The essence of Tuscany: Via Francigena & Val d’Orcia (8 days) - TUS 3

Day 1
Arrival in Florence and transfer to Colle Val d’Elsa (either by private taxi or public transport), where you settle in your hotel in the old town, known for its perfectly preserved “tunnel” streets and for its crystal ware. According to your arrival time, you can go for a short visit to the town centre.
Total walking time: around 1 hour + sightseeing time

Day 2
The first day walk takes you at first through the whole historical town centre of Colle Val D’Elsa, perhaps not as famous as other Tuscan towns, but with a very interesting 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. Follows a short stretch through the river valley and past an old water mill. Then you start to climb up along a comfortable track up to the beautiful agriturismo, where you will spend the next two nights. Be sure to be there on time, to enjoy its fabulous setting and surroundings, and perhaps its library or swimming pool. For those who want there is also a longer option to walk to here. Dinner at the private restaurant is included tonight.
Total walking time: around 3,5 hours + sightseeing time (4-5 hours with extra option).

Day 3
After breakfast you begin your walk to San Gimignano, directly from the agriturismo. First make your way up along the ridge to the small hamlets of Ciuciano and San Donato, passing along 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, olive and cypress groves on either side. You have time to explore this small romantic old town with towers that remain from medieval times. The town once had 52 of these towers (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. Do make a nice stroll along its impressive medieval town walls. In the town itself there are numerous places to enjoy lunch. 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. At night you have another good meal at the agriturismo.
Total walking time: around 4 – 5 hours (+ circa 1 h. in San Gimignano – various options).

Day 4
Today you leave the agriturismo, heading for Monteriggioni, defined by Dante as a crown in the landscape. 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 of Tuscany, la Badia a Conèo. The next stop is Quartaia, followed by Gracciano, once one of the most important wheat towns of 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 the time for a drink in the square. Then you are picked up by your taxi and transferred to Siena, where you settle in your centrally located hotel, and 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’.
Total walking time: around 5 hours + sightseeing time.

Optional extra day
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, its Palazzo Publico with pictures and frescoes including Lorenzetti’s ‘Good and Bad Government’. There is also a cathedral built in 1196-1216 with the remarkable Libreria Piccolomini, decorated by Pinturicchio. See the Medieval Duomo of black and white marble, Museo dell’Opera with Duccio’s Maestà, the list goes on and on….

Day 5
Today you first make a short train ride to Asciano, a beautiful, yet unknown, walled town. From here you start your walk in southern direction. 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. The walk is relatively short so there is time to visit both the charming village of Asciano and the monastery. You settle in one of the quiet, comfortable rooms. In the evening you dine in the nearby restaurant in the old entrance tower.
Total walking time: around 4,5 hours + sightseeing time (5,5 hours with extra option).

Day 6
From the Convent of Monte Oliveto you first walk uphill to the small village of Chiusure, in a commanding position on a ridge, with a wonderful view on the monastery of Monte Oliveto and the whole area of the ‘Crete Senesi’. Then you continue your walk, mostly downhill, to Buonconvento, another walled medieval town. Crossing olive tree fields along woodland tracks and so called ‘strade bianche’ (‘white’ gravel roads), you will eventually reach this small town, where the Emperor Henry VII died in 1313. From here you have the possibility to either continue the walk or take the bus to Montepulciano, where you stay the last two nights.
Total walking time: around 3,5 hours + sightseeing time (shorter option: 1,5 – 2,5 hours).

Day 7
After breakfast you walk down the medieval alleys of Montepulciano to the impressive Chiesa di San Biagio, a 16th Century church nestled at the edge of the village walls, overlooking the winding valley below. From here you commence our walk into the picturesque valley and through vineyards, olive groves, past pastel coloured villas and across rolling hills. This is a morning of delightful Tuscan scenery enjoyed and experienced at its best – by foot. You then reach the restful village of Montichiello, where you can enjoy a flavoursome lunch under the welcome shade of creeping grapevines with a stunning view out upon Montichiello’s ancient main village gateway.
After lunch you can either continue the walk and reach the wonderful Renaissance town of Pienza, or join the locals on a short local bus ride back to Montepulciano and then enjoy a sightseeing tour of its labyrinthine maze of alleyways and laneways and imposing defensive walls. The rest of the afternoon is then at leisure to explore and perhaps shop amidst Montepulciano’s classy boutiques.
Total walking time: around 3,5 hours + sightseeing time (5,5 hours with extra option).

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.

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.