The essence of Tuscany: Via Francigena & Val d’Orcia (8 days) - TUS 3
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This is a moderately easy tour which is suitable for those who have some experience with walking and a good general physical condition. Through the extensive footpath network of the area, roughly following the traces of the Via Francigena, one of Europe’s most important ‘high ways’ in medieval times, you walk from village to village, a full immersion in the world-famed Tuscan landscape.
It is a perfect introduction to the region and for people who love museums and galleries, Gothic and Romanesque architecture, there is plenty to see and do. You have plenty of time for attraction visits on most days.
You have the time to visit the historic towns of San Gimignano, Colle Val D’Elsa Siena and Montepulciano, and of course all the beautiful medieval villages long the Via Francigena and in the Val d’Orcia: Monteriggioni, already admired by Dante, San Quirico, Buonconvento, Bagno Vignoni and Pienza, arguably the most perfect Renaissance town of Tuscany, as this tour threads together some of the most attractive towns and villages in Tuscany in an eloquent procession.
However the emphasis of the tour is to enjoy the countryside, the rolling vineyards, the poppies in spring and the wild cyclamen in autumn. Most of all, many of the views have changed little for hundreds of years. South of Siena, you head off into a coffee table book Tuscan landscape of gentle hills, tipped by a lonely pine or oak tree while cypresses line the way leading to the distant farmhouses.
At first you walk mainly through forests and vineyards, then through the spectacular rolling hills of the Crete Senesi, with its extensive fields of wheat and sunflowers, and finally the rolling hills of the Val d’Orcia, scattered with picturesque small towns. Walking here is an unforgettable experience!
You spend a night in one of the most beautiful convents of Tuscany at Monte Oliveto Maggiore. This is a typical red brick Monastery where friars of the Benedictine Order still worship. Staying overnight there is a memorable experience. The next historical villages are Buonconvento and Montalcino, surrounded by vineyards of San Giovese grapes, for the famous Brunello wine. Then you enter the Val d’Orcia, a unique landscape scattered with wonderful small towns; San Quirico, Pienza and Bagno Vignoni, with its unique town square: a huge pool of healthy sulphurous water. Our tour finishes in the city of Montepulciano where mediaeval architecture and vineyards line the landscape.
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Day 1
Arrival in Florence and transfer to Colle Val d’Elsa (either by private taxi or public transport), where you settle in at your hotel just below the medieval town centre, known for its perfectly preserved ‘tunnel’ streets and its crystalware. Depending on your arrival time, you could go for a quick visit to the town centre.
Hotel *** – Colle Val d’Elsa
Approx. 1h. walking + sightseeing time
Day 2
The first day walk initially takes you all the way round the historical town of Colle Val D’Elsa, perhaps not as famous as other Tuscan towns, but with a very interesting town centre. Then you descend into the valley where you pick up one of the supposed routes of the ancient Via Francigena. Along this route, through a pleasant hilly landscape of vineyards and forests, you reach the small hamlet of Bibbiano. Another descent brings you down into the valley of the River Foci, which you follow for a short stretch. Then you start to climb up on a comfortable track to the beautiful agriturismo where you will spend the next two nights. Make sure you’re there on time to enjoy its fabulous setting and surroundings, and perhaps its library and swimming pool too. For those who feel like it there is also a longer walking option to get here. Dinner at the private restaurant is included tonight.
Agriturismo – San Gimignano
Total walking distance: 14 km. Approx. 4 h. walking. Ascent & descent: + 125 m./- 100 m.
Day 3
After breakfast you begin your walk to San Gimignano, straight from the agriturismo. First you make your way up along the ridge to the hamlets of Ciuciano and San Donato, going past several old ‘pievi’ (countryside churches) and villas and often with wonderful views of the San Gimignano skyline. This wonderful medieval town – sometimes referred to as having the only “skyscrapers” in Tuscany – is an absolute must, with picturesque vineyards and olive and cypress groves on either side. You have some time to explore this little romantic town with its medieval towers, of which there were once 52 (there are now less than a dozen) – wealthy, prominent families would use the height of these towers to distinguish themselves, but the towers also had a practical use in alerting the inhabitants of this walled town of approaching friends and foes. Do make a nice stroll around its impressive town walls. Then you follow the Via Francigena back to your agriturismo: first to the convent of Monte Oliveto, located on a wide ridge, then down to a small stream, which you have to cross, before you climb back up to your agriturismo. In the evening you have another nice meal at the agriturismo.
Agriturismo – San Gimignano
Total walking distance: 16 km. Approx. 5 h. walking. Ascent & descent: +/- 250 m.
Day 4
Today you leave the agriturismo and head for Monteriggioni, described as a crown in the landscape by Dante. The walk first brings you down into the river valley, and then, more or less following the Foci, you reach one of the most wonderful Romanesque churches in Tuscany, la Badia a Conèo. The next stop is Quartaia, followed by Gracciano, once one of the most important wheat towns in Tuscany. Another short stretch brings you to the Badia ad Isola, once an important stop on the medieval Via Francigena, and a very intriguing building. The final destination for today is Monteriggioni, where you’ll have time for a drink in the square. Then you are picked up by your taxi and transferred to Siena, where you settle in at your centrally located hotel, just a few minutes away from the famous ‘Piazza del Campo’. In the evening you can take a nice stroll into town to have dinner in one of the many nice restaurants, or sip a drink in the ‘Piazza del Campo’.
Hotel *** – Siena
Total walking distance: 20 km. Approx. 5,5 h. walking. Ascent & descent: +/- 100 m.
Optional Extra Day: Siena
Take your time to explore Siena, one of Italy’s most beautiful medieval towns. Its heart is the perfect, shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, scene of the Palio, with the Palazzo Pubblico and the nearby Duomo of black-and-white marble. Plenty to see and do for a day!
Hotel *** – Siena
Day 5
Today you first make a short train journey to Asciano, a beautiful, yet relatively unknown walled town. From here you start your walk in a southern direction. You cross the fascinating hilly region known as the Crete Senesi, a fascinating area of odd-shaped clay hills. In the afternoon you reach the monastery of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, built in the 14th century by the Olivetan monks. Surrounded by a forest of cypresses, this building is famous throughout the world for the frescoes in the courtyard painted by the 15th-century painters Signorelli and Sodoma. The library and church of the convent are architectural masterpieces too. The walk is relatively short so there is time to visit both the charming village of Asciano and the monastery itself. Then you walk the last short stretch and settle in a nearby charming hotel. In the evening you dine at the restaurant on the premises of the hotel.
Hotel *** – Asciano
Total walking distance: 12 km. Approx. 3-4 h. walking. Ascent & descent: + 100 m./- 25 m.
Day 6
Past the monastery of Monte Oliveto you first walk uphill to the small village of Chiusure, in a commanding position on a ridge, with great views of the monastery and the whole ‘Crete Senesi’ area. Then you continue mostly downhill to the walled medieval town Buonconvento. Crossing olive tree fields along woodland tracks and so-called ‘strade bianche’ (‘white’ gravel roads), you reach this small town, where Emperor Henry VII died in 1313. From here you can either walk or take the bus to Montepulciano, where you stay for the next two nights.
Hotel *** – Montepulciano
Total walking distance: 12 km. Approx. 3-4 h. walking. Ascent & descent: + 25 m./- 150 m.
Day 7
You walk down the medieval alleys of Montepulciano to the impressive Chiesa di San Biagio, a 16th-century church nestled on the edge of the village walls, overlooking the winding valley below. From here you commence the walk into the picturesque valley and through vineyards and olive groves, past pastel-coloured villas and across rolling hills. This is a morning of delightful Tuscan scenery, enjoyed and experienced at its best – on foot. You then reach the peaceful village of Montichiello, where you can enjoy a flavoursome lunch under the welcome shade of creeping grapevines with a stunning view out over Montichiello’s ancient village gateway. After lunch you can either continue the walk to the wonderful Renaissance town of Pienza or take a short bus ride back to Montepulciano for a sightseeing tour of its labyrinthine maze of alleyways and imposing defensive walls as well as a shopping tour in its classy boutiques.
Hotel *** – Montepulciano
Total walking distance: 14 km. Approx. 4-5 h. walking. Ascent & descent: + 250 m./- 350 m.
Day 8
End of the tour. From Montepulciano it’s easy to return to either Rome or Florence.
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
All nights are spent in beautiful, characteristic family-run hotels (generally 3-star; 4/5-star on request) and beautiful agriturismo’s. All rooms have en-suite facilities. One night you’ll spend in the monastery of Monte Oliveto, with good, but Spartan rooms, in a unique setting.
Accommodation is generally on B&B basis, in most accommodations. Only in the agriturismo (2 nights) and in the monastery of Monte Oliveto (1 night) you are on half board-basis, the other nights you will be free to organise your dinner. You can either eat at the premises of the hotel (on some occasions) or choose from the wide choice of restaurants in the area. Your accommodation holder can give you good tips.
No picnic lunches are included in the tour price, but these can be prepared for you by the accommodation holders, or materials for picnics can be purchased in the villages where you stay. On some occasions you have the option to have your lunch in a restaurant along the way.
Night 1: The first night is spent in Colle Val d’Elsa. Here you stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel in the old town centre, centrally located at walking distance from the bus station, all the main monuments of the medieval town centre and close to many nice restaurants.
Nights 2 & 3: These are spent at one of the nicest agriturismo’s of Tuscany, a beautifully restored old fortress along the Via Francigena. The evening dinners are prepared by one of the best Tuscan chefs, who is also a painter.
Night 4: This night is spent in a good hotel in the historic heart of Siena.
Night 5: This night is spent in one of the most beautiful convents of Tuscany at the Abbazia Monte Oliveto Maggiore, a typical red brick Monastery where friars of the Benedictine Order still worship. Staying overnight there is a memorable experience. You have dinner in the restaurant located in the old entrance gate of the monastery (in alternative: in case the abbey is not available you will sleep in a beautiful agriturismo nearby).
Nights 6 & 7: The last nights are spent in another beautiful small medieval town, Montepulciano. Your hotel is located in the town centre, at only a short distance from all the main monuments and many nice restaurants.
UPGRADE
It is possible to upgrade this tour, staying in more luxurious 4-star hotels (except for the agriturismo in San Gimignano – which is already 4-star level). Accommodation in San Quirico or Pienza is also available, to substitute for the days in Montepulciano.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
Moderately easy (2-3): Mostly easy walks, but with nonetheless some walking uphill, sometimes on paths with rough surfaces. On some days extensions or shortcuts are possible.
Fitness: High standard of fitness is not necessary but clients should be able to walk for up to 5 hours a day in hot sun on dusty or stony tracks.
N.B. During Summer, due to the heat, the level of difficulty of this tour definitely increases. We do therefore not recommend to book this tour from about 14th July until 20th August.
FOOT PATHS & WAYMARKING
Most paths are relatively well maintained; on many occasions you’ll follow so-called strade bianche (un-surfaced roads), easy to follow and very unlikely to get overgrown (we continuously check our routes – please help us by providing you feedback on the quality of the paths).
Waymarking: A large part of the route is waymarked , but on some occasions we have found more interesting routes than those actually waymarked; therefore it is necessary to follow the route descriptions provided together with the maps. With these it is always possible to find your route
INCLUSIONS :
- 1 night Hotel in Colle Val d’Elsa*** – BB
- 2 nights Agriturismo in San Gimignano*** – HB
- 1 night in Siena*** – BB
- 1 night in Monte Oliveto – HB
- 2 nigths in Montepulciano*** – BB
- Extensive route notes, with description of the route & tourist information
- Maps at 1 : 25.000 scale
- 24/24 h local assistance
- Luggage transport
- Private transfers as specified
NOT INCLUDED:
- Departure taxes
- Visas
- Travel Insurance
- Drinks and meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Optional additional tours or activities
- Tips
- Items of personal nature
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
Arrival: The tour starts in COLLE VAL D’ELSA, connected with FLORENCE by a frequent bus service.
A taxi pick-up service can be arranged either from Florence (hotel, airport or train station), or from Pisa (airport).
Departure: The tour ends after breakfast on day 8 in MONTEPULCIANO. A frequent bus service can bring you to one of the nearest train stations (Montepulciano and Chiusi), from where there are regular trains to both Rome and Florence. Upon request a taxi service is available to bring you directly to your next destination.
 | You can book this tour with a minimum of 1 person. |
 | There are a very limited number of available places on these dates. Immediate booking is recommended. |
 | Availability and prices on request. |
- Prices are per person and based on the season within which the first night of the tour falls.
- Prices are based on 2 people sharing double or twin accommodation. Single rooms (double rooms – single) are available on most trips however the supplements listed apply.
- If you are travelling alone then on some trips (which include taxi transfers) a ‘Solo Traveller Supplement’ will be applied instead of the normal single supplement.
- Prices are expressed in Euro’s. There will never be a currency surcharge.
- Actual exchange rates: GB £ - US $ - CAN $ - CHF - DKK - SEK - NOK - Other currencies.
It is possible to include some extra nights, in any of the accommodations ‘en route’. For those who have never been in Siena an extra day here is strongly recommended.
At the beginning or the end of the tour there is also the opportunity to visit Florence. The tour can easily be extended with a few days there. Details and prices on request.
The tour can also be extended with a few days on a beautiful agriturismo, for some relax in the countryside. Several superb accommodations are available. Details & prices on request.
For the real walkers: this tour is a good first, relatively introduction to the Via Francigena. Of course you can continue this route, either to Lake Bolsena (or Orvieto), or all the way to Rome.
And if you fall in love with the ‘pilgrimage style’ of hiking: Italy has many more pilgrim routes to offer!
SHORTER & LONGER VERSIONS
A longer 10-day version of this tour is also available. See also our other Tuscany tours ! Tailor-mda, bespoke holidays can be requested.
