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CHIANTI:
WALKING FROM FLORENCE TO SIENA
Radda
– San Gimignano – Colle val d’Elsa
From Piazza della
Signoria to Piazza del Campo, a walking holiday to join two of the most
important Tuscan cities from historical and artistic point of view.
Florence
, the city of
Leonardo da Vinci
, Giotto, Dante and Brunelleschi, and
Siena
, native land of the "Palio". These
two jewels have in common the fact that they belong to one of the most
famous areas of the
Tuscany
: "the wine road", that you will cross
leaving Castellina in Chianti and walking along paths and roads
surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The typical Chianti landscape
is a hilly, varied and colourful landscape,where the famous wine -
produced since Etruscan age - is born. However, this area doesn’t
consist exclusively in vineyards and olive groves. Depending on the
season the nature offers fabulous and colourful sceneries: from the red
of the poppies to the violet of the irises, from the yellow of the
brooms to the green of the firs and cypresses. Moreover, golden stone
villages are scattered in the landscape: Gaiole, San Donato, Pieve di
San
Giusto, the
castle of Vertine and Galena, and several other castles as the Castle of
Meleto, the fortified village of Castagnoli and the famous Castle of
Brolio, property of the Ricasoli baron. In this Castle, rich in
suggestions of ancient times, you will certainly have the possibility of
tasting some good wine. The last part of the trek takes you to Colle Val
d' Elsa, a lovely medieval village and then, along the Francigena way,
up to Saint Gimignano. Its hill has an unmistakable shape, and dominates
the beautiful surrounding landscape. Before leaving
Siena
we suggest you to have a tempting break in one
of the typical pastry shops, where you can taste Panforte and
Ricciarelli.
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Programme
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Day
1
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Arrival
to Florence
Individual
arrival in
Florence
,
free time to visit the magnificent city of art, a real open-air
museum. The city of Leonardo da Vinci, Machiavelli, Giotto,
Dante and Brunelleschi, it pervades your soul with wonder at
your first visit, but it is indeed capable of offering precious
surprises and new treasures to all the people who like to come
back again.
You
are free for dinner; Spend
the night in hotel*** in the city centre.
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Day
2
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Florence
– Fiesole
After
breakfast hike to
Fiesole
:
walk through olive groves and cypress lined roads, coming across
the magnificent villas dominating the Val d’ Arno. The beauty
of the landscape is impressive, once you have reached the hill
top you can enjoy a wonderful view over
Florence
.
In the main
square
of
Fiesole
you can admire the Dome and the
Magisterial
Palace
,
dating back to the fourteenth century, the town also hosts
valuable archaeological sites. Return to
Florence
.
You are free for dinner.
Spend
the night in hotel*** in the city centre; Duration
3h 25; Ascent and descent +250 -250
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Day
3
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Castellina
in Chianti – Radda in Chianti
After
breakfast transfer with own luggage by public transport to get
to Poggibonsi. From there, private transfer to get to Castellina
in Chianti. Today’s route moves through one of the most
celebrated stretch of
Tuscany
land: “the road of Wines”. Start from Castellina in Chianti
and rumble on paths and country roads, crossing vineyards and
olive groves, to reach the medieval
village
of
Radda
in Chianti. The Chianti Classico Wine District lays in between
Florence
and
Siena
and its landscapes reveal the charming and variegated nature of
this unique countryside. This is the land where the renowned
Chianti Classico wine is produced and it is the same land where
wine has always been produced, since Etruscan times.
Dinner
and overnight stay near Radda, in hotel***; Duration
4h 45; Ascent and descent +500 -300
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Day
4
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Radda
in Chianti – Gaiole in Chianti
After
breakfast leave the Hotel, in the heart of Chianti, to reach
Gaiole in Chianti.
The
great appeal of this surroundings is not simply bound to
vineyards and olive groves, in fact, here nature can offer
enchanting sceneries of changing colours, depending on the
season: the red of poppy fields, the violet dots of irises, the
strong yellow of broom bushes, the intense green of cypresses
and firtrees. And, like a stoke of brush on the landscape, the
stone-made villages add a bright golden colour to the picture.
Look at Gaiole, San Donato, Pieve di San Giusto,
Vertine
Castle
(which dates back to the year 1020), and the eleventh century
tiny
village
of
Galena
.
Dinner
and overnight stay near Radda, in *** hotel; Duration 4h 30;
Ascent and descent +390 -290
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Day
5
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Gaiole
in Chianti – Castello di Brolio
Castles’
day. Departure from the hotel. First stop of the day is at
Meleto
Castle
,
a fortified edifice built in the fifteenth century and then
converted during the nineteenth century into a magnificent
villa, with the typical style of Tuscan countryside. Carry on
the castles’ tour passing through the fortified
village
of
Castagnoli
and getting to the famous
Brolio
Castle
,
property of the Ricasoli Baron, a suggestive site filled with
the charm of past times. You can enter past the castle walls and
walk the ancient rounds. If you like, have a look at the
Ricasoli wine vaults and take the chance for a wine tasting. In
the afternoon transfer to
Siena
on private minibus (15 km). You are free for dinner.
Overnight
stay in ***hotel; Duration
4h 30; Ascent and descent +400 -400
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Day
6
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Colle
Val d’Elsa – San Gimignano
Transfer
by public bus to Colle Val d’ Elsa, visit to the town and then
hike to Quartaia, a small rural villane of mediaeval origins.
Resume the journey through the hills to get to Coneo Abbey,
founded around the year 1000, by the Benedictines. Walking on
the historic Via Francigena you arrive at Molino d'Aiano. At
this point the mild and peaceful panorama is already gently
dominated by the unmistakable shape of San Gimignano hill.
Declared by the UNESCO World Human Heritage, the city of
San
Gimignano
holds, still intact, its mediaeval urban architecture. The
spectacle of the view you can get from the top of one of the
several town towers is invaluable! These towers are indeed the
main tourist attractions that contribute to make this city
famous worldwide. Return to
Siena
by public bus (16 km).
You
are free for dinner. Spend the night in hotel***; Duration
4h 30; Ascent and descent +400 -250
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Day
7
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Siena
After
breakfast you are free to visit
Siena
,
the famous town of the Palio. Situated on a peculiar territory,
Siena is characterised by a quaint landscape, the city unrolls
in a continuous up and down of streets, where you can discover
the most notorious monuments, like the Buonsignori Palace, with
its National Picture Gallery, the white and dark green marble
decorated Dome, of which the construction starter back in
twelfth century, the Piccolomini Library, the Baptistery and the
Museum of Metropolitan Opera, or you can simply enjoy a stroll
around Piazza del Campo and along the narrow streets, stopping
for a taste of Panforte and Ricciarelli in some of the several
typical confectioner’s shops.
Departure
in the early afternoon. |
Included
in this walking trip:
-
accommodation
in hotel***, in double room with private facilities;
-
bed
and breakfast on day 1- 2-5-6
-
half
board on day 3-4
-
luggage
transportation
-
transfer
by private minibus Poggibonsi - Castellina and Brolio -
Siena
-
detailed
route descriptions of the itinerary
-
tourist
tax in
Florence
.
-
insurance
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Period
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every
Sunday
from 1st April till 21 October (except 12/08/2012).
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Level
2/3
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Paths
and easy country roads, hilly area. It is advisable to have done
a little trekking
practice or a little training. Trekking height: between 100 and
550 mt, average duration of the stages between 3h30 and 5h00,
positive difference in height from 250 to 500 mt per day.
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Participants
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from
1 person
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Price
2012
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Per
person in double room € 575,00
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Supplement
single room € 215,00
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Travelling
alone € 290,00
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On
request
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Extra
nights in Florence or Siena
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