Compare Tuscany Italy Walking and Culinary Adventure by Walking Connection vs Tuscany: Cycle Siena & Chianti by Exodus Travels
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 9 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 4,698 | $ 2,925 |
| Price Per Day | $ 522 | $ 366 |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches and 6 Dinners |
All breakfasts are included and are Continental in style, consisting of coffee or tea, cereals, cheese and cold meat, bread, pastries, yoghurt, jam and/or honey. Tuscan food is authentic and surprising – pizza and pasta are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the diverse cuisine on this trip. Starters may include antipasti of cured meats or a crostini di fegato made from toasted bread slices topped with chicken liver pâté . Soup options may include the classic bean dish of zuppa di fagioli or ribollita, a delicious, hearty vegetable and bread soup. For mains, you might try the truffle-infused pasta dish tagliatelle al tartufo or a mouth-watering T-bone steak delicacy known as bistecca alla Fiorentina. End your meal with cantucci biscuits dipped into a glass of the sweet dessert wine known as vin santo for a true taste of Tuscany. While Tuscan cuisine has a strong meat focus, vegetarians can be well catered for. Please inform us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking. |
| Description |
In years gone by, Florence, Siena and the rolling hills of Tuscany were the old stomping grounds for The Walking Connection. Come join us on our Tuscany Italy Walking Tour and Culinary Adventure. Our Tuscany journey begins in Firenze (Florence), the historic center and crown jewel of the region! |
The Tuscan landscape is one of the most evocative and romantic in Europe, with cypress tree-lined roads, olive groves, vineyards, ancient hilltop towns and, of course, classic Renaissance cities. Our group cycling tour is carefully planned to take in the best of Tuscany without feeling rushed: part of the joy of the Italian lifestyle is sitting and watching the world go by with a glass of wine in your hand. We ride through historically diverse areas of Tuscany, such as the Chianti hills and beautiful countryside around Montepulciano. Riding north, we discover a wonderfully scenic region, home to some of Tuscany’s most beautiful towns and villages. We then enjoy the magnificent Piazza del Campo in Siena before biking past the towers of San Gimignano and on to our final destination in Florence. Following country roads wherever possible, we mix point-to-point and circular rides to make a perfect cycling tour of this region.Ride along the back roads of classic Tuscany |
Day 1: Arrive Florence
Meals: Dinner
Upon your arrival at Florence airport, you will be met and transferred to our hotel near the banks of the Arno River. Start you exploration of the city before before our “Benvenuti” dinner at a local trattoria.
Day 2: Florence to Siena
Meals: Continental Breakfast and Dinner
We depart the Firenzi for the renowned city of Siena. After touring the city by foot we’ll break for a casual lunch with some time left over for some all important shopping. Some of the most important Italian artists and poets walked these streets: Dante, Leonardo, Boccaccio and Petrarca.
This afternoon we’ll transfer to Dievole for a wine tasting and classic Tuscan antipasti. Sample cheeses, Tuscan salami, bread and Tuscan oil.After a stop in Monteriggioni, the perfectly round walled town we begin our stay at an great villa in Panzano.
Days 3: Panzano and San Gimignano
Meals: Continental Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
We start our day with a walk outside the town walls into the countryside that is home to intense farming activity. The vineyards surrounding San Gimignano are well known for their white wine, Vernaccia. The path follows the ridge tops with panoramic views of this beautifully cultivated region, as well as through the vineyards with row after row of neatly tended grapevines – all punctuated by ancient villas.
After a wine tasting/lunch at a traditional farmhouse, we continue on to one of the most famous of the Tuscan villages, San Gimignano, Italy’s best-preserved medieval city, is a fantastic landmark. This is an easy afternoon jaunt, which will have us arriving in the village in time for gelato, an unforgettable experience. After a day of exploring this varied and enthralling land by foot, nothing is better than a simply prepared Tuscan dinner in the hotel restaurant complemented by the esteemed local wines.
Day 4: Tuscany Countryside Walk – Cooking Class
Meals: Continental Breakfast and Dinner
We’ll spend the day on a guided classic country walk in the Tuscan hills and then return to Castellina in Chianti. Learn first hand what is like to cook an authentic Tuscan meal during a private cooking class and then enjoy a wonderful dinner you helped prepare.
Day 5: Panzono and Montalcino
Meals: Continental Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast we depart for Montalcino and the beginning of the next part of our Italian adventure. We will meet with a guide for an introduction walk through vineyards and olive trees to enter the Sienese Crete area before we arrive in the small region of Pieve a Salti. We get to sample a traditional farmhouse lunch, before continuing our journey will take us to the 14th century Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore.
The Abbey is one of the most impressive religious buildings in Italy. Our final destination, Montalcino is the wine producing area of Brunello (Southern Tuscany) and is known as one of the most famous wine regions in Italy.
This evening there is a gourmet dinner, which will be hosted by one of the most famous Brunello wine producers in the area.
Day 6: Sant’ Antimo
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning we walk with our Guide to Sant’ Antimo, a lovely abbey, which is isolated in the middle of a pastoral landscape and is dotted with grazing flocks of sheep. The Abbey is one of the few places in the world where you can hear the genuine Gregorian chant (no music—only human voice). Sant’Antimo is known as the “the singing stone” because of the travertine marble that makes the Gregorian chant sound so beautiful. After a picnic lunch, we take a comfortable walk back to the hotel.
Tonight we enjoy a special wine tasting at Castello Romitorio.
Day 7: Pienzo – Bagno Vignoni
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Today there is an early start as we travel by coach to a nearby trailhead. From here we begin a walk to the village of Pienza with our guide. This idyllic town is known as the place where Pope Pious II (1405-1464) was born. It is said that he wanted to transform Pienza into a beautiful papal residence in Renaissance style. We walk across the quintessential Tuscan landscape of rolling hills, wooded areas and quaint villages and enjoy lunch (not included) in the lovely village.
An afternoon walk takes us to our new home in the village of Bagno Vignoni, a thermal bathing place where the main square is a basin of steaming hot water, alternatively you can choose to travel back via coach. Our dinner tonight is at the hotel restaurant.
Day 8: Monticchiello – Montepulciano
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast. Walk. Wine. Today we are headed to the small hill village of Monticchiello, where we stop for lunch. Montichiello is immersed in the Sienese crete, a typical southern Tuscan landscape comprising of clay formations. Here you will see one of the most memorable landscapes of your whole trip, before continuing to Montepulciano. This is one of our only village-to-village walks, so if you’re not up for it, we can arrange for a ride for you instead.
Day 9: Depart Tuscany
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, for those headed to the Cinque Terre, we set off for Sestri Levante Ligure. For those headed home or to points beyond, you will be transferred to a convenient train station in Empoli for direct trains to Florence or south to Rome. (Please note that the train fare is not included).
Day 1 Start at your hotel in the Orcia Valley
We start in the Orcia Valley, staying in one the local hilltop towns, San Quirico D'Orcia or Pienza. There’ll be a welcome briefing at the hotel, where we gather as a group to go over the trip ahead.
Day 2 Circular ride through classic Tuscan countryside via the wine town of Montepulciano and thermal spa village of Bagno Vignoni
Today we enjoy a circular ride in the Orcia Valley. Taking in Pienza and San Quirico d'Orcia, we cycle to the beautifully situated wine centre of Montepulciano, best known for producing vino nobile. We then head towards the medieval village of Monticchiello and on to the well known thermal bath of Bagno Vignoni, before making our way back to the hotel.
Day 3 Ride through vineyards and the walled town of Murlo to Siena
A classic day's riding, showing Tuscany at its most picturesque. Following back roads, we head out of San Quirico with a first stop at Montalcino. We then descend on the road to Buonconvento and ride back up to Murlo, passing by Bibbiano. From here, we ascend the short but steep Rospatoio Pass and take a lovely road section via Ville di Corsano as we approach the splendid gothic city of Siena. If staying in Pienza (26 August 2023 departure), today's ride is an extra 6mi (10km).
Day 4 Free day in Siena to explore or relax
Siena is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Italy and home to the grand Piazza del Campo. There is plenty to see in Siena and its sights are best explored on foot as the town is compact but hilly. There are many museums and buildings of interest to visit, such as the impressive duomo (cathedral). Alternatively, you may choose to head out for an unguided ride.
Day 5 Ride via Gaiole and Radda to Castellina in Chianti
From Siena, we head directly into the heart of Chianti. Our picturesque route takes us via some lovely small villages and hamlets, plus spectacular vineyards and castles, such as Castello di Brolio. Here there is the option to taste some of the finest regional wines. We then cycle on to Gaiole for lunch and, after a gelato stop in Radda, follow our final section to Castellina in Chianti, where we stay for two nights.
Day 6 Circular ride through the Chianti hills via towers of San Gimignano and Monteriggioni
From Castellina, we ride through rolling countryside before taking a scenic descent into the lower valley. From Poggibonsi, we head towards the distant towers of San Gimignano, nestled between hills and small hamlets. The Unesco-recognised town, famous for its towers, vernaccia wine and saffron, is one of the most visited and interesting sights in Tuscany. We spend a few hours enjoying the atmosphere, walking by the walls and admiring the high towers. Our return involves a long but beautiful climb before reaching Castellina and a well-deserved gelato.
Day 7 Cycle to Florence via Panzano and Greve in Chianti
Our final ride passes through Panzano towards the market town of Greve in Chianti. This is considered one of the most scenic roads in Tuscany, which links Florence to Siena via the Chianti hills. On arrival in Greve in Chianti, we have time to admire the triangular piazza that hosts the Chianti wine festival before heading towards Strada and Impruneta, known for their terracotta production. In Impruneta, we stop for lunch. We finish by taking a panoramic road towards Florence, cycling all the way to Piazzale Michelangelo. We will arrive in Florence in the early afternoon, giving you time to start exploring this wonderful Renaissance city, including the cathedral and Baptistery of Saint John. Don’t miss the Ponte Vecchio, a medieval stone bridge lined with jewellers, which connects the two banks of the river Arno.
Day 8 End Florence.
The trip comes to an end after breakfast. However, if you’d like a little longer to explore this magnificent city, please speak to your sales representative.
