Horseback Riding in Italy
DISCOVER TUSCANY |
The week is based in the Tuscan countryside and heart of the Chianti at a riding center (founded in 1972) which is not only a success as a riding school, but also as a base for long rides in the Chianti area. The farmhouse and stables are on the eastern slopes of the Chianti Mountains. Before it lies the broad valley of the Arno and beyond, the long ridge of the Pratomagno, with its highest point of 1,591 meters. On the other side lies the Casentino Valley, rich in castles and Romanesque churches. Behind the centre stretches the range of Chianti Mountains with their highest point of 890 meters.
This combination of riding and driving takes you into the hills of Chianti, the unspoiled area between Florence and Siena. The region is not only famous for its red wine but also for the beauty of its wooded hills, medieval castles, churches and abbeys, Renaissance villas and fortified villages. Riders with an appreciation for history will marvel at the landscape around them, knowing it was once enjoyed in centuries past by Dante and Boccaccio, Macchiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci. During the week there are frequent opportunities to meet the friendly and hospitable Tuscan people, as well as sample the varied wonders of Tuscan cooking complimented with Chianti wine.
This was my first riding vacation and it was AWESOME!! Beyond my wildest dreams. 'Your host' is a wonderful horsewoman, a charming and organized hostess, and very knowledgeable about all things Tuscan. I did not expect to get the best Italian language lesson or art history tours I've every experienced on a riding vacation, but that's your host. The food and wine were fantastic. The setting in gorgeous. The horses are lovely and very well trained.
- Susie Allison-Litton Sept 2009
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Arrive in Florence and either drive to the centre/farm, OR meet at Florence train station at 5:45 pm and transfer to the 400 year old typically Tuscan home of your host. Settle in for the week, have drinks, dinner and relax. |
| Day 2: | (Sun): Breakfast and morning ride (about 2 ˝ hours) through vineyards, olive-groves and woodland, passing near an 11th century tower and a 14th century church. Return to your base for lunch. After a short siesta join your host for a lesson in the pronunciation of Italian, which will prove useful over the following days (learn, for example, that the “ch” in Montevarchi is pronounced lie a “k”!) For dinner, freshly made, truly Italian pizzas cooked in a wood oven followed by dessert. |
| Day 3: | (Mon): Breakfast and morning ride (approx. 2 ˝ hours) in the wooded hills north of the centre, scattered with traditional farmhouses. After lunch, a guided visit to the famous frescoes of Piero della Francesca in the ancient city of Arezzo, made famous by the film, “Life is Beautiful”. There will be an opportunity to do some shopping there. Return to the centre for dinner and overnight. |
| Day 4: | (Tue): Day ride and picnic in the Chianti hills south of the centre (about 4 ˝ hours), passing the medieval village of San Leolino, and castles of Cennina and Lupinari. In the afternoon ride back to the centre where you will have the opportunity to help prepare a buffet supper using local herbs and vegetables. |
| Day 5: | (Wed): A free day to make your own arrangements for sightseeing, perhaps to visit Arezzo, Florence, Assisi or Orvieto - take your pick! All are an easy train ride from Montevarchi, and you will be driven to and from Montevarchi station. For those of you who prefer to hike, maps of local trails will be provided, and also a picnic lunch at a small extra charge. Dinner at the centre (lunch is not included today but can be arranged if you wish, for a small extra charge). |
| Day 6: | (Thu): A morning visit with your guide to Montevarchi and its famous weekly market. Lunch at a typical Tuscan restaurant in Loro Ciuffenna, a medieval village built round a ravine on the other side of the Arno valley. Return to the centre for either an afternoon ride of about two hours, returning to the farmhouse in the late afternoon, or a lesson with the instructor in the school. |
| Day 7: | (Fri): A final day ride to the top of the Chianti hills (nearly 2,500 feet) behind the centre with views of the area where the Chianti Classico wine is grown, visiting two mountain villages, Solata and Starda on the way. Enjoy a barbecue picnic on the ridge. If the conditions are uncertain, an alternative ride in the valley will be offered and the barbecue will take place in a park created by a local sculptor. Ride back in the afternoon for a final dinner and night. |
| Day 8: | (Sat): Breakfast and either your own arrangements to depart (departure is usually by 10:00), OR a short 10 minute transfer to Montevarchi to meet the train back to Florence. For those going to Rome, there is a direct train from Montevarchi every two hours. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Florence |
| Length of Ride | 8 days, 7 nights and 2 full 3 half days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-2 Maximum-10 |
| Riding Per Day | 3 - 5 hours |
| Pace | moderate |
| Tack | English |
| Horses | local Sicilian and Maremma |
| Weight Limit | 180 lbs |
| 2012 Dates | Apr 7-14, Apr 14-21, May 12-19, May 26-June 2, Sept 15-22, Sept 29-Oct 6, Oct 13-20
Additional dates may be possible to arrange |
| 2012 Price | Was $2,115, now reduced to $1,945
Non-rider price: Was $1,570, now reduced to $1,445
(Travelling with a rider) |
| Single Supplement | $235 |
| Transfers | Included at specific times |
| Additional Information | Ride price is set, guaranteed and final at the time deposit is paid. |
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