FOOD, WINE & WALKING IN TUSCANY
FLORENCE TO SIENA WALKING HOLIDAY SUMMARY Discover the magic of Chianti; old farmhouses, medieval villages, rows of cypress trees, quiet forests of oak, beach and chestnut, the lively atmosphere of an outside table on the piazza and the cherry flavours of a glass of Chianti Classico. This is the definitive Tuscany!
Begin with two nights in Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance; romantic, intriguing and utterly beguiling. Explore the Etruscan and Roman ruins in Fiesole. Indulge yourself in the enotecas and picture perfect landscapes of Greve in Chianti. Walk through vineyards and medieval hamlets to Radda in Chianti. Stroll through the Piazza del Campo in Sienna.
The very best way to discover the secrets of Chianti is on foot. Your walking holiday in Chianti includes hand-picked 3 * superior and 4 star charming hotels, all breakfasts, luggage transfers, some transfers, comprehensive route notes and maps and a detailed pre-departure information pack and emergency telephone support. Tour: Florence to Siena Code: WItSFS Type: Self-Guided Walking Holiday HIGHLIGHTS Price: See Website Dates: April to October on any day Walking Days: 5 Exploring romantic Florence, cradle of the Renaissance. Days: 8 Walking through the vineyard cloaked hills of Chianti. Nights: 7 Enjoying the lively atmosphere of an outdoor table on the piazza. Start: Florence Finish: Siena The serious business of food, wine and olive oil appreciation. Distance: 6—15.5 km Daily Grade: Easyto Moderate Strolling across the Piazza del Campo in Siena.
WHY CHOOSE MACS ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS? IS IT FOR ME? We specialise in outstanding self guided walking holidays where every last detail is taken care of. We Relaxed walking through some of Eu- know what makes for an unforgettable adventure; great walking, breathtaking scenery, warm and rope’s most beautiful cities and land- welcoming accommodation of character and wonderful food and wine. All backed up by outstanding scapes, food and wine to die for, charm- customer service from experts, who really care about you having a wonderful holiday. ing hotels. You’re going to love it!
Each holiday we offer is unique, tailor made to meet your requirements. From your first contact with Macs Adventure Holidays you will deal with a local specialist who knows the region intimately and will ensure WHAT’S INCLUDED? that you enjoy a truly unforgettable walking holiday in Italy. Accommodation: Hand-picked 3 & 4* hotels. WHY CHOOSE A SELF GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY IN CHIANTI? Meals: A tasty local breakfast is included each morning. Other meals are not included but Walking allows you to really engage with the food, wine, history and people of Chianti. Our routes are always available at your accommodation or carefully planned so that you can discover the very best of Chianti at your own pace. Discover the art and nearby. architectural treasures of Florence and Siena, the food and wine of rural Chianti and the hospitable people Baggage Transfer: Included as per itinerary Transfers: Included as per itinerary. of Tuscany on your own terms. Travel: Not included. FLORENCE TO SIENA
FOOD, WINE & WALKING IN CHIANTI
DETAILED ITINERARY typical Tuscan landscape of olive groves, DAY 4 cypress trees and renaissance villas unrolls Tour: Florence to Siena before you, with the city of Florence at your feet. Panzano Circular Walk Code: WItSFS The second option couldn't get more Tuscan! Days: 8 (5 Days Walking) Fiesole, founded in the 7th century BC, boasts The Panzano loop itinerary, walk is through the Nights: 7 Etruscan ruins, Roman baths and amphitheatres, Overnights: 2 Florence, 2 Grieve in a Franciscan Monastery, Tuscan Renaissance hills surrounding the village, in the classic Chianti Chianti, 2 Radda in Chianti, 1 Siena art and outstanding restaurants. You’ve a choice landscape that alternates forests with vineyards, of walks today. offering you the possibility to discover ancient Roman farmsteads.. Day Route Km Walk 1: 8 km | 347m Ascent 224m Descent | 3 hrs Walk: 12km | 385m Ascent /Descent | 4 hrs 1 Arrive Florence 0 Walk 2: 16 km | 567m Ascent 566m Descent | Overnight: Greve in Chianti 2 Walk from Settignano to 8/16 6 hrs Fiesole DAY 5 3 Circular walk from Greve 10/11.5 Overnight: Florence Walk from Badiaccia Montemuro to in Chianti Radda in Chianti 4 Walk from Panzano to 6.5/12 DAY 3 Greve in Chianti Greve in Chianti Circular Walk After breakfast, a short car transfer takes you to 5 Walk from Badiaccia Mon- 12-14 the highest of the Chianti hills, Monte San temuro to Radda in Chianti After breakfast, a private transfer will take you to Michele. From Badiaccia you descend through a 6 Radda in Chianti circular 16 Greve in Chianti, a rustic market village in the forested valley of century old chestnut trees and walk heart of the Chianti wine producing region. to the medieval hamlet of Volpaia, situated amongst vineyards and castles. Stop in for a 7 Siena 0 Check into your hotel and head over to Le glass of red at a fine Enoteca, and then continue 8 Onward Travel Cantine di Greve where you can taste over 50 on to Radda in Chianti. DAY 1 different Chianti wines. Radda is perched atop a high hill in a In the afternoon, enjoy a circular walk through a Arrive Florence comparatively rugged part of Tuscany. The picture perfect Tuscan landscape north of the Capital of the old League of Chianti, its We recommend flying to Florence (30 min) or town. Pisa (2 hours). Settle into your accommodation concentric streets still surround the historic and then throw yourself into the delights of Overnight: Albergo del Chianti***, Greve in Piazza Ferrucci, where you will find the shield Florence. Priceless renaissance art, magnificent Chianti. encrusted Palazzo Comunale. There is a slightly piazzas, narrow streets, the Ponte Vecchio over longer walking option available. Located in an old tower on the main square in the River Arno and the designer shops, will have Walk: 12-14km | 506m Ascent 668m Descent | Chianti the Albergo del Chianti is perfectly you wishing you had more time to explore. 3-5hrs situated. The 16 rooms are located at the rear of Overnight: Hotel Park Palace****, Florence the building and overlook a quiet courtyard Overnight: Hotel Palazzo San Niccolò, Radda swimming pool. Minutes away, and enjoying wonderful views of, Located in the heart of Radda, on the Piazza the historic centre of Florence. The Hotel Park Walk 1 (Greve Loop via Uzzano): 11.5 km | Ferrucci, the Hotel Palazzo San Nicolo is a Palace is your Florentine Villa. 425m Ascent/Descent | 2.5 hrs converted medieval palace dating back to 1400. Large authentically decorated rooms with a DAY 2 Walk 2 (Greve Loop via Montefioralle): 10 km | sense of place and sophisticated commuanal 358m Ascent/Descent | 3.5 hrs Settignano to Fiesole areas envelop you in a sense of place. This will be a highlight of your trip. A 25 minute local bus ride brings you to the village of Settignano, where your walk begins. A FLORENCE TO SIENA
FOOD, WINE & WALKING IN CHIANTI
DAY 6 four star hotels, which are centrally located and This holiday is graded easy to moderate because offer a genuinely warm Italian welcome and real the walks are relatively short and you can choose Radda in Chianti Circular Walk sense of place. to shorten. Tuscany is hilly and there are some A quiet, relaxing day awaits you. Bask under the steep descents and ascents so you should have Tuscan sun, go for a scenic walk around the old Accommodation Details suitable fitness. centre of Radda in Chianti. Wind along the We will always try and accommodate you at the You will walk on city streets, dirt tracks, mule narrow alleyways and visit the church of Santa locations detailed in the brochure, but because of tracks and footpaths. Maria Novella. Treat yourself by visiting a wine limited availability we may have to accommodate cellar and tasting the wine from the celebrated you at an alternative location of the same or Navigation local vineyards. better standard. We will confirm your The walks are generally not way marked. We accommodation details on confirming your Walk: 16km | 586m Ascent/Descent | 5 Hours supply very detailed route notes and maps so reservation. navigation is straightforward. Overnight: Hotel Palazzo San Niccolò, Radda Single Rooms DAY 7 Single rooms are available but attract a single TRAVEL INFORMATION Siena supplement. Getting to Florence After breakfast, a prearranged private transfer Solo Walkers will take you to Siena. Siena is famous for its We recommend arriving at either Florence or This is a great holiday for solo walkers. If you are biannual “Palio” horse race, held in the shell- Pisa Airports. Buses and taxis from Florence travelling solo the holiday is slightly more shaped Piazza del Campo. History comes alive Airport to the City Centre take 25 or 15 minutes expensive as some costs are not shared. as you meander through the narrow streets of respectively and cost 4.50/20 Euro). From Pisa this enchanting city. Meals Airport buses/taxis connect to the station and trains to Florence take 1h30. Direct buses from Overnight: Hotel Villa Liberty***, Siena. The delicious Italian food and wine available Pisa Airport to Florence (70 min) are also
locally is undoubtedly a highlight of this holiday. available. The recently restored Hotel Villa Liberty offers The price of your holiday includes breakfast each comfortable and elegant rooms only a few morning. Lunch and dinner are not included so Travelling by Car minutes walk from the historic centre of Siena. you are free to choose from the available The hotels we use do not have private parking. options. DAY 8 Parking is available in Florence and Siena and costs about 25 Euro per day. Onward Travel Baggage Transfer Your trip vanishes after breakfast. When required your bags will be transferred from Getting From Siena your hotel and moved onto your next overnight Florence and Pisa Airports are closest. Siena accommodation. We ask you to limit your has good road and rail links to all Italian TRIP INFORMATION luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person. destinations. Extensions & Extra Nights Equipment Your information pack has a detailed equipment AVAILABILITY Florence and Siena both warrant additional list which includes standard walking gear such as nights. Just ask at the time of booking and we good walking boots or shoes, waterproofs, would be happy to arrange this. Availability comfortable walking clothes, warm and You can start your holiday on any date between waterproof clothes and a day pack. Accommodation the 1st April and 30th October. The best time of We specifically choose our hotels for comfort, Walking Grade year is April through June and September until location and authenticity. All are three star and mid October. July and August can be very busy FLORENCE TO SIENA
FOOD, WINE & WALKING IN CHIANTI
and are very hot for walking. We also suggest DO NOT include flights. that if you choose to walk during the summer HOW TO BOOK months you should take plenty of water, a hat ABTA Member Statement and sunscreen as shade is limited on the walks. Once you decided on your holiday you can then Macs Adventure Holidays is a Member of ABTA. book by any of the following methods: ABTA and ABTA PRICE Members help Book Securely Online: www.macsadventure.com holidaymakers to get the most from their Price Telephone: +44 (0) 141 530 8886 travel and assist when things don’t go according Up to date prices are available on our website. Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high email: [email protected] if you have any standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Included: queries and one of our expert customer service Conduct. For more information on ABTA, the 7 nights accommodation including breakfast team will be happy to help. Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to you if you have a complaint, contact Luggage transfers as per your itinerary ABTA. Private transfer from Settignano to Greve in M.A.C.S. RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL Chianti, from Greve in Chianti to Monte San Michele, and from Radda in Chianti to Siena. We operate holidays in some of the most 24-hour telephone assistance beautiful areas in Europe and try to operate in an Detailed route notes and maps environmentally aware and sustainable manner. We do this by following our M.A.C.S. Excluded: Responsible travel policy. All lunches & Dinners Minimise Impact & Maximise Benefit Flights and public transportation Action & Advocacy Travel insurance Carbon & Communities Admissions and entrance fees of any kind Sensitive & Sustainable Personal expenses such as lunch, dinner, snacks, wine tasting, drinks, phone calls, etc. BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE Any item that has not been specifically mentioned in the program Financial Security
In accordance with "The Package Travel, Optional Extras: Package Holidays and Package Tours Additional nights en route or elsewhere in Italy Regulations1992" all passengers booking with Macs Adventure Ltd are fully protected for the Airport Transfers. initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all Guided tours of Florence or Siena with private monies paid to us, including repatriation if local city guide. required (this insurance will not cover repatriation Cooking lessons in Florence or Siena to the country of origin for the passengers outside of the EU), arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Macs Adventure Ltd
There is no requirement for Financial Protection of day trips, and none is provided. This insurance is only valid for packages booked that