TOUR AT A GLANCE – Tuscany Walking Tour – Chianti
Duration: 7 days/6 nights
Departures 2010: May 9 & 13, June 20, Aug 29, Sept 19, Oct 3
Departing from: Florence 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, Day 1
Tour finishes: at Poggibonsi train station, 10 a.m. on Saturday Day 7
Price: $2,799 USD per person based on double occupancy.
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All dates are Guaranteed departures. You can create your own date for a small group.
Come walk the hills and villages of beautiful Tuscany. Discover the mysterious Etruscan civilization of Volterra, see the stunning medieval towers of San Gimignano, explore the labrynth of ancient Colle di Val d’Elsa, and admire Siena’s splendid “Il Campo” piazza, arguably the most beautiful in all Italy. Combine the sensual pleasures of Tuscany’s sublime cuisince, delicous wine, and Mediterranean sunshine with the physical pleasure of an active holiday walking through some of the most beautiful countryside in the world.
Day 1 – Sunday: Meet your guides and the rest of the group at the Hotel Royal in downtown Florence at 12:00 p.m. (You are free to stay wherever you like should you arrive a day early. We are happy to provide you with hotel recommendations or we can book you at teh Hotel Royal.) We then have a private transfer (90 minutes) out of Florence. The van drops us off in the countryside and we begin walking up to Volterra . The walk takes us up through olive groves and vineyards, past stone farmhouses, and eventually to the imposing city walls of Volterra. From the battlements we look down on the Roman theatre and out across the landscape of western Tuscany to the sea. On a clear day you can even see the islands of Elba and Corsica. After checking into our hotel we meet our local guide for a visit of town, whose history spans Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance periods. We visit the fascinating Etruscan Museum, where 3,000 year old funerary urns, ceramics, and filigree gold jewelry bear witness to the extraordinary sophistication of the Etruscan civilization. Before dinner we meet up for an aperitivo to discuss the week’s activities, followed by dinner. The walk: 2 hours, mostly uphill but at a gentle grade. Distance: 7 km (4 miles). Overnight Volterra at La Locanda. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 2 – Monday: We begin our day with a 30-minute van shuttle to the trailhead, then we set off for the hamlet of Ulignano and a picnic lunch. We walk through oak forests and vast wheat fields, past solitary cypress trees and stone farmhouses, before eventually looping back towards Volterra, whose towers and steeples stand out across the valley in the distance. Van shuttle back to the hotel. Free time to further explore Volterra or unwind at a café before dinner. The walk: 2.5 hours to lunch, then another hour in the afternoon over rolling terrain. Distance: about 12 kms (7 miles).
O/N Volterra. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 – Tuesday: We bid farewell to Volterra and transfer by van towards Colle di Val d’Elsa. Our walk takes us past a 15th century hunting lodge to the hamlet of Montauto from where we have wonderful views onto the storybook “city of the towers,” San Gimignano. We walk on an ancient trail called the Via Francigena, where pilgrims and noblemen once travelled north and south through Europe. We have lunch in San Gimignano, then have time to explore before transferring by van to Colle di Val d’Elsa where we stay the next two nights. “Colle,” for short, is a charming walled town and home to Italy’s finest crystal makers. The walk: 3.5 hours to San Gimignano through rolling terrain. Distance about 15 kms (9 miles). O/N Colle di Val d’Elsa. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 – Wednesday: Our loop walk from Colle takes us to a small private winery and a tasting of its Chianti, Vernaccia and Vin Santo wines as well as their olive oil. We have a leisurely lunch at the winery and then have free time in the afternoon to either peruse Colle’s crystal shops or do another walk. The walk: About two and a half hours to the winery with an optional hour and half walk back in the afternoon. Dinner in the village. Distances about 9 km (6 mi) with an optional extra 7 km (4.5 mi). O/N Colle di Val d’Elsa. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 5 – Thursday: Today we take a break from hiking and do a little urban exploring, Medieval style! We transfer by van to beautiful Siena, one of Italy’s most enchanting cities. Conquered by the Medicis in 1585, Siena became a backwater, frozen in time, making it one of Europe’s finest example of a preserved Gothic city. The high concentration of buildings from the 12th-14th centuries makes Siena unique, and the main square, “Il Campo,” is considered by many to be Italy’s most beautiful piazza. The famous bareback “Palio” horse race is held in the square twice a year. Our local guide will explain the mayhem and passion of the race, then take us to visit the Duomo and its medieval treasures. After lunch you can join your guide to explore Siena’s city walls and hidden neighborhoods or venture out on your own to shop or explore the town at your leisure. Reconvene at 16:00 to transfer to our home for the last two nights, the lovely Villa Lecchi. The Villa Lecchi is an 18th century Tuscan villa that has been lovingly restored and transformed into a charming family-run hotel. Magnificent Lebanese cedar trees spread their branches out over the villa’s park, where on a hot summer afternoon the shade is welcome. Enjoy a swim in the pool or soak up the view over the surrounding hills while enjoying a cool glass of prosecco on the terrace. Our dinner tonight features delicious local produce and traditional Tuscan dishes made in the family kitchen. O/N Villa Lecchi. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included
Day 6 – Friday: Enjoy the view this morning from your country villa, then have breakfast in the garden before starting out on our final walk into the famous Chianti Classico vineyards beneath the village of Castellina in Chianti. A quick shuttle takes us to the hilltop fortress of Monteriggioni, so impressive that Dante mentions it in a stanza of his “Inferno.” We then walk through forests and verdant farmland to reach the historical winery of Lilliano for lunch. The afternoon’s walk is a fantasia of vines, olives, and wide views, leading us back home to the Villa Lecchi. The walk: about 2.5 hours to lunch, then another 1.5 hours over rolling terrain; distance about 15 kms (9 mi). O/N Villa Lecchi. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 7 – After breakfast we shuttle everyone to the nearby town of Poggibonsi, which is well connected to Florence and Siena by bus and train (we usually take the 9:46 train, arriving in Florence at 10:50). From there you can easily catch trains for the rest of Italy. Breakfast included.
The walks in Tuscany cover a variety of terrain, from trail to dirt road, with many rolling hills to climb or descend. We have designed the trip so that there is always some free time in the late afternoon so you can relax, read, or enjoy the towns where we stay. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region. Daily distance between 8 and 14 kms.
Useful Links -
The City of Florence : everything you need to know about the city
The Accademia: home of Michelangelo’s David and other world-famous works
The Uffizi Gallery: one of the greatest collections in the world. We recommend you make reservations ahead of time.
The Duomo: one of the wonders of the Renaissance, Florence’s cathedral.
The City of Volterra tourist authority: official site of the city and its activities.
Alabaster in Volterra: information on this ancient craft and the city’s craftsmen.
Crystal in Colle Val d’Elsa: all about the city’s crystal producers — one of the most important centers in Europe.
Siena Tourist Authority: details on the city’s history and events.
Chianti Classico wine consortium: a site devoted to this world-renown wine and its group of producers
UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy: come see the marvels that await you in Italy!
General Information
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Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate to easy. We walk on wooded trails and farm roads over quite hilly terrain. We usually walk between 10-16 kms a day (6-10 miles), or 3-4 hours, divided between morning and afternoon. Trip Cost Includes: All Accommodations (2 nights Volterra, 2 nights Colle di Val d’Elsa, 2 nights Villa Lecchi); 6 breakfasts and 6 dinners; bilingual guide(s); all van transfers and luggage transfers from pick-up in Florence on Day 1 until Saturday Day 7; guided visits as per itinerary. Getting there (this will redirect you to our “Getting to the Trip” page). Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the “Reservation” page). Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend “Travel Guard” to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here. Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.  We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! |
