Sant'Antimo, Tuscany

This walking tour in Tuscany can be personalised to meet your interests and travel dates.

Starting with a private transfer from either Siena or Chiusi railway station (on the Rome/Florence line) to the charming medieval town of Montalcino, this walking tour in Tuscany crosses the Orcia River Valley in southern Tuscany, passing through some of the most beautiful country in central Italy, before arriving in Montepulciano, ‘pearl of the Renaissance’. It is an area as famous for its rolling hills, wheat fields dotted with red brick farmhouses, stands of deep green cypress pines and endless views as it is famous for its wines and food.

The medieval road that bisects the valleys was for several centuries the principal way linking Papal Rome with northern Europe, carrying pilgrims, traders, Crusader armies, emperors and popes. It was the scene of bitter fighting between Siena and their great rivals in Florence for several centuries and is lined with castles, monasteries and villages that date from this period. Most of the paths and thoroughfares that you follow also date from the era.

The walk also takes you to some of the cultural treasures of southern Tuscany: the pilgrim town of San Quirico; the magnificent papal town of Pienza and the Renaissance architecture of Montepulciano.

What's included in this walk?

• Five nights accommodation
• all breakfasts and dinners
• lunch recommendations
• reading lists and historical and cultural notes
• maps and detailed walking instructions
• daily transfers of baggage between hotels
• pick up at either Siena or Chiusi (on the Rome/Florence rail line) and drop-off at the end back in Chiusi
• 24 hour backup from local manager

How hard are the walks?

What's the accommodation like?

Tour Cost:

AUD $1,700 per person (single supplement for a double room for single use $250) (approx US $ 1530, SS $180 - subject to daily exchange rates)

Montalcino, Tuscany	Flower markets, Montalcino
Tuscany Road	Romanesque carving, San Quirico
Fortress, Montalcino	Festival, Montalcino
Flowers, Pienza	Convent, Pienza

Tuscany 1 Walking Tour Itinerary

Day		You will be picked up at either Siena or Chiusi and taken to Montalcino, a perfectly preserved walled hilltop town, famous for both its views and its red wine, Brunello di Montalcino. Included in your notes is a short walk around the outside of the town’s walls.
Day		The first walk takes you down through forests to a Romanesque abbey isolated in fields of wheat and vineyards, which is one of the most beautiful in Tuscany. Your accommodation for the night is in the small village that overlooks the abbey. (12 kms, 2.5 hrs)
Day		Today you climb up through vineyards and olive groves, to the medieval pilgrim town of San Quirico, a peaceful agricultural town and one of the most charming in the area. Despite its pedestrian centre, two beautiful Romansque churches and several beautiful gardens, San Quirico remains relatively unvisited. (12 kms, 3 hrs).
Day		From San Quirico, you follow parts of the medieval road down into the bare, rolling hills of the Val d'Orcia, with sweeping views across the valley to Mount Amiata before a short climb up to enchanting Pienza. (12 kms, 4 hrs)
Day		Walk from Pienza through forests to Montepulciano. On the way you pass a tiny fortified village, perfect for lunch. Perched on a hill between the Orcia and Chianina valleys, Montepulciano was an ally of Florence in their relentless war against Siena, and was amply rewarded and has an extraordinary architectural heritage from this period. (13 kms, 4 hrs).
Day		After breakfast, you’ll be dropped off at Chiusi, on the main Rome/Florence railway line.

For more information on this tour or to make a booking, please get in touch with us.