The trip had a really good balance of activities, with plently to do while still leaving you time to relax and chill out. Tuscany is so beautiful and Fattoria Voltrona was a great place to stay. I would definitely recommend this trip to my friends.
We walked the Via from San Miniato to Buonconvento, a major life experience.
The Tuscan countryside unfolds and offers picture-perfect vistas every day. The track is very quiet, some days we would only see one or two other walking groups, so plenty of time for reflection.
The days were longer than we expected, we certainly weren't fast walkers, so obviously that plays in, but we did find that some of the stretches were uncomfortably hot, in full sun. Often there was long stretches between water, and not many places to stop. You need to factor this in to your thinking and expectations. We had thought about this in advance and carried sun umbrellas that clipped onto our belts and backpacks so that we could walk with our own shade with hands free to use poles... strongly recommend investment.
Some of the accommodations were fantastic, others quirky and fun, and a couple disappointing. Highlights in Gambassi Terme and our last night before Buonconvento.
An amazing walk through the Tuscan countryside. Exceptional organisation and attention to detail meant we could concentrate on having a great time and not have to worry about accommodation, meals and transfers. Thanks!
Discover the Tuscan countryside and culture on this 8-day self-guided walking tour. Through the extensive footpath network of the area, roughly following the traces of the Via Francigena, one of Europe’s most important ‘highways’ in medieval times, you walk from village to village and experience a full immersion in the world-famous Tuscan landscape. The tour is perfect as an introduction to the region and a great choice for people who love museums, galleries and Gothic and Romanesque architecture. You have plenty of time to visit attractions on most of the days.
You will also have time to visit all the beautiful medieval villages and historic towns along the Via Francigena: starting from beautiful Lucca, you’ll pass through Fucecchio, San Miniato, Gambassi Terme, the stunning San Gimignano with its medieval skyscrapers and Monteriggioni, admired by Dante in his Divine Comedy. An optional detour can bring you to beautiful Colle Val d’Elsa and the tour ends in Siena, arguably the most perfectly preserved medieval town in Tuscany. This tour threads together some of the most attractive towns and villages in Tuscany in an eloquent procession.
However, the emphasis of the tour is to enjoy the countryside, the rolling vineyards, the poppies in spring and the wild cyclamen in autumn. The area north of Siena is an amazing landscape of rolling hills, alternating vineyards and forests, while cypresses line the way leading to the distant farmhouses. Walking here is an unforgettable experience and many of the views have barely changed for hundreds of years.
Accommodation and some meals are included. You spend a night in one of the best agriturismos in Tuscany, and the final night in the heart of Siena, in one of the most characteristic little hotels.
This is a moderately easy tour which is suitable for those who have some experience of walking and a good general physical condition.
We walked the whole Italian Via Francigena and though it was sometimes challenging weather-wise it was a fabulous way to really see and experience Italy. The support and organisation through UTracks was excellent!
Lose yourself in three of Europe's most enchanting countries on this 15-day adventure from Barcelona to Rome. Arrive in the vibrant streets of Barcelona, then travel into the heart of the Spanish Pyrenees. Discover Provencal food and world-class wines as you frolic with Europe’s high rollers in the French Riviera, then feast on breathtaking sights in the cliff-top towns of the Cinque Terre. See master works of art in Florence and get your iconic pic at the leaning Torre de Pisa. Call into beautiful Siena before ending it all in the ancient city of Rome.
