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Itinerary:
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Day 1:
Arrive Volterra..
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Day 2:
By road to Pignano, walk back to Volterra. One option for today, involving
about four hours walking, is a short bus or taxi ride (1 Euro approx by
bus, not included in tour price) to near the hamlet of Pignano, from where
it is an easy walk back to Volterra, mostly along white roads which follow
a broad winding and panoramic ridge. Halfway through the walk there is
normally the opportunity to stop for a welcome drink at a retreat centre,
from where you can contemplate exploring the steep and somewhat overgrown
Monte Voltraio- a mysterious attraction on account of its peculiar
truncated cone shape. A paleontologist’s dream as the ground appears to
be scattered with fossils. On a hot day the less adventurous will be more
inclined to continue on to Volterra. Overnight Volterra.
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Day 3:
Pignano to San Gimignano. About 4 hours’ walking (8 miles/12km). The
hotel arranges for a taxi to take you to the starting point of the walk at
Bivio di Castelvecchio (taxi
fare included in price of holiday). Alternatively you can be dropped off
by the taxi at yesterday's starting point, Pignano, from where it is about
30 minutes' pleasant walking to Bivio di Castelvecchio. This extra half
hour would enable you to cover the whole distance between Volterra and San
Gimignano on foot in the course of days 2 and 3. You walk between
vineyards and through oak woods with wild cyclamen in flower in autumn and
fine views of the old ruined fortifications of Castelvecchio. You continue
to the pretty village of San Donato and the small hamlet of Montauto with
fine views of San Gimignano, before continuing by farm track and / or road
to San Gimignano, known as the town of the beautiful towers that has
dominated the hills south of the Elsa Valley since Etruscan times. There
is much to explore in this small town, in particular the narrow streets
and squares of the medieval quarter. Overnight in San Gimignano.
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Day 4:
San Gimignano to Colle Val d'Elsa. 3.5 hours walking (10 miles/16km). You
follow a white road along a broad panoramic ridge with fine views back to
the towers of San Gimignano. On either side are vineyards (source of the
local dry white Vernaccia), olive groves and cypress avenues. Later we
climb up through shady woods to the small village of Montecchio and across
level fields to Borgatello, and on into Colle Val d’Elsa, where the
fascinating old town occupies the crest of a ridge high above the valley
of the Elsa. Overnight Colle Val d’Elsa.
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Day 5:
Colle Val d'Elsa to Monteriggioni. 6 hours' walk (12 miles / 20km).
After walking out of Colle through the suburbs, and then through
attractive undulating woodland following at one point a beautiful clear
stream; you cross a broad and mostly treeless agricultural plain, with
farming hamlets such as Scarna and Acquaviva. As you approach the base of
the densely wooded Montagnola Hills you reach the attractive village of
Strove, with the nearby manor house of Castel Petraia. At the village of
Abbadia an Isola you should stop to see the abbey church. Eventually you
arrive at the base of the little hill, clad with vineyards, on which is
built the mediaeval walled village of Monteriggioni with its famous
watchtowers. Overnight either
within the walled village Monteriggioni or,
if the very limited accommodation in the village itself is fully
booked, at an agriturismo (farm guesthouse) 2km away along a white road.
In the latter case we provide full directions on how to reach the
agriturismo.
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Day 6:
Monteriggioni to S. Columba. 4 hours' walk (8miles 12.8 km).
From Monteriggioni we walk uphill past farmland through forests and
descend through woods to the small village of Funghaia. We continue on
small peaceful farm and forest tracks through farms to the village of San
Colomba. A magnificent rennaisance villa and a church with lovely frescoes
are situated here. From here we can take a taxi or bus into Siena (not
included in the tour price). After setting in to the hotel you will find
all the famous places of this city within walking distance, with the
Palazza il Campo being the famous centre of this mediaeval city. There are
many museums, churches, and the huge Pisa Romanesque and Gothic cathedral.
You can easily get lost in the warren of streets, all arranged into areas
called "Contrada," as they have done for hundreds of years and
from where the Sienese population gain their group loyalties and
rivalries. Overnight Siena.
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Day 7:
Starts with a taxi ride to the village of San Sano (included in
tour price). From here we walk on white roads, farm and woodland tracks
across undulating hills, covered with a patchwork of oak woodland, olive
groves and 'Chianti Classico' vineyards to the hill-top town of Radda-in-Chianti
(13km/4.5hrs walking). Overnight Radda-in-Chianti.
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Day 8: A
circular walk of about 12km/4hours from Radda-in-Chianti to Gaiole-in-Chianti
and back, taking in the attractive villages of Vertine and Selvole. You
may be tempted en route by the plentiful, luscious vineyards and succumb
to the delicious local Chianti, for which the region is famous. Overnight
Radda-in-Chianti.
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Day 9: Today
there is a choice of 3 routes of differing lengths, all finishing at the
delightful hill town of Panzano. Starting in each case at our
accommodation in Radda the longest of the three routes goes through the
fascinating borgo (fortified
village) of Volpaia and across the heathland and pine forest of Monte San
Michele, the highest hill in the Chianti region, before a long descent
past several delightful hamlets to the valley town of Greve-in-Chianti,
from where you can either walk or catch a bus to the well-known
hill-village of Panzano-in-Chianti, with its inspiring church and castle.
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The shortest route takes a direct line past the pieve
(isolated church and sanctuary) of S. Maria Novella and the vineyards
of Castelvecchio to Panzano. From Panzano it is only a short bus ride or
1.5-hour walk to Greve-in-Chianti, another centre of winemaking and the
birthplace of Giovanni di Verrazzano who first circumnavigated Long
Island, New York.
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The
intermediate route includes both Volpaia and Panzano, between which you
cross some high ground with fine views on the flank of Monte San Michele.
Overnight Panzano.
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Day 10: Bus from
Panzano to Florence; about 2 hours' journey (fare not included). You will
need to take your luggage on the bus with you. The rest of the day is free
for you to explore this beautiful city at your leisure. Or you can do a
walking excursion from Fiesole to Settignano (6-7 km, 2 hours). This is a
panoramic walk through olive tree fields overlooking Florence and some of
the most beautiful villas surrounding the city. Fiesole alone is worth
visiting as it is an important archaeological site and has a Franciscan
monastery. Overnight Florence.
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Day 11: Train
from Florence to Pisa (approx 1 hour) for your flight home [approx 2
hours]. You can check in for your flight at the train station in Florence
before catching the train to Pisa.
Accommodation:
Accommodation on the tour of Tuscany is
in a series of beautiful medieval towns and villages. Many of the
hostelries reflect the charm and character of these ancient communities.
At Volterra the 3* 17th century villa is superbly located beneath
the medieval walls enjoying magnificent views of the surrounding
countryside and also boasts a swimming pool. Your 3* hotel in San
Gimignano has an enviable location at the very heart of the town and
dates back to the 14th century. The entrance is from a delightful medieval
piazza whilst from the other side of the hotel there are splendid views
over the countryside. The hotel also featured in the film ‘Tea with
Mussolini’. In Colle Val d’Elsa your 3* hotel can trace its
origins back to the 15th century and sits above a pretty little Piazza. In
Monteriggioni you stay in a peaceful guesthouse room within the
circular walls of the village once described in Dante’s ‘Inferno’.
Your 3* hotel in Siena affords a convenient and comfortable base
from which to explore the many treasures of this historic town.
10
nights/11 days - The 11 day tour will continue to Radda in Chianti,
where we spend two nights in a welcoming guesthouse. At Panzano you
will stay in 2 or 3* accommodation in the centre of the medieval town. In Florence
your 2* hotel will be centrally located and convenient for the historic
centre and the station.
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