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Tuscany Hike: The Southern Tuscan Trail
offered by supplier M09945 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 8
day(s)
Group Size: 4
- 12
people
Destination(s):
Italy
Specialty Categories:
Hiking & Trekking
Season: April - November
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 2600 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 3000 US Dollar (USD)
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Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Tuscany, the landscape looks its very best and the weather is usually perfect. In May/June the rolling hills are bright green, splashed with the vibrant red of thousands of poppies. In September the hills are transformed into a patchwork of red, gold and russets and the countryside comes alive as the grapes are harvested. You walk through this magical landscape of olive groves, vineyards and ancient oak trees to tiny medieval villages, where time seems to have stood still. Our route follows via Francigena, an ancient Roman road, along which pilgrims wended their way in the Middle Ages. Our walk takes us through the Val d'Orcia, a series of rolling green hills covered by vineyards, wheat fields and olive groves.
Our adventure starts in the sleepy little village of Buonconvento from where we walk to Montalcino, where we will spend the first three nights. It was founded in the 10th century, although there is evidence that the area has been settled at least since Etruscan times. Due to its strategic position on via Francigena, it was involved in the almost continual conflict between Siena and Florence. These days Montalcino is a tranquil little place, whose main industry is winemaking.
During our stay we will have the opportunity to taste the famous red wine, Brunello di Montalcino. This hill-top town is an ideal base from which to explore the surrounding countryside and visit the Romanesque abbey of Sant' Antimo We continue onto the delightfully unspoiled village of San Quirico and the tiny spa town of Bagno Vignoni, where people have been coming to take the waters since Roman times. We spend the last 2 nights in the perfectly preserved Renaissance village of Pienza.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Buonconvento early afternoon. Our walking trail starts in the centre of Buonconvento from where we pick up the route to Montalcino. The trail leaves the valley and heads up into the hills to Montalcino. This Medieval fortress town was founded in the 10th century and became famous as the last Sienese stronghold in the battle against the Florentines. These days it is more famous for its renowned red wine, Brunello di Montalcino.
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Day 2: Our route takes us through vineyards and oak woods to the isolated abbey of Sant' Antimo, one of the real treasures of Southern Tuscany. This Romanesque abbey, founded in the 8th century by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, is set in a picturesque valley surrounded by olive groves. The abbey is tended by Benedictine monks who conduct mass in Gregorian chants during the summer. It provides the perfect setting for a picnic lunch, in the shade of its creamy travertine walls. On our return to Montalcino there is time to explore the town, browse in one of the numerous ceramic shops, or try just one more glass of Brunello in one of the towns many enoteca.
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Day 3: This morning we transfer by minibus to the small village of Chiusure, where we start our walk. This morning our trail takes us through the heart of the crete senese, a spectacular landscape of eroded hills unique to Southern Tuscany. The approach to the 13th century abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is through thick cypresses with dramatic views all around. Lunch is a special occasion; a cooking demonstration with Liscia who will show you how to make such local specialties such as bruschetta and Tuscan bread salad panzanella. After lunch we take a guided visit to the church and Cloister, whose walls are covered by the great fresco cycle depicting the life St. Benedict. From here we transfer back by minibus to Montalcino.
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Day 4: Our journey continues southward through open countryside, along the route of the via Francigena into the heart of the Val d'Orcia. This is a landscape of rolling clay hills dotted with farm houses, often abandoned, and dramatic stands of cypress pine. Our trail takes us to San Quirico, a prosperous agricultural town which has a fine Romanesque collegiate church (12th century) and the Horti Leonini, 16th century formal gardens. In the early afternoon we visit a local vineyard for a light lunch of local specialties accompanied by wine produced on the estate.
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Day 5: After breakfast our walk takes us to Bagno Vignoni, as we walk the towers of Rocca d'Orcia and Ripa d'Orcia will come into view ahead. After a long descent we arrive at Bagno Vignoni, a picturesque spa town with a huge steaming bath instead of a central piazza. The Etruscans, Romans and local venerable such as Saint Catherine came here to take the waters, supposedly good for arthritis and rheumatism. These days you are not allowed to bathe in the main pool, although there is a centre where you can have a curative bath or a mud treatment.
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Day 6: Leaving San Quirico we take a leisurely walk through the fields to Pienza. This is a peaceful walk along farm tracks, through fields of and corn the hill tops dotted with abandoned farm houses. Along the way we will pass the 11th century Pieve di Corsignano, the original parish church with beautifully decorated portals. Pienza was built by Pope Pius II, Pienza's native son, who decided to transform his birthplace, Corsignano into the first planned city in Italy. While in Pienza take time to visit the splendid Renaissance cathedral and the Palazzo Piccolomini. Pienza's other claim to fame is as the major producer of pecorino; a traditional and renowned cheese made from sheep’s milk.
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Day 7: The journey today is one of the most scenic of the week, as we travel along small gravel roads to Montepulciano, via a small, walled village which played an important strategic role in the battles between Siena and Florence in the 16th century. The Renaissance town of Montepulciano is perched on a volcanic ridge, and 605 meters is one of the highest hilltop towns. Just outside the old town is the church of San Biagio, the masterpiece of Sangallo the Elder, one of the more important artists of the Renaissance.
In an arcadian setting this travertine church was built in the shape of a Greek cross, it’s also a perfect spot for a picnic lunch. The town is famous for its Renaissance architecture and for its red wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which rivals that of Montalcino. We will have a chance to taste the local product before heading back to Pienza.
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Day 8: Departure for Siena.
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Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
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Italy
Hiking & Trekking
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