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Classic Tuscan Walking
 Our walks through the gentle landscape of Tuscany take us through a countryside that is timeless. Tuscany is a region well suited to a walking pace and there is much to absorb. Here are some of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe with their Romanesque and gothic churches and buildings. We walk through a varied countryside of rolling hillsides, vineyards, olive groves and forests alive with colour. Tuscany offers many
gastronomic delights: pecorino cheese, wild boar and porcini mushrooms to name but a few. It is also Chianti wine country with several wine tasting opportunities.
Linking some of the Tuscan hilltop towns, we start in the old Etruscan town of Volterra, where you can see the Roman Theatre and Pallaza Priori and enjoy a warm up walk from the village of Pignano. We spend two nights in Volterra and then our trail leads off through forested hills, occasionally crowned with stone farmhouses, olive groves and vineyards. We visit San Gimignano noted for its famous towers and often called Tuscany’s Manhattan but it is perhaps the best preserved medieval town in Italy, We wend our way from here through intensive farmland and quiet woods to Colle Val D’Elsa. From Colle, we take farm tracks and white roads, ‘Strada Bianca’, which lead us on to Monteriggioni, a medieval fortress town. From there we pass through thick holm oak forest to the village of San Columba and then by local bus on to Siena, the archetypal Tuscan city. You can extend your stay by taking the 11 day tour which takes you through the heart of the Chianti vineyards and a landscape that will be familiar from the old paintings you have already seen along your route. It hasn’t changed very much. Finishing in Panzano, we transfer by bus to Florence for a final night in the Tuscan capital, a great place for art lovers and romantics of all ages.
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Your Accommodation
6
nights/7 days - Accommodation on the tour of Tuscany is in a series of beautiful medieval towns and villages. Many of the hostelries reflect the charm and character of these ancient communities. At
Volterra the 3* 17th century villa is superbly located beneath the medieval walls enjoying magnificent views of the surrounding countryside and also boasts a swimming pool. Your 3* hotel in
San Gimignano has an enviable location at the very heart of the town and dates back to the 14th century. The entrance is from a delightful medieval piazza whilst from the other side of the hotel there are splendid views over the countryside. The hotel also featured in the film ‘Tea with Mussolini’. In
Colle Val d’Elsa your 3* hotel can trace its origins back to the 15th century and sits above a pretty little Piazza. In
Monteriggioni you stay in a peaceful guesthouse within the circular walls of the village once described in Dante’s ‘Inferno’. Your 3* hotel in
Siena affords a convenient and comfortable base from which to explore the many treasures of this historic town.
10 nights/11 days - The 11 day tour will continue to
Radda in Chianti, where we spend two nights in a welcoming guesthouse. At
Panzano you will stay in 2 or 3* accommodation in the centre of the medieval town. In
Florence your 2* hotel will be centrally located and convenient for the historic centre and the station.
Sherpa
Notes
Accommodation &
Meals
Bed & breakfast throughout in 2 or 3 star hotels, and one guesthouse(s) with ensuite facilities. 2 evening meals are included, for other evenings you can visit
local restaurants allowing you to sample the best cooking in the area. Triple rooms available.
Way Marks
Some of the route is marked with red & white or blue & yellow signs: elsewhere it is necessary to follow the route descriptions and the maps provided.
Travel
via Air: British Airways (BA) services Gatwick to Pisa. Bus or train from Pisa to Volterra, journey time 2 hours. Both journeys involve a change at Pontedera. A transfer service is available on request from Pisa or Certaldo.
After breakfast in Siena (7 day tour) or Florence (11 day tour). Train to Pisa for your return flight
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