ITALY’S TUSCANY WALK
A bus driver who had traveled around Tuscany for decades put it perfectly; not only is Tuscany at the heart of Italy, it is the heart of Italy. Combine great food, a pleasant climate, wonderful people, an area rich in history dating back almost three thousand years, a landscape that begs to be photographed and painted, some of the most important art treasures in the world with a terrific guide and you get the Tuscany walk. With distances between seven and eight miles a day, this walk allows plenty of time to enjoy all of the pleasures of Italy.
You will visit the area southeast of Siena. Here the wooded hills of the Chianti region give way to the rolling hills of open fields disturbed only by that quintessentially Tuscan icon, the cypress tree. This is a beautiful and relaxed countryside.
You will have an opportunity to walk through the countryside and through pretty villages as well as walk up the 1,200 foot hill to San Quirico d’Orcia and ancient village that is well .vorth the effort. The village itself is a delight and the panoramas are amazing.
You will have an opportunity to visit and walk through the vineyard of Brunello wines. This is considered to be one of Italy’s best wines and a visit there will undoubtedly lead to a tasting in the relaxing atmosphere.
You will also walk to Pienza. This village was planned and built by architect Bernardo Rossellino in 1449. The work was commissioned by Pope Pius II. The Pope was born in a backward little town and is said to have always had an inferiority complex about his rural upbringing. To compensate, the Pope commissioned the building of an ideal town founded on Renaissance principles. Walk into the piazza and turn around slowly and completely. Everything you see was built between 1459 and 1462. Unfortunately, the Pope did not have much time to enjoy his creation, as he died a few years following its completion.
Your accommodations will be in a lovely guesthouse with private bathrooms.
DETAILS
Include 7 nights guesthouse accommodation, breakfast and dinner daily lunch on walking days, 5 guided walking days, wine tasting, transfers to/from Chiusi train station at pre-set time, tax.
DIFFICULTY OF WALK
Varying terrain over hills and footpaths.
Day 1
Clients will be collected from Chiusi train station at preset time and driven to II Poggio. You will have time to relax before meeting your guide and enjoying a complimentary aperitif. In the evening you will sample the first of your delicious meals at It Poggio and you will dine with your guide, who will tell you more about the week and answer any questions you may have about the itinerary.
Day 2
Circular walk from II Poggio to San Casciano Bagni and back. Bring your bathing suit and a towel. You will leave directly from It Poggio and walk through a hilly landscape of cultivated fields to the spa village of San Casciano dei Bagni. There will be time to take a dip in a hot water spring, visit this delightful medieval village and lunch will be at a restaurant in the square. After lunch you take a shorter route back to 11 Poggio and there will be time to visit the village of Celle sul Rigo. Distance: approx. 8 miles. Altitude: approx. 1900 feet. Degree of difficulty: Moderate. Shade: scarce.
Day 3
Circular walk from Rocca d’Orcia. Today you will drive with your guide to Rocca d’Orcia with its imposing fortress, Rocca di Tentennano, which was recently made a symbol of peace by UNESCO and can be seen on Andrea Bocelli’s recent video. The group will walk from here taking a circular route through hilly woodlands and enjoy the breathtaking landscape of the Val d’Orcia and Monte Amiata, as well as a brief visit to Rocca d’Orcia and nearby Castiglione d’Orcia, birthplace to the 15th century artist II Vecchietta. There will be a picnic lunch. Distance: approx. 10 miles. Altitude: approx. 1700 feet. Degree of difficulty: moderate. Shade: good.
Day 4
Pienza—San Quirico d’Orcia. You will be transferred to Pienza, birthplace in 1405 of Aeneas Silvius Piccolomini later to become Pope Pius II. You will have time to wander the narrow alleys. The walk will take you through the rolling wheat fields below Pienza and you will have lunch at an ancient farmhouse once owned by the Sienese hospital of Santa Maria delta Scala. After lunch a short walk to the medieval walled town of San Quirico d’Orcia, where there will be time to visit the 12th century Collegiate church and the Italian Renaissance garden Horti Leonini, created by Diomede Leom in around 1580. You will then be transferred back to Il Poggio for dinner. Distance: approx 5 miles. Altitude: approx. 1600 feet. Degree of difficulty: easy. Shade: scarce.
Day 5
Free day. Relax or take provided transport for a day trip to the Gothic city of Siena.
Day 6
Circular walk from 11 Poggio to Radicofani and back. Today’s walk will take you directly from 1l Poggio through the surrounding countryside to the charming medieval village of Radicofani, with views over the surrounding area as far as Siena, Lake Trasimeno and Lake Bolsena. You can saunter through the narrow streets and visit La Poste, built by the Grand-duke Ferdinando I of the Medici family as a hunting lodge, and which later became an inn giving lodging to such illustrious characters as Dickens and the Marquis de Sade. The Romanesque church of San Pietro houses works by the Della Robbie Workshop and there will a light lunch at the imposing fortress. Distance: approx. 12 miles. -Altitude: approx. 2806 feet. Degree of difficulty: moderate. Shade scare.
Day 7
Circular Walk from Bagno Vignoni to Ripa d’Orcia, Vignoni alto and back to bagno Vignoni. Here Santa Caterina of Siena and Lorenzo the Magnificent of the Medici family came to enjoy these waters. There will be a picnic lunch and walk along a white gravel road to the almost abandoned village of Vignoni before descending back to bagno Vignoni. Distance: approx 9 miles. Altitude: approz 1300 feet Degree of difficulty moderate. Shade good before lunch scarce after lunch.
Day 8
Day of departure. After breakfast you will be taken to Chiusi train station.
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