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Walking in Tuscany

43 walks including Val d'Orcia, San Gimignano and the Isle of Elba

ISBN

9781852847128

Availability

Published

11 Jan 2018

Reprinted

28 Nov 2023

Edition

Fourth

Pages

240

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.40cm

Weight

270g

Delivery & Returns

Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
More information...

Guidebook to 43 graded, mostly easy walks in Tuscany. Taking in the Renaissance splendour of Florence and Siena, the World Heritage scenery of Val d'Orcia and San Gimignano and the stunning island of Elba, the routes use historical pathways used by traders, pilgrims and armies, and include some brief, trouble-free climbs/descents.

Seasons

Tuscany's mild climate makes it suitable all year round: spring and autumn can be divine; summer months are sometimes hot and hazy at low altitude, and that's when the higher altitudes come into their own

Centres

Florence, Fiesole, Siena, Elba, San Quirico d'Orcia, Pienza, Montepulciano, Cortona, Montalcino, Radda in Chianti, Volterra, San Gimignano, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Abetone, Pitigliano, Chiusi della Verna

Difficulty

mostly easy walking; clear paths (not all waymarked), some with brief, trouble-free climbs/descents

Must See

medieval hamlets, Medici villas, Renaissance towns, Etruscan remains, unspoilt coastline, nature parks; magnificent forests and monasteries in the Casentino National Park above Arezzo, the wild Alpi Apuane and Apennine ridge, little-known Montalbano and Pratomagno, the hills of Chianti and World Heritage scenery of Val d'Orcia and San Gimignano; superb Tuscan food and memorable wines

ISBN

9781852847128

Availability

Published

11 Jan 2018

Reprinted

28 Nov 2023

Edition

Fourth

Pages

240

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.40cm

Weight

270g

Delivery & Returns

Overview

A guidebook to 43 day walks in the Italian region of Tuscany. Exploring the dramatic scenery of this world-famous region, the walks are suitable for beginner and experienced walkers alike.

Walks range from 3 to 18km (2–11 miles) and can be enjoyed in 2–7 hours. Walks have been graded from 1 to 3 allowing you to choose routes suitable for your ability.

1:50,000 maps are included for each walk
Detailed information on planning, accommodation and public transport
Highlights include Val d’Orcia, San Gimignano and the Isle of Elba

Table of Contents

Map key
Overview map
Preface
Introduction
Exploring Tuscany
Plants and flowers
Wildlife
Getting there
Local transport
Information
When to go
Accommodation
Food and wine
What to take
Maps
Emergencies
Using this guide

The walks
1 The environs of Florence
Walk 1 Fiesole to Settignano
Walk 2 Around Artimino
Walk 3 The hills of Vinci
2 The foothills and high Apennines
Walk 4 Collodi and Pescia
Walk 5 Le Piastre to Pontepetri
Walk 6 Lago Scaffaiolo
Walk 7 Libro Aperto
Walk 8 San Pellegrino and Giro del Diavolo
Walk 9 Monte Prado

3 Alpi Apuane
Walk 10 Monte Forato loop
Walk 11 Monte Croce
Walk 12 Around Monte Procinto

4 Pratomagno and the Foreste Casentinesi
Walk 13 Vallombrosa
Walk 14 Monte Falco, Monte Falterona, Lago degli Idoli
Walk 15 Eremo di Camaldoli loop
Walk 16 Monte Penna
Walk 17 Cortona

5 Chianti
Walk 18 Gaiole and Badia a Coltibuono
Walk 19 Castellina to Radda in Chianti
Walk 20 Volpaia loop
Walk 21 Poggio San Polo

6 West of Siena
Walk 22 Sovicille loop
Walk 23 Monteriggioni circuit
Walk 24 San Gimignano
Walk 25 Volterra to Saline di Volterra

7 The Crete and Val d’Orcia
Walk 26 Chiusure and San Giovanni d’Asso
Walk 27 Montalcino to Sant’Antimo
Walk 28 San Quirico d’Orcia to Pienza
Walk 29 San Quirico d’Orcia to Bagno Vignoni
Walk 30 Bagno Vignoni circuit
Walk 31 Montepulciano loop
Walk 32 Radicofani

8 Elba and the Tyrrhenian coast
Walk 33 The Enfola promontory
Walk 34 Marciana Marina circuit
Walk 35 Marciana to Pomonte
Walk 36 Porto Azzurro
Walk 37 Baratti and the Populonia headland
Walk 38 Campiglia Marittima–Suvereto circuit

9 The Maremma coast and hinterland
Walk 39 Le Torri loop
Walk 40 San Rabano circuit
Walk 41 Feniglia
Walk 42 Pitigliano to Sovana
Walk 43 Sorano to San Quirico
Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Italian–English glossary
Appendix C Accommodation
Appendix D Useful information
Appendix E Further reading

Updates

April 2025

Walk 23

p137 After you leave Monteriggioni through the arch, walk down the steep lane to the busy road and turn R on a path to nearby Colonna. Following VF signs, cross the road carefully and walk straight ahead past Bar dell'Orso soon bearing L (SW) on a lane edged by hawthorn. Stick with this curving S on the edge of extensive fields, before veering R (WNW) for a dead straight stretch through wheat fields. (p139)

February 2024

Walks 26 and 32

Walk 26

Para 2: Some 1.5km along (from San Giovanni d'Asso), leave the tarmac ....

Walk 32

p175 In Via della Ripa for the time being don't go R for the covered passageway as the Sentiero Scalette is currently closed. Take the road L shown on the map that curves up to the cemetery and slot in there.

(Thanks to Jamie Macdonald)

August 2021

Accommodation updates

p91 Bases: Rifugio Città di Forlì is closed for the time being. Luckily comfortable accommodation is available at the Locanda Chalet della Burraia (www.chaletburraia.it) on the nearby minor road SP94.

Walk 14: Rifugio Città di Forlì is closed for the time being.

Accommodation p232: Rifugio Città di Forlì is closed. Replacement: Locanda Chalet della Burraia (www.chaletburraia.it Tel 0543/980006 – Cell. 335/6565764) located on the minor road just below the rifugio.

October 2018

Route Updates

Walk 22:

When you reach the Romitorio take a look at the building and the nearby Scala Santa then return to the lane and continue E. After approx 500 metres, immediately after a curve R, take the faint path off L to the nearby unsurfaced road you followed earlier. Turn R and back to Villa Cetinale. Walk past the villa and you soon veer L (S) as described in the book, towards Ancaiano.

Aug 2018

There's been an increase in cases of TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) across Europe, Italy included. Walkers should be aware that they may pick up ticks while walking through grass and woodland up to approx 1500 metres altitude. Not all ticks carry the disease but better safe than sorry. Simple precautions and plenty of useful information is available on the website: https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/tick-borne-encephalitis. Vaccination is also an option.

By Gillian Price

Gillian Price has trekked throughout Asia and the Himalayas, but now lives in Venice. Gillian has steadily explored the mountain ranges of Italy, and Corsica, and brought them to life for visitors in a series of outstanding guides for Cicerone. She is an active member of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) and Mountain Wilderness.

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