Tuscany, Italy - Hiking 4 Nights

Day 2 | Pienza and Monticchiello. Hiking distance 17.5 km; 5/6 hours.

From Montepulciano  you start on a quiet dirt road with sweeping views across the soft undulating hills and coontinue all the way to the enchanting hill town of Monticchiello. Almost no signs of the 20th century have made their way pst the walls of this medieval village. We suggest a nice lunch in a tiny restaurant overlooking the valley, or a picnic lunch with view. After you will climb the ramparts for a view of the route Panoramica to Pienza. You will cross vineyards, farmland, and pastures of sheep whose milk makes one of the most famous products from the area: pecorino cheese! Check into your very charming hotel in Pienza, night on your own. (B)

Day 3 | San Quirico and Bagno Vignoni. Distance 16 km; 5/6 hours.

Depart Pienza and walk to San Quirico D'Orcia pass through the little church of Madonna de vita Lete, a known postcard from this area. At the town, you arrive in a pristine hilltop village whose nearly deserted streets are paved with terra cotta. Before taking off please have quickd visit to the formal gardens called Orti Leonini. The walk then follows a broad dirt road that weaves in and out of farmlands, wheat fields and live oak woods. The destination is Bagno Vignoni, a tiny village that exists solely because of its thermal hot springs famed since Roman times. Just imagine: the main town square is a thermal swimming pool! At your hotel you can go for a swim in the 124 deg F waters of the bathing establishment, or just dip your feet in the natural hot water which emerges from the ground and flows down from there!(B)

Day 4 | Castello Ripa D'Orcia and Montalcino . Distance 18 km. 6/7 hours

Today the walk is a little longer, but not too difficult. You will soon arrive at Ripa d'Orcia, an architectural complex which has survided virtually unchanged to the present day and offers visitors the magical atmosphere of the past times surrounded by an unspoiled nature. After you will continue along the brunello vineyards which lead to the famed wine town of Montalcino, your destination. Visit the fortress to see a breathtaking view of the entire valley you've just hiked and then reward yourself with dinner at our favorite wine cellar! (B)

Day 5 | Optional - hiking Sant'Antimo Abbey . Distance 12 km; 3/4 hours

This part is optional, but highly recommended. Please leave time and do not schedule return flights today. You can walk from Montalcino along a little dirt path that sinds throught hthe hills to the minuscule medieval hamlet of Villa a Tolli. Passing through a wooded valley you suddenly come to one of the most memorable sites in all of Italy; the Abbey of Sant'Antimo. Legend has it that Charlemagne himself founded the first church on this site in the year 781. The travertine marble of which it is built is one of the finest conductors of sound and which also gives a mystical qualit to the Gregorian Chants performed by the handful of monks who live here. Breakfast is included today, but return transfers to Chiusi or other are on your own. Buses to Siena connect to Florence or Rome train station. (B)