Everyone knows that Tuscan cities such as Florence, Siena and Pisa, together with smaller towns like Lucca, Cortona and Arezzo, contain some of Italy's most famous artistic treasures. Here, a beautiful landscape combined with great food, excellent wine, and an appreciation of the outdoor life provides a truly memorable horseback riding vacation.
This ride takes you through one of the most horsey areas of Tuscany, the area around Siena. As if to prove its equestrian heritage, each year Siena hosts the Palio. The Palio features bareback horse races first recorded in 1283 but the race may have its origins in Roman military training. Thousands crowd into the piazza to watch the race, and rivalry between competitors is intense. The winner is rewarded with a silk banner.
Although our trail ride does not feature racing, it is equally impressive. You will be based at Il Poggio Equestrian Center not far from Siena. Each day you will venture out into the countryside in a different direction. Each night you will return to the comforts of Il Poggio, a true Tuscan dinner and your room with private bath.
The rides out take you over rolling hills, past vineyards and farms, through meadows, forests and small villages and across rivers. From Monte Cetona you can see the Tuscan countryside as you ride through the area abundant with chestnut trees and the world famous mushrooms. You will ride along the Via Cassia. This road was used by pilgrims on their way to Rome from France during the Middle Ages. You will also pass through one of the favorite ambush spots used by an Italian version of Robin Hood.
This horseback vacation also includes a day to explore Siena on foot. This is an opportunity to stretch legs and visit the many shops, restaurants and cafes of this beautiful medieval city. You may also want to visit Siena's Duomo, one of Italy's greatest cathedrals, which features sculptural masterpieces by Nicola Pisano, Donatello and Michelangelo.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive on Sunday and settle into your accommodations at Il Poggio Equestrian Center. You will have some time before dinner to relax, meet the owner Enrica Bartolino and your guide and enjoy a complimentary aperitif. This evening you will have the opportunity to sample the first of your delicious meals at Il Poggio and meet the other riders.
Day 2: Your ride today will take you in a southwest direction and carry you through some of the most scenic hillside landscapes of cultivated fields and clay hills. During the course of your ride in this area, you will be exposed to the perennial erosive actions of the atmospheric agents that have created the startling and extraordinary slopes and ridges known as "calanchi". You will travel the famous Via Francigena, the road of the ancient Etruscans and Romans with its quite, distinctive geography. The road brings you through the open rolling hills that are planted with golden wheat, the gray balze and some of the most famous monasteries and great abbeys located in the area. This is an excellent way to see what Tuscany is really like.
Day 3: On this day you will head off in the northeast direction from Il Poggio and ride to the Mount Cetona area. This area is one of the most important pre-historic settlings of central Italy. The ride travels across the eastern slopes of Monte Cetona, an area where mushrooms and chestnuts are delicious and plentiful. Since the Paleolithic era (50,000 years ago) many of its natural caves were occupied by humans. The area is so full of animals such as buzzards, green woodpeckers, nocturnal birds of prey, deer, roe and many others. Amongst all this nature you will stop for a picnic lunch. The afternoon ride will continue past farmhouses and through quaint villages. From the Assolate River bed, the final stretch of today's ride, you will climb back to the Il Poggio stables.
Day 4: Today is your Free Day. You have an option to visit two different places by Self Guided Tour. You may opt to go to Siena or visit Val D'Orcia where the landscape varies, and the many villages, castles, parish churches and abbeys, works of art and traditions can be experienced first hand. This is truly a memorable experience and a fabulous way to get personally familiar with how a local town functions and thrives. It is suggested you visit Montepulciano (the town is encircled by walls and fortifications designed by Antonio da Sangallo, the Elder in 1511 for Cosimo I), Pienza (a Tuscan town where renaissance town planning concepts were first put into practice after Pope Pius II decided, in 1459, to change his town), and Montalcino (whose surrounding countryside is now dedicated to the production of wine that is acclaimed throughout the world for the Brunello wine, the younger Rosso di Montalcino D.O.C.).
Day 5: Today you will ride to the Castle of Radicofani, built in the 9th century. The castle is located in a strategic position, dominating the Francigena route. In the middle ages, it was occupied by the "gentleman bandit", Ghino di Tacco, a Robin Hood of sorts that was mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy and by Boccaccio in the Decamerone. Being 896 meters high, it dominates the whole territory set between the Mount Cetona, the Orcia Valley and Mount Amiata. During the war between Siena and Florence, it was Cosimo I Medici who wanted it for a defensive fortress. Since 1735 it was neglected but the recent restoration has restored the ancient splendor of the past.
Day 6: Your itinerary today takes you eastward to the area of "crete senesi", the Rigo Valley and around the San Casciano Bagni with its 46 thermal water sources that encircle it and have rendered it famous from the time of the ancient Romans. Along the way you will find a few secluded farmhouses, some of them restored, some not. Among these there are Banditelle and Manella that are included in our estate.
Day 7: Time to say ciao and head onward to your next destination or home.
2008 Dates: March 30-April 6, May 4-10, May 25-31, June 15-21, June 22-28, September 21-27, October 5-11.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
$2,760 per person, shared; $440 single supplement.
Price Includes:
- 6 nights hotel accommodation
- All meals except lunch on excursion day
- 4 days of guided trail riding
- Horse
- Tack
- Guide
- Transfers to/from train station at preset time and tax.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Italy
Horse Riding
Hiking & Trekking
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