ITINERARY | HIGHLIGHTS | WEATHER | ACCOMMODATION & ADDITIONAL INFO Italy - Siena to Volterra 2010
TUSCANY: from Siena to Volterra, a self-guided walking holiday
This route is a complement to our long-established 'South to Siena' walk. Including the wonderful towns of San Gimignano (with its Vernaccia vineyards) and the Etruscan town of Volterra, it travels through the countryside to the north of Siena, with the first night in the great medieval town of Siena itself, home of the Palio horserace. Hilltop fortified towns, Etruscan ruins, medieval boroughs, vines, and olive groves are the highlights of the journey. A self-guided walking holiday, this is a route for anyone of moderate fitness.
PRICE
£650.00 per person - staying in excellent 3 star hotels and bed & breakfasts. Single supplement £135.00.
INCLUDED
6 nights in 2-3 star or 3-4 stars hotels (one night in an agriturismo in both cases with double room and private bath). 6 breakfasts. Route notes and itineraries. Luggage transfers. Transfers as per programme. Local emergency back up.
NOT INCLUDED
Transport from/to home, meals not mentioned in the programme, drinks with meals, insurance, anything not specifically mentioned in programme.
Departure dates
April to end of October - start on the day of your choice.
To book email:
walking@star.co.uk T: (44)
(0)1242 254353
Day 1: Welcome to Siena, the best preserved medieval city in Europe. If you have time, walk the easy 3 km exploratory route through the town. Overnight Siena.
Day 2: Siena – Strove. Transfer to S. Colomba and walk through the beautiful woods of the Montagno La Sensese. Walk along rolling hills, on paths, tracks and gravel roads. 12 kms/8 miles. Overnight Strove (for 2 nights).
Day 3: Strove - Monteriggione - Strove. An easy to moderate walk to the small medieval hilltop village of Monteriggione with its perfectly preserved walls and watchtowers. Return to Strove for overnight. 14 kms/8.75 miles
Day 4: Strove – Colle di Val d'Elsa. Pleasant walk in classic Tuscan countryside to the medieval market town of Colle di Val d'Elsa, famous for its crystal production since the Middle Ages, and with an interesting Etruscan museum. Overnight Colle. 10 kms/6.25 miles.
Day 5: Colle di Val d'Elsa - San Gimignano. An easy to moderate walk with tremendous views of Tuscan towns and countryside. Today you are following the Via Francigena, the medieval Pilgrim way to Rome, which threaded across Europe from Canterbury, rivalling the 'Camino di Santiago'. Overnight in San Gimignano, the city of medieval towers. 14 kms/8.75 miles.
Day 6: San Gimignano - Sensano - Volterra. Enjoy fabulous countryside views, including the celebrated Vernaccia vineyards, passing near the ruins of a medieval castle and through a cool evergreen oak wood. Transfer from Sensano to the Etruscan town of Volterra for overnight. 14kms/8.75 miles. Overnight Volterra.
Day 7: Departure after breakfast
Additional optionsWe can also arrange for extra nights along the route - please ask for prices.
DIFFICULTY OF WALK
Level: easy to moderate. Terrain: mostly farm tracks along open, rolling hills, Distance: average about 14 kms. per day.
The fascinating towns of Volterra, San Gimignano and Siena, and the gorgeous Chianti countryside, with its wines and food. If you have done this walk we would like to hear your personal highlights.
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ACCOMMODATION
3 – 4 stars hotels/bed & breakfasts/agriturismo (double room with private bath).
NATURE
Cypress, holm oak, pseudo acacia, broom, wild rose, helicrysus.
Agriculture: olive tree, vine, chestnut. Wildlife: wild boar, fox, porcupine, hedgehog, badger, buzzard, bee eater, and many other songbirds
FOOD AND DRINK
Try the pici or pinci, a hard wheat homemade kind of pasta traditional to southern Tuscany with aglione (garlic) or with porcini mushrooms; the famous ribollita, a bread and vegetables soup; the Pecorino di Pienza (sheep cheese); and wild boar cooked in a variety of ways.
This is a wonderful area for red wine lovers, above all the distinctive wines of Chianti. Try the Cantucci di Siena (hard biscuits for dipping in vin' santo (a sweet liquorous sacred wine), and Ricciarelli (soft almond biscuits).
GETTING THERE
Nearest airports: Florence/Pisa/Rome.
Nearest railway station: Volterra
WHAT TO TAKE:
Sturdy walking boots and walking socks (with a change of socks in rucksack), rucksack/day pack, swimming costume, 1 x water bottle with 1 litre capacity, insect repellent, sun glasses, sun hat, sun block/cream, rainproof, fleece, compass, torch and a first-aid kit.
INSURANCE
We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for any reason.
To book, contact
worldwalks at:
email:
walking@star.co.uk T: (44)
(0)1242 254353