ITINERARY | HIGHLIGHTS | WEATHER | ACCOMMODATION & ADDITIONAL INFO

Italy - To Chianti 2008

TUSCANY: from Volterra to Chianti & Siena
- a self-guided walking holiday

This new 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 to the wine-producing area of Chianti, with the last night in the great medieval town of Siena itself. 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

£575.00 per person - staying in mixture of 2 & 3 star hotels, B & Bs and agriturismo (single supplement £115.00)
£625.00 per person - staying in a mixture of 3 & 4 star hotels with one night in an agriturismo (single supplemt £125.00)

INCLUDED

7 nights in 2-3 star or 3-4 stars hotels (one night in an agriturismo in both cases with double room and private bath). 7 breakfasts. 4 dinners. Route notes and itineraries, sightseeing opportunities, restaurant and shopping suggestions. Luggage transfers. Transfers as per programme. Emergency back up.

NOT INCLUDED

Transport from/to home, meals not mentioned in the programme, drinks with meals, insurance, anything not specifially mentioned in programme.

Departure dates 2008:

April to end of October - start on the day of your choice.

To book email: walking@star.co.uk
T: (44) (0)1242 254353

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ITINERARY

 

Day 1: Welcome to Volterra. If you have time, walk the easy 3 km exploratory route through the town. Volterra, surrounded by two defensive walls (one Etruscan, the other medieval) is one of the most important centres in Tuscany with monuments that testify to 3000 years of civilization. It is also known for its alabaster craftsmanship. Overnight Volterra.

Day 2: Volterra – Sensano. The highlights of today's walk include views of towns and the classic Tuscan countryside of rolling hills dotted by stone houses and cypress groves. A moderate walk of 14 kms/8.75 miles. Overnight Sensano.

Day 3: Sensano – S. Gimignano. Today you pass through the ruins of a medieval castle and will cross a cool ever-green oak wood. Beyond Caggio there are beautiful views of the countryside to enjoy, including the well-known Vernaccia vineyards as you approach San Gimignano, a medieval town built on the site of a 3rd century B.C. Etruscan settlement. It developed during the Middle Ages thanks to the pilgrimage route, the Via Francigena, which runs through the town. Of the original 72 medieval towers only 14 remain to witness the great power and richness of the past.An easy to moderate walk of 14 kms/8.75 miles. Overnight San Gimignano.

Day 4: S. Gimignano – Colle di Val d'Elsa. Pleasant walk in the countryside between S. Gimignano and Colle passing through olive groves, wheat fields and vineyards. Today you are following the medieval Pilgrim way to Rome, the 'Via Francigena', which threaded across Europe, its westernmost starting point at Canterbury, and rivalling the 'Camino di Santiago'. Overnight Colle. 11.5 kms/7.1 miles.

Day 5: Colle di Val d'Elsa - Strove. Tremendous views of Tuscan towns and countryside, still following the Via Francigena. An easy walk with the option of an extension to the walled town of Monteriggioni in the evergreen oak woods of the Montagnola Senese. Overnight in Strove or (with taxi transfer) Panzano in Chianti. 11kms/6.9 miles or 14 kms/8.75 miles.

Day 6: Strove/Panzano (transfer from Strove to Panzano) - Radda in Chianti. Your first day in Chianti with its celebrated vineyards and villas, a scenic walk bordering the woody ridge of Chianti to the stunning medieval town and castle of Volpaia and through the vineyards of the Radda area. An easy walk, descending into Radda, the capital town of the old League of Chianti. 14kms/8.75 miles. Overnight Radda.

Day 7: Radda – Vagliagli + transfer to Siena. A beautiful and meandering walk through the woods and farmlands and down along a peaceful and forgotten valley. A moderate walk over rolling and occasionally steep hills. Siena, the best preserved medieval city in Europe, is a true masterpiece of art and architecture with its gothic duomo, and shell-shaped square, “Il Campo”, the scene of the holy (because dedicated to the Virgin), no to say the dramatic annual horse-race “The Palio”.

Day 8: Departure after breakfast


Additional options

We 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.

 

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HIGHLIGHTS

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. Mail Us

WEATHER

Click here to view the weather forecast Link courtesy of uk met office

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ACCOMMODATION & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ACCOMMODATION

3 – 4 stars hotels/bed & breakfasts/agriturismo (double room with private bath).

NATURE

Cypress, holm oak, pseudoacacia, broom, wild rose, helicrysus.

Agriculture: olive tree, vine, chestnut. Wildlife: wild boar, fox, porcupine, hedgehog, badger, buzzard, bee eater, and many other song birds

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 whatever reason.

To book, contact worldwalks  at:
email:walking@star.co.uk
T: (44) (0)1242 254353

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