past vineyards, rolling hills and towns such as Volterra and San Gimignano. The longest and most beautiful stage of our journey. Our destination was an agriturismo in the hills outside Florence. Our 2024 tour ended there with a final dinner together. Unfortunately, the weather didn't always play along this year as we had hoped and planned. But the experiences, landscapes, the event on Elba and the new acquaintances were once again worth every kilometre.
Video: Vespa Road Trip Tuscany Elba 2024
Picture gallery: Vespa Road Trip Tuscany Elba 2024
