Walking in Arezzo province in Tuscany
| country: | Italy |
| location: | Tuscany |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2010: 20 Mar, 28 Apr, 18 Sep |
| price: | From £925 (8 days) excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
introduction to Walking in Arezzo province in Tuscany
Tuscany is more mountainous than you might imagine. The region is divided by two north-south ridges - the Tusco-Emiliano on the east and the Apuane on the west, boasting peaks up to 2053m - Mount Prato.
As you head south the mountains soften into more gentle terrain of the pre Appenines....and into the more familiar "draws" of Lucca and Florence, plus Siena whose founders, Aschius and Senius, sons of Romulus and Remus, helped to elaborate the myth of the wolf.
Arezzo is a small province tucked in the north east corner of Tuscany. Formerly a great rival to its neighbours Florence and Siena, it had its heyday in the 13th Century. Here you will feel steeped in the past, as well being able to enjoy landscapes reminiscent of the Lake District, Hereford and Lancashire.
The region is chock full of the history of its famous men, Michelangelo among them, and offers both a diverse range of territory and a remarkable lack of visitors. A trip north takes you through the lush green valley of the Arno, whose source is Monte Falterona (1654m) to enjoy the famous La Verna Franciscan monastery, the delightful villages of Poppi and Bibbiena, before a walk in the Casentino National Park.
Go east to encounter the source of the Tiber, and a wealth of historical villages including Sansepolcro which lies next to the evocatively named "Mountain of the Moon". Head west over the famous Ponte Buriano, pictured in the Mona Lisa, to enjoy the Val de Chiana and its picturesque villages, Civitella, Monte san Sevino and Lucignano.
As you head south the mountains soften into more gentle terrain of the pre Appenines....and into the more familiar "draws" of Lucca and Florence, plus Siena whose founders, Aschius and Senius, sons of Romulus and Remus, helped to elaborate the myth of the wolf.
Arezzo is a small province tucked in the north east corner of Tuscany. Formerly a great rival to its neighbours Florence and Siena, it had its heyday in the 13th Century. Here you will feel steeped in the past, as well being able to enjoy landscapes reminiscent of the Lake District, Hereford and Lancashire.
The region is chock full of the history of its famous men, Michelangelo among them, and offers both a diverse range of territory and a remarkable lack of visitors. A trip north takes you through the lush green valley of the Arno, whose source is Monte Falterona (1654m) to enjoy the famous La Verna Franciscan monastery, the delightful villages of Poppi and Bibbiena, before a walk in the Casentino National Park.
Go east to encounter the source of the Tiber, and a wealth of historical villages including Sansepolcro which lies next to the evocatively named "Mountain of the Moon". Head west over the famous Ponte Buriano, pictured in the Mona Lisa, to enjoy the Val de Chiana and its picturesque villages, Civitella, Monte san Sevino and Lucignano.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Florence. Transfer to Galealpe agriturismo, just outside the hamlet of Pieve san Giovanni. In house dinner cooked by local chefs. |
| Day 2: | Walk to Ponte Buriano. A gentle introductory walk through the fields via Cincelli to Ponte Buriano. This fine bridge over the River Arno is renowned for being in the background of the Mona Lisa. Head east to Castelluccio for a picnic, and a visit to a local café, before heading north again. Dinner at Galealpe. |
| Day 3: | Casentino National Park. We head North East to the Casentino National Park, enjoy the splendour of the Franciscan monastery of La Verna, before enjoying a delicious sandwich lunch at a trattoria in Camaldoli, and an afternoon walk in the shadow of Mont Falterona. Evening dinner at the fab 50’s themed - La Corte dell’Oca. |
| Day 4: | Free day. Free day to relax at Galealpe or to explore Arezzo beautiful buildings, and take in some café culture and some gentle shopping. Evening dinner at Galealpe. |
| Day 5: | Valley of the Tiber. A day to the Valtiberina to the east to walk in the valley of the Tiber, beneath the Alpe della Luna – Mountain of the Moon. Rolling countryside, riddled with pathways, where wolf traces can often be seen. Dinner at Galealpe. |
| Day 6: | Val di Chiana. We head west across the Arno basin to Val di Chiana, and the small walled village of Civitella. The walk takes a stop in Gargonza, an old castle in land that belonged to a cousin of the King of Italy and is now a 4 Star hotel. Dinner cooked by local chefs. |
| Day 7: | Poppi and Bibbiena. Poppi and Bibbiena are the two most important centres in the Casentino. After a brief visit to Poppi’s magnificent castle we head west to the lush commune of Ortignano-Raggiolo, a valley rich with chestnut groves and the Chestnut EcoMuseum in the charming village of Raggiolo. |
| Day 8: | Departure. Transfer back to Florence for flight home. |
travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment
Alessandra and Andrea welcome you to their olive farm surrounded by 20 hectares of groves. The farm contributes to the Mountain Community to protect the environment for local flora and fauna and is a keen member of a project of a rural project to minimize chemical fertilizers and to avoid chemical treatment of the trees. Guests can opt to take part in the olive harvest in November – contact member for more details. The farmhouse has been restored using only local chestnut and oak wood, local stones and traditional handmade cotto bricks for the flooring. All the materials in the house have been treated with natural oil and wax, and natural paint for the walls. Low energy bulbs are used; local wood is used in stoves, maximum re-cycling of waste is carried out and the water comes directly from a local spring. Preservation of this resource is actively encouraged. Guests are actively encouraged to respect nature when out walking. In line with the published code of the National Park, our clients are encouraged to treat the region with respect and thus uphold the standards of conservation required in such a fragile area. Community Local, qualified, correctly paid guides are used, and all food and drink purchased in the region, including that used by the bevy of ladies from the village, to create favourite dishes. We only work with qualified guides for all activities. These passionate locals in the Mercantour create a genuine and rich experience for our visitors. They are paid the appropriate rate for professional guides. A project for three bases in the Alpes-Maritimes is underway. This would provide an inspiring holiday venue for young and old alike. Access for the handicapped would be included. We are planning to use pack animals so our guests can share their adventures with a faithful companion, and leave directly from Berthemont. As permanent residents in the Mercantour, our business is fully integrated into the community in the Vésubie valley – using local qualified guides paid a living wage, and individually run hotels which ensures that all revenue generated is beneficial to the life of the area. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |
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