Travel
Information
Travel: Our air travel package price includes the flight to Pisa
using the scheduled services of British Airways from London Gatwick to
Pisa. Alternatively Ryanair & Easyjet the no frills airline flies direct to Pisa
from London.
Arrival: The tour starts in Siena, which is easily reached by bus from
Rome in 3.5 hours or by train from Pisa, 2 hours and from Florence in a
little over 1 hour.
End of Tour: Try to avoid a Sunday finish as returning can be a little
slow and
buses often don’t run. The
tour ends after breakfast on day 7 in Montepulciano. Clients can take a
bus to Chiusi Scalo, which has good connections by train to Rome (2
hours), Florence (1.5 hours) and Pisa (3 hours).
Season: April to November.
Level of Difficulty
Grade: Moderate.
Fitness: Clients should have a reasonable level of fitness and
should be able to walk for up to 5-7 hours a day in hot sun on dusty or
stony tracks. One day in particularly is 26km.
Waymarking: The route is way marked with red/white signs or, when
missing with our blue/yellow signs.
General Information
Baths:
it is not normal for your room to have a bath, the main reason being that
it takes up a lot of space, some hotels/guesthouses may have a separate
room in the house where a bath is available to guests, but in the main it
is showers.
Breakfasts:
in countries such as Italy usually consist of coffee and croissant;
sometimes, bread rolls, yoghurts, ham and cheese as well. If you want more
for breakfast then we would suggest you purchase some food the night
before. It is important for you to tell us if you have any dietary
requirements when you book your holiday so that we can inform everyone
that you are staying with.
Single
Supplements:
are payable on most of our tours. 1) The single supplement
guarantees the privacy of your own room, however, rooms can at times be
small and in some places may not enjoy the same facilities as double/twin
rooms. 2) You are not just paying a supplement on the room but the
luggage transfer costs you are paying in full. The cost of moving 1 bag or
2 bags etc remains the same. On some of our trips it is possible to reduce
the cost of the single supplement if you happen to be a 3rd
person travelling, or have chosen a date when other clients are booked.
Language:
Note
that you will not necessarily come across people speaking English.
Remember you have left home to find things different bring a phrase book,
try to learn a bit of Italian!
Luggage:
When staying in hotels, sometimes your luggage may have been taken to
you room awaiting your arrival. However don’t be surprised if your
luggage is waiting for you to take it up to your room please politely ask
someone if you need assistance.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation
is on a bed and breakfast basis in 2-3 star hotels with en suite
facilities when available. No evening meals are included.
Picnic
lunches are not included in the tour price, but materials for picnics can
be purchased in each of the towns and most villages where you stay or pass
through.
q
Nights
1: In the lively and sophisticated city of Siena we stay at a small,
comfortable town hotel in rooms with en suite facilities, telephone and
colour TV.
q
Night
2: In Buonconvento we stay overnight in a recently renovated 2 star
hotel, which is located in the center of the town.
q
Night
3: In Montalcino our first choice of hotel is 3 stars rated, all rooms
have private bath, TV and telephone. You will get magnificent views and
the hotel also has a swimming pool. This is a wonderful town with lots to
do and see and we would recommend an extra night here if you wish to
extend your holiday.
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Night
4: In Bagno Vignoni we
stay in a 3 star hotel overlooking the ancient thermal pool. The entrance
fee for the thermal bath is included.
q
Night
5: In Pienza we stay in an ancient convent in the town center, which
has recently been restored. Modern room comforts make the stay a high
point of the tour.
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Night
6: The last night of our tour in Montepulciano is spent in a small,
simple inn.
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Outline
Itinerary
q
Day
1:
Arrive
in Siena by train from Pisa or Florence via Empoli, where you change
trains. From the train station the hotel is a 10-minute walk or you could
take a local taxi available in front of the station (not included). You
can travel by bus from Rome or Florence. If you arrive at Rome Fiumicino
airport take the train to “Roma Tiburtina”. In front of the station,
from the bus terminal, take the “Sena” bus for Siena. In Siena get off
at Piazza Gramsci. The Hotel is a 5minute walk.
After
settling into the hotel you will find all the famous places of the city
within walking distance, with the Duomo, the
huge Pisan Romanesque and Gothic cathedral, the Palazzo Salimbeni, (the
ancient head-quarters of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the oldest bank of
the world, founded in 1472 and still today one of the biggest banks in
Italy) and The Piazza del Campo, the
shell like square, centre of the mediaeval city, where twice per year they
hold the “Palio” horse race. You can easily get lost in the warren
of streets of Siena! Overnight Siena.
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Day 2: Siena
Transfer by train to Asciano
– Monte Oliveto Maggore, walk to Buonconvento
(5h.walk/ 13.5 miles/22km). The day starts with a train ride to Asciano.
From here you cross the fascinating area of hills called the Crete Senesi
and you reach the Monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, built in the 14th
century by the Olivetan monks. Surrounded by a forest of cypresses, this
place is world-famous for the frescoes in the courtyard painted by the
15th century painters Signorelli and Sodoma. Even the library and the
church of the convent are architectural masterpieces. Crossing olive tree
fields along woodland tracks and white roads, you will eventually reach
the small town of Buonconvento, where the Emperor Henry VII died in 1313.
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Day 3: Buonconvento
to Montalcino, (6 hours walk/12 miles/19.5km). A general gentle up &
down hill walk passing some great Villas, e.g. Castelrosi, and Castles,
e.g. Bibbiano. You will then cross the Ombrone river and come into the
wine producing area of Brunello de Montalcino. The last part of the walk
will lead you up to Montalcino, a 328m climb. The walk is steep but
panoramic and reaching the gate in the town-walls, it will feel like a
conquest! Overnight in Montalcino.
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Day 4:
Montalcino to Bagno Vignoni (7/8hours
walk/14.9 miles/24km). This is the longest walk, crossing one of the most
remote areas. Today you have a long downhill walk to the Romanesque abbey
of Sant Antimo, one of the most beautiful in all of Tuscany and now lived
in by the French Gregorian friars. Their prayers and songs give the
ambience a special mystic atmosphere. From here we make a visit to the
mediaeval town of Castelnuovo dell’Abate, with great views across to
Monte Amiata, a former volcano, which is still important for its thermal
water. From here you continue and cross the Canyon of the Orcia River. On
your side of the Canyon is the castle of Ripa d’Orcia and on the
opposite side there is the castle of Rocca d’Orcia. You then reach Bagno
Vignoni, which was built in the 13th century to permit Lorenzo de’Medici
and the popes to relax in healthy thermal water. In this small village,
instead of the usual central square, there is a large pool! Especially on
cooler days the effect of the rising steam is incredible. Overnight in
Bagno Vignoni (included is the entrance to the more modern thermal pool,
so that you don’t have to go in with the pope!).
Extend
your stay, after yesterday’s hard walk, relaxing in the baths and
walking to S.Quirico & Rocca d’Orcia.
Note that the pool has
occasionally been closed due to different reasons and we cannot guarantee
its status for the date of your visit.
q
Day
5:
Bagno Vignoni to Pienza (5
hours
walk/14.5km/9 miles). A steep hill brings you to the village of Vignoni,
the view is quite unique. From here you walk on to S.Quirico d’Orcia. A
small town surrounded by some 15th century town-walls, topped with 14
turrets. Things to see there include the 13th century Romanesque
Collegiate Church, with the “Horti Leonini” - an unusual Italian-style
garden. To reach Pienza your walk crosses open countryside. Instead of the
vineyards, many sheep populate this area that it is known for its good
“Pecorino cheese”. Pienza, built by Pope Pius II, (Piccolomini), who
was born in Siena, is the perfect Renaissance town. Overnight in Pienza.
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Day 6:
Pienza to Montepulciano (4
hours
walk/8.39miles/13.5km). A gentle up & downhill walk to reach
Montepulciano, another wine area. On the way you can stop at Montichiello,
a surprising small village located on the top of a hill with a marvellous
surrounding view. Before you reach your last amazing bastion, the
mediaeval town of Montepulciano. This has one of the most impressive
Renaissance buildings in Italy: the church of San Biagio
q
Day 7: End of
tour, by bus or train back to Pisa, Florence or Rome.
Extra nights
Siena
is certainly a beautiful city, yet despite its size, it has something of a
village feel to it. There is so much to see and so many good places to eat
that it is worth an extra day. We can arrange extra nights here or in
Florence which is only about an hour away by bus from Siena.
We
would also recommend a full day to really discover Montalcino and to
sample the best “Brunello” wine and why not have an extra night in
Bagno Vignoni relaxing in the baths and visiting the nearby hamlets of
S.Quirico & Rocca d’Orcia?
We
can also recommend our extension to the Cinque Terre for a complete change
of scenery. Details and prices on request.
On Self
Guided Tour we provide you with:
Route
notes, maps at 1:25.000 scale.
Escorted
Departure 2008
*EJST13
Sun
13 Apr – Sat 19 Apr
This
departure has been designated “Research
& Development”. This means that the leader will be checking
routes and possibly trying out new variations during the trip.
Historically this has been done without clients in tow but we thought that
some clients might like to take advantage of lower prices and join the
trip with a pioneering spirit and the acceptance that on occasion they may
have to retrace steps to find the way or take a break while the leader
checks out the route.
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