Colours of Tuscany

Your trip starts today with your arrival in Florence, the cultural capital of Italy and the gem in Tuscany’s crown. No activities are planned so you may arrive at any time. Please make your own way to the joining hotel that is centrally located (details are in your travel documents). Whilst at your discretion, we recommend arriving/ departing by train where possible within Europe due to this method of transports minimal carbon emissions. In the evening we meet our tour leader and our fellow travelling companions at a Welcome Meeting (this is usually at 6pm, but you will be advised as to the exact time and place on a notice, located near the reception of our hotel), where our leader will give us a briefing on what lies ahead on our tour. There is so much to see and do in Florence so if this is your first time to the city we strongly recommend booking some extra nights accommodation before the tour to make the most of your time here.

By local bus we travel to the stunning small town of Fiesole, beautifully set in the hills above Florence and boasting many Roman and medieval monuments. We have some free time here for sightseeing, before setting off for our amazing walk, the so-called ‘Renaissance Ring’ – Anello del Rinascimento, a great excursion for getting to know the surroundings of Florence, fascinating for their landscape and nature as well as for the art and history they contain. There has been a strong unbroken tie over the centuries between the city of Florence and the surrounding countryside, which is something you can feel to this day by walking through the nature of the countryside and encountering the many examples of its art and history. Walking through the hills, in the woods, by the ploughed fields, we cross some of the most stunning landscapes. We encounter monasteries, castles, hospices to welcome pilgrims, ancient walled communities, country churches, sections of paved roads that go back to Roman or Medieval times and our eye is always on the magnificent views of the city centre, whose focal point is the dome of the cathedral, the masterpiece of Filippo Brunelleschi, which identifies Florence. We return to Florence in the late afternoon.

This morning we travel by private minibus to Siena and have time to discover the best of this most celebrated medieval city. Its heart, in every sense, is the famed ‘Piazza del Campo’, a grand fan-shaped piazza built on the site of the old Roman forum. Bordering the southern flank of the square is the 14th-century Palazzo Pubblico, with some fine early Renaissance frescoes. Also of interest is the main church, the Duomo, a wonderful mixture of Gothic and Romanesque architecture, with a particularly splendid façade. A short round walk together with our guide shows you the most interesting monuments, and then there is some free time to explore. We are picked up by our bus and we drive to the ancient town of Volterra, situated high on a plateau with sweeping views of the valleys below. After settling in to our rooms we take a short walk into town, past the Etruscan walls and Roman theatre. (4 hours).

Today we will walk to the West, partly through the forest, partly through open countryside, enjoying spectacular views of the soft rolling Tuscan hills down to Saline. We’ll pass alongside the famous ‘calanchi’ of Volterra, eroded hills with spectacular shapes. Along the way we enjoy a nice picnic lunch, whilst contemplating the quiet Tuscan countryside. In the afternoon we’ll arrive at the charming medieval village of Montecatini. Here we’ll stroll around the medieval alleys, walk around the town walls with wonderful views over the whole area. We also have the option to visit the interesting Mineral & Mining Museum of the Val di Cecina area, and perhaps even go down into a copper mine. After a nice rest on a terrace with a drink we take the local bus back to Volterra. In the evening there is a large choice of restaurants to choose from. Total walking: approx 12km. Total walking time: around 4.5 hours.

Today we walk towards Monte Voltraio, a sandstone hill once dominated by a castle known as the Rocca di Monte Voltraio. At the foot of the hill stands the beautiful abandoned medieval building of the Casale Rocca. We pass through a pleasant landscape, meet with farmers, still cultivating their land like in ancient times and pass the small 13th Century church of San Lorenzo. The goal of our walk is the Villa Palagione It is an ancient country residence, built in 1598 by Geronimo Minucci, cupbearer of the Medici at the peak of the Florentine power and culture. In a setting, that has seen four centuries of history, the villa still offers frescoed halls, a Gentility chapel and an Italian garden full of flowers and perfumes. Here we stop for a short break, and then for those who want there is the possibility to climb up to the ruins of the castle on the top of Mt Voltraio, which offers superb views over the Tuscan countryside. We then enjoy a picnic lunch at a picturesque spot from where we can enjoy a wonderful view of Volterra. In the afternoon we make our way back to Volterra on foot. There the possibility to relax in the gardens of Villa Palagione and dive into its panoramic swimming pool (and then travel back by bus) so pack your swimsuit! In the evening we all join together for the last evening dinner in a local restaurant. Total walking: approx 8/16km. Total walking time: from 3 hours to 6 hours.

Today we farewell Volterra and travel to the medieval town of Colle Val d’Elsa, perhaps not as famous as other Tuscan towns, but absolutely fascinating. The beginning of our walk takes us through the historical centre of Colle Val D’Elsa, with time for sightseeing and a drink. We then descend into the valley and pick up one of the supposed routes of the ancient Via Francigena, a pilgrim’s route dating back to the early Middle Ages. Through a pleasant hilly landscape of vineyards and forests we reach the small hamlet of Bibbiano. Another descent takes us into the valley of the river Foci, where an ancient water mill still stands. A comfortable track leads through woods and fields before taking us to one of Tuscany’s most beautiful agriturismo’s, our home for the last two nights. An optional longer walk is available, but we have to make sure to arrive in time to enjoy the agriturismo’s fabulous setting, its surroundings, and perhaps its library or swimming pool. Dinner in the very good private restaurant of the agriturismo is included tonight. Total walking time 4 hours.

After breakfast we begin our walk to San Gimignano, directly from our agriturismo. As we leave our base behind us, we make our way up along the ridge to the small hamlets of Ciuciano and San Donato, passing by several old ‘pievi’ (countryside churches) and villa’s and often with wonderful views of the skyline of San Gimignano. This town - sometimes referred to as having the only “skyscrapers” in Tuscany – is an absolute must, a wonderful medieval city with picturesque vineyards and olive and cypress groves on either side. We have the afternoon to explore this romantic old town with towers that remain from medieval times. The town once had 52 of these towers (today there are now less than a dozen). Wealthy, prominent families would use the height of these towers to distinguish themselves, and the towers also served to alert the inhabitants of this walled town of approaching friends and foes. We approach the town from the west side, and before entering through one of the main gates, we take a nice stroll along its impressive medieval town walls. In the town itself there are numerous places to enjoy lunch, and of course we take our time to explore. Towards the end of the afternoon, we follow Via Francigena back to our agriturismo: enroute we stop at the convent of Monte Oliveto, located on a wide ridge, then down towards a beautifully located winery. We enjoy a break here and may even enjoy a relaxed drink before heading on to our agriturismo. Total walking: approx. 14 km (+ circa 2 km. in San Gimignano). Total walking time: around 5 hours + sightseeing.

This morning we transfer from San Gimiginano to the Poggibonsi train station and will arrive at approximately 10am. From here you there are many onward bus and train connections to Siena and Florence.