Tuscany on Foot
Programme Overview
Duration: 8 days
A great way to experience the true Tuscany is to go off the beaten path guided through the countryside on foot. These family-friendly walking/gentle hiking ideas can be completed in one tour or alternatively clients can take their pick and we can build an itinerary to suit them – maybe mixing it with sightseeing or other family activities.
Highlights: San Donat, Monsanto, Greve, Montefioralle, Castel Petraia, Monteriggioni, Volterra, Balze, Pienza, Lajatico Region, Vinci, Montalbano, Montecatini, Massa, Cozzile
The Chianti Black Rooster Route: San Donato to Monsanto with Chianti Tasting
A leisurely walk through the heart of the Chianti Classico producing vineyards, south of Florence. Chianti Classico is type of wine easily identified by the black rooster on the bottle. Your walk beings at San Donato and end Monsanto both famous for their Sangiovese rich wines. After working up an appetite, a welcome snack awaits in a farmhouse with an abundant reward including tasting of three wines (Vernaccia, Chianti Classico, Chianti Reserve) with a selection of local sheep cheese, sorbet and coffee.
Walking level - easy
Overnight: Please contact us for options
The Chianti Classico Route: Greve to Montefioralle to Badia a Passignano
The walk begins at the lively market town of Greve-in-Chianti before an uphill walk to the delightful village of Montefioralle, an important stronghold during the wars between Florence and Siena and birthplace of Amerigo Vespucci. The walk continues past vineyards and stunning Tuscan vistas to Badia di Passignano, a medieval hamlet and abbey founded in 395 A.C by the Archbishop of Florence. Monks of the Vallombrosian Order still live in the abbey and are the keepers of its cultural and historical treasures. Here its possible to celebrate your accomplishment with wine tastings at the winery of the noble Antinori Family.
Walking level - easy
Overnight: Please contact us for options
Castel Petraia to Monteriggioni along the Via Francigena
The starting point of the walk is Villa Petraia, a former castle which was transformed into a beautiful villa by the Medici family in the 14th century. Walk along the ancient via Francigena, a pilgrimmage route that stretched from England through France leading Pilgrims to Rome. Your destination today is not so far, stopping at Badia a Isola for a rest and to see the 1000 year old Abbey. Onwards from here walk to the village of Monteriggioni, famous throughout Tuscany because its vast defensive walls are all still intact and is mentioned in Dante’s “Divine Comedy”.
Walking level - easy
Overnight: Please contact us for options
Volterra to the Balze and Lunch on a Shepherd’s Farm
Before the walk begins, your nature guide will be pleased to show you the town of Volterra, which dates from Neolitic times however evidence of Etruscan and Roman times are still visible today. It is also famous for its white sculpture workshops which work with white alabaster. More recently as a location in the “Twilight” novels (although it was not filmed here). Your walk brings you through one of Tuscany’s most unusual geological phenomenon, the Balze. The Balze is a deep, eroded limestone ravine whose continued growth has claimed several churches and villages since the Middle Ages as the buildings tumbled into its deep gullies. Today it is an ancient monastery which looks towards the edge! Your walk ends at a rustic sheep farm where you will have the opportunity to try local organic specialities such as caprese, ricotta cheese with honey, salumi and a welcome glass of Sangiovese wine. You can also see the processes of making cheese with sheeps milk and (if you wish) meet the flock!
Walking level - easy
Overnight: Please contact us for options
Pienza
A simple walk admiring the picture-postcard views of the Southern Tuscany region of the Val d’Orcia. The majority of the walk is along a white (gravel) road through a long avenue of cypress trees until you arrive at Pienza. Pienza itself is a UNESCO listed town, often referred to as a utopia of Renaissance planning. The concepts were first put into practice after Pope Pius II decided, in 1459, to transform the look of his birthplace and gave it its name Pienza ("Pio's Town"). Pienza offers a variety of beautiful spots for lunch and shopping for local craftwares.
Walking level - easy
Overnight: Please contact us for options
The Lajatico Region, and Andrea Bocelli’s Winery
Walk in the Western part of Tuscany, close to Pisa , in the Lajatico Region. Your walk takes you through gentle Tuscan hills and cypress lined byways until you arrive at the Theater of Silence. The Theatre is a natural theatre with a lake at its center framed in the hills of Lajatico where Andrea Bocelli, its honorary president, performs at the theatre in July of every year. The rest of the year it remains silent. You walk takes you onwards, past an old windmill to Bocelli’s winery – the family vineyard of the great singer where you will have the opportunity to try Chianti Boccelli in the cantine.
Walking level - easy
Overnight: Please contact us for options
Leonardo’s Vinci and Montalbano with Farmhouse Lunch
The great renaissance artist, scientist and genius Leonardo da Vinci, came from the town of Vinci which is close to Florence. The walk begins in Vinci at Leonardo’s Museum, housed in the imposing Castello Guidi, the museum plays host to a collection of the Leonardo's designs, and models of his various machines. From Vinci it is an uphill and downhill hike past the vineyards to Montalbano. The landscape is dominated by hills with grapevine cultivation occurring in the plains or on terraced fields, olive trees spreading over the higher areas with chestnut trees at the summit. Your walk ends at a farmhouse where a typical Tuscan lunch of local produce awaits.
Walking level - moderate
Overnight: Please contact us for options
Montecatini and the Medieval Villages of Massa and Cozzile with Picnic Lunch
A circular walk starting and ending in the natural spa town of Montecatini Terme brings you into the region known as Valdinievole in the province of Pistoia. Your walk brings you to the genuine medieval villages of Massa and Cozzile, where your driver will be waiting with a sumptuous picnic lunch, followed by gelato from one of the very best artisans in the area. On the walk back to Montecatini, weary legs can let the funicular take the strain back to the art nouveau town and avail themselves of one of the many natural spas.
Walking level – easy /moderate
Description of Walk Ratings:
1) Easy: Suitable for most people with a basic level of fitness and in good health. The walk involves mostly light ascent and descent.
2) Moderate: Suitable for hill walkers with a reasonable fitness level. The walk may involve more ascent than descent
Your Walk Leader:
Your walk leader is experienced in the routes on offer and will be a fully qualified nature and hiking guide of the Tuscany Region. Your guide will know many off the beaten path stops and can give full commentary on the history, geography and nature of the areas you walk through. Your safety is always his/her main concern – they will be qualified to administer primary First Aid and will carry a First Aid kit.
Guided walks available in English, French, German and Portuguese
Practicalities:
Walking times and pace are flexible and according to clients’ desires and abilities.
Guests may walk on different types of terrain, even or uneven, gravel or dirt roads, country roads or paths, it is suggested for clients to bring adequate walking/hiking shoes with ankle support as well as clothing fit for the weather, to make the hike as comfortable and as safe as possible.
Guests will be transported from their hotel to the start point of the walk. It can be arranged for the vehicle to meet guests at strategic points along the way to offer a resting place, refreshments or change of course to another location.
Bottled water will be provided.