SIENNA BORDER TRAIL - ITALY
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As the name implies this trail skirts the borders of the province of Sienna, the most beautiful province of Tuscany and also the one most steeped in history at the heart of one of the areas of settlement of the Etruscans, who settled only in the most favourable parts of Italy. The starting point of the tour is a small, picturesque town at the southernmost end of Tuscany, on the border between the provinces of Grosseto and Siena. The accommodation is designed to show you all aspects of local life in comfort. This is an all round experience of the region on horseback, not just a ride in Italy. Your friendly hosts Michele and Nicola look after your every need and delight in showing you their country. Ever varying gourmet meals introduce you to the various regional specialities - find out where Italy's international reputation for excellent food originates!
SAMPLE ITINERARY - SIENNA BORDER TRAIL
Day 1
Upon arrival the meeting point is the castle of the small town of Proceno. At dinner your guide will introduce the itinerary and plan for the next days.
Day 2
Starting from the stables, which are a five-minute car ride from our quarters, our first outing will be a round trip in the Conteé di Montorio and Castell Ottieri area, giving riders the opportunity to get to know their horses. This countryside unique in Italy offers the observer an ever-changing series of staggered terraces. The fields lined with trees drop steeply at their borders and continue below on another plane. There are continually changing views into deep valleys and high plains.
Day 3
After breakfast the horses, already saddled, await their riders. The trek begins with a view of the typical hill formations of this region, the Crete senese, gentle clay undulations on which the odd cypress tree grows here and there, with expansive wheat fields and inaccessible meadows with grazing sheep, interspersed with isolated, mostly deserted farm houses. After crossing the river Paglia and the via francigena, a road built in the middle ages connecting Rome and Paris, we take a country road with a gentle upward gradient in the direction of Celle sul Rigo. The view which now emerges reveals two separate wide valleys, which can be seen stretching out on both the left and right sides from the riders’ vantage point - an ever-changing image of higgledy-piggledy wheat fields and fields of sunflowers decorated with olive trees and framed with stretches of forests. During the afternoon the trail takes us along gravelled roads continually leading uphill. As we cross the bed of the river Rigo our eyes are now permanently focussed on our night quarters, proudly perched high above us on the Rocca di Radicofani. Having reached our destination, somewhat tired but with a sense of achievement, we can look back on the route we have just taken
Day 4
In the morning we take a northerly route downhill through forests, soon reaching open country with a full view towards the southern end of the famous Val d´Orcia. In what is probably the most beautiful and most often photographed part of Tuscany we witness “in the flesh” the classic cliché calendar photos which are so often sniggered at: stone houses framed with cypresses on the top of small hills, gravelled roads winding their way through the wheat fields like snakes, an ancient Roman church nestling on the open plains in an olive grove and more cypress-lined roads. From the highest point of the valley, Castilioncello we can again enjoy the entire beauty of the valley but this time from the opposite side, before turning to descend into a belt of forest until we reach our quarters for the night near Sarteano.
Day 5:
In the morning we will set off towards the Umbrian border. As we ride along the foothills of Monte Cetona, the landscape changes as we approach the vineyards of the famous Chianti wine-growing region. Next to large fields of sunflowers we can see impressive fattorias (wine growers and wine cellars) with their respective vineyards. Passing various country villas on the way we arrive at Piazze, the small, medieval town on the eastern flank of the mountain. A picnic lunch will be served in an olive grove, where we will have a well-earned rest in the shade of its trees and perhaps indulge in a little wishful thinking about renovating the adjacent empty farmhouse as a holiday home. In the afternoon we arrive at a magnificently renovated borgo (hamlet) with its own castle in the middle of tree-cladded hills, from where we then set off for the equally impressive residential area above the old Roman thermal spa, San Casciano dei Bagni, gaining a good impression from some of the houses of the splendour of this bathing resort. Our accommodation is also a nice small hotel close to the spa where the lady of the household does the cooking herself.
Day 6
During the morning we will follow the Umbrian border towards the highest mountain of the region, Monte Cetona - around which we will by now have almost ridden full circle - at the heart of the Etruria region, an ancient area of settlement of the Etruscans. We will climb through extensive areas of forest with our horses on stony narrow pathways to the cross at the summit and will experience a fantastic panorama encompassing the three Italian provinces of Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany. The descent will be made partly on foot, giving the horses a chance to spare their tired legs. After the lunch we take our leave and follow a wonderful mountain road to return in the evening to our comfortable accommodation in San Casciano dei Bagni along winding mountain paths. Today we will have time to explore the small town centre before dinner.
Day 7
We ride along country paths through the Crete senese gently up and down the hills past the expansive wheat fields, through shady patches of forest and past a reservoir, indispensable in summer, across a chain of hills. From here our journey takes us further downhill past deserted romantic farmhouses and fallow fields. We reach the border between Lazio and Tuscany in Cetona near the via francigena, which we crossed once before at the beginning of our trail. We enjoy our picnic lunch on the banks of the river Paglia. The last part of the trail leads us uphill once again to our last quarters, the country house where we had an enjoyable stay for the first two days of our trail.
Day 8
Your departure after breakfast marks the end of this fabulous riding holiday.
The weight limit for this ride is 14 st/198 lb/90 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
The program contains seven nights in double rooms with private bathroom, in comfortable farmhouses, little hotels and inns. On six days full board with Italian breakfast, lunch picnic or light meal in restaurants and three or four course dinner; incl. table wine and water, horse riding as described and English speaking guide. On arrival day dinner; on departure day breakfast. Luggage transfer during the week. Transfers from Orvieto train station.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Transfer to and from Orvieto, items of a personal nature. If you would like a transfer from Rome airport to Orvieto the starting point, please enquire.
FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
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