General Information Walk from medieval Siena to Pienza, the first renaissance ‘city’. The best of Southern Tuscany, with its superb art and architecture, irresistible rolling hills, long views and the picturesquely eroded ‘Crete’. Visit some of the best wine-producing areas in Tuscany – Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano , exquisite abbeys of Sant’antimo and Monte Oliveto Maggiore. This is an 8-day trip with 5 days walking, 1 day is optional Shortest / Longest days walk: 3 / 7 hrs.
Travel Information Travel: Train from Pisa or Florence to Siena
Dates: Start any day from 01 Apr to 31 Oct
Level of Difficulty Terrain: Open hills with long views. Paths lie mostly along farm tracks; ancient drove roads, forest tracks, and gravel country roads.
Food & wine Superb red wines of the area, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, complement the cuisine. Good trattorie everywhere on route and some very good restaurants. Traditional Tuscan cooking with game, steaks, beans, wild mushrooms, truffles and homemade pasta.
Accommodation On this trip there is both Standard and Superior accommodation packages. Night 1: Siena Standard: ** Piccolo Hotel Etruria Small, simple hotel in heart of medieval centre. Room only. Superior: *** Santa Caterina 18th century villa, close to the historic centre B&B Night 2: Lucignano *** Borgo Antico Family-run hotel in hamlet converted from traditional fattoria. B&B Night 3: Buonconvento Standard: ** Roma Simple inn with trattoria in lively little walled town. HB Superior: *** Il Ghibellino Family-run, new hotel in centre of town. HB Night 4 & 5: Montalcino *** Dei Capitani Comfortable hotel with superb views, small pool in summer. B&B Night 6: Bagno Vignoni Standard: *** Le Terme Modern hotel overlooking Roman baths. B&B Superior: *** Locanda Del Loggiato Comfortable locanda in small village. B&B Night 7: Pienza Standard: *** Residence San Gregorio Converted theatre, close to centre with swimming pool. B&B Superior: *** Il Chiostro Converted monastery in town, with cloisters, pool in summer and views. B&B Extension hotel: Montepulciano *** Il Marzocco Family-run 16th century hotel with panoramic views. B&B
Itinerary Day 1: Arrive in Siena The best-preserved great medieval city in Europe. Day 2: Siena to Lucignano Walk south from Siena following the route of the early medieval Via Francigena, across the open hills of the crete, to Lucignano. (12.8 miles, 6.5hrs) Day 3: Lucignano to Buonconvento Walk through pastures, vineyards and olive groves overlooking the Arbia and Ombrone valleys, to walled Buonconvento. its small museum housing 14th/15th century masterpieces(8.1 miles, 4 hrs) . Optional excursion to the great Benedictine Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore and its cloister of the magnificent frescoes by Signorelli and Sodoma. Day 4: Buonconvento to Montalcino Walk over open hills and through the famous vineyards of Brunello to anoramically situated Montalcino, centre of the Brunello wine area. (11.7 miles, 5.5hrs) Day 5: Free day in Montalcino Superbly sited medieval town with 14th century castle and museum with 14th and 15th century paintings. Opportunities for wine-tasting. Day 6: Montalcino to Bagno Vignoni Walk through the vineyards of Brunello to the superb Romanesque church of Sant’Antimo, built of alabaster and onyx. Then on to the Orcia Valley and to Bagno Vignoni, with its Roman thermal baths in central piazza. (14.1 miles, 7hrs) Day 7: Bagno Vignoni to Pienza Walk along the Orcia valley then across open farmland to Pienza, birthplace of Aeneas Piccolomini. When elected Pope Pius II in 1458, he commissioned the architect Rossolino to convert his birthplace into the first Renaissance city. A five-minute walk from end-to-end, Pienza has a delightful papal palaca, 'cathedral' and museum. (5.9 miles, 2.5hrs) Day 8: Depart today or extend your trip to Montepulciano Walk to the centre of the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano wine district via the church of San Biagio, and explore Montepulcliano's fine palazzi, cathedral, frescoed churches and museum. (8.3 miles, 4hrs).
Notes No. Of luggage moves included: 5 No. Of nights with half board (dinner included): 1
5-day option available (Buonconvento to Pienza)
Cycling option also available - up to 128.7 miles.
