OVERVIEW
Discover an enchanting area, combining the pleasure of walking fascinating paths with the classic pleasures of Tuscany: beautiful landscapes, sunshine, food and wine. Explore timeless countryside along perfumed olive groves, fields of brilliant sunflowers and pastel colored farmhouses framed by rows of cypress trees.
Our Tuscany journey begins in the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence and continues through the famous Chianti wine region, exploring the San Gimignano countryside and the celebrated Val D’Orcia.
We base our Tuscan adventure in a classic Tuscan farmhouse where we experience the essence of all that is Tuscany: open and undulating hills, medieval towers, sunflowers, endless vineyards, unforgettable Renaissance art, mouth-watering local cuisine, world famous wines and captivating hamlets such as the Etruscan jewel of Volterra & the unknown Colle Val d’ Elsa.
- ACTIVITY: Privately guided walking tour
- NAME: Enchanting Tuscany
- TRIP CODE: ICET
- DURATION: 8 days/7 nights
- GRADE: Easy to moderate
- 2023 PRICES: Starting from Euro 2300.00 – TBC
GALLERY
ITINERARY
Arrival on your own in Florence.
Our Hotel*** is centrally located and it is a wonderful base for exploring, at your own pace, the capital of the Renaissance, world known for its important cultural, architectural and artistic heritage.
At 6:00 p.m. we meet our tour leader in the hotel for a welcome meeting and a planning session for our adventure. Later in the evening we invite you to enjoy our welcome group dinner at a local restaurant in Florence. Overnight: Hotel*** in Florence
Meal: dinner
Walking – easy 3 hours.After breakfast, we depart the city of Florence for the tranquillity of the Tuscan countryside. We travel to the heart of the renowned Chianti wine area, taking a lovely walk through a superb setting of vineyards, past stone farmhouses and olive groves. On the way we stop in the medieval Greve in Chianti and enjoy a great walk to the most ancient hamlet in Chianti: the village of Montefioralle. Our dinner tonight features delicious local produce and traditional Tuscan dishes made by the chef of our farmhouse.
Overnight: Agriturismo in San Gimignano Countryside
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Walking – easy to moderate 4,5 hours.Today we enjoy a circular divine walk to San Gimignano “of the fine towers”, one of the most attractive Tuscan medieval hill towns, (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). We stroll along its attractive streets lined with ancient palaces to admire the splendour of the stunning sight of the remaining 14 of the original 76 towers standing tall on the skyline. After a lunch break in a typical Italian café we leave this remarkable place and take a walk to our agriturismo following a section of the “Via Francigena”, the ancient pilgrim road, through vineyards and past stone farmhouses.
Overnight: Agriturismo in San Gimignano Countryside
Meal: breakfast and dinner
Walking – easy 4 hours.Today we discover the attractive Volterra: a vibrant town constructed on the highest hill, whose history goes back at least 3000 years, spans Etruscan, Roman and Medieval periods. Wondering around the town it is possible to admire the workshops of the Alabaster artisans. We visit a local workshop where we can see the hands of a craftsman create delicate and exclusive masterpieces, bringing to life the alabaster, a soft and fragile stone. There is plenty of time to explore at your leisure this magical place, with the option to visit the fascinating Etruscan Museum where 3,000 year old funerary urns, ceramics, and filigree gold jewels bear witness to the remarkable sophistication of the Etruscan civilization. We then walk through the countryside of Volterra and enjoy the magnetism of the city before taking our bus back to our country house.
Overnight: Agriturismo in San Gimignano Countryside
Meal: breakfast and dinner
Walking – easy to moderate 4 hours.After breakfast we start our walking day directly from our farmhouse to the mediaeval village of Colle Val d’Elsa, a delightful walled town and home to Italy’s finest crystal makers. We have time to explore the historical centre and the most characteristic corners of town before coming back by private transfer to the farmhouse in the countryside of San Gimignano.
Overnight: Agriturismo in San Gimignano Countryside
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Today we reach by private transfer Siena, one of Italy’s most enchanting cities with its famous square “Piazza del Campo”, the Duomo, a great mixture of Gothic and Romanesque architecture and its medieval treasures. We explore the delightful medieval city and, in the afternoon we continue by private bus to the small village of Monteriggioni before reaching our agriturismo.Overnight: Agriturismo in San Gimignano Countryside
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Walking – easy 3 hours.This morning we are transferred by bus to the World Heritage Site of the Val D’Orcia: an outstanding expression of the way the landscape was re-written in Renaissance times to reflect the ideals of good governance and to create an aesthetically pleasing images. We take time to enjoy a short sightseeing walking tour in the simply spellbinding village of Pienza. From the village of San Quirico d’Orcia, one of the most important stops on the “Via Francigena” we start our relaxing walk along a gentle country backroad, visiting a small vineyard where we have the opportunity of a wine tasting. Our walk takes us to the unique Spa town of Bagno Vignoni: here the main square is a scenic ornamental pool built by the Medici Family. We can enjoy a refreshing bath in the many Etruscan water channels that surround the old watermills just outside of the centre before taking our way back to the agriturismo. Here the quiet garden beckons us for a relax time prior to dinner at our farmhouse.
Overnight: Agriturismo in San Gimignano Countryside
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Our trip ends after breakfast with a group transfer to Florence where you can easily catch trains for the rest of Italy.Meals: breakfast