Easy Hiking Tuscany and the Frankish Way, Italy

The Trip

We’ll experience Italian hospitality while touring Tuscany’s fabled towns and countryside, exploring Lucca, Garfagnana, San Gimignano, Volterra, Siena, Bolsena, and Rome. Hiking sections of the Via Francigena (the Frankish Route), we’ll be guided by experts in Italian art, history, architecture, and culture. On moderately easy hikes we’ll traverse some sections of the medieval pilgrim route on centuries-old footpaths, through villages, picturesque vineyards, olive groves, and rolling hillsides. We’ll enjoy Tuscan food and wine and relax in comfortable accommodations in hotels and rural agriturismi (rural estates that offer accommodations to visitors). Agriturismi have become popular in Italy as a way to provide extra income and help small farmers stay on their land. They are a peaceful home base and perfect setting for relaxation at the end of a full day.

Our planned itinerary could change due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control. We may also adjust our itinerary to be able to enjoy street markets, festivals, or other local activities. Hiking activities will be between two to four hours in duration and average three to six miles.

Day 1: We will meet in the early afternoon at the Pisa train station, from which our private bus will transport us to Lucca for an afternoon guided tour. Lucca, the birthplace of composer Giacomo Puccini, is surrounded by impressive stone walls constructed in the 1500s. Planted with trees and gardens, the wall tops provide a wide boulevard and a bird's-eye view of Lucca. With our city guide we’ll explore the Piazza Napoleone, the Roman amphitheater, and other parts of the historic town center. We’ll have dinner together and sample some of the typical Lucchesi cuisine. A hotel in Lucca will be our home for the next two nights.

Day 2: The Garfagnana area is known throughout Tuscany for its dramatic mountains and fertile valleys that produce local delicacies like porcini mushrooms and rich cheeses. We’ll hike on old village footpaths, enjoying dramatic vistas of the Alpi Apuani mountains, then have lunch together in the charming village of Barga. In the afternoon, we’ll return to Lucca where we’ll have the rest of the day and evening to stroll about town and have dinner on our own.

Day 3: Today we’ll visit San Gimignano, the famous city of towers. In the 14th-century San Gimignano had 70 towers, and although only a few still remain the town center is well preserved. We’ll hike through the surrounding vineyards and forests, arriving in town for exploration and lunch on our own. This medieval town is especially beautiful as we sit in the piazza, enjoying a glass of local Vernaccia wine or some of San Gimignano's acclaimed gelato.

For the next five nights our lodging will be at an agriturismo (a working farm that grows crops typical of this area, such as wine grapes and olives). Agriturismi help small farmers augment their income and allow us to enjoy the bounty of rural life in Italy.

Day 4: We’ll hike today from the old village of Chiusdino to the breathtaking San Galgano Abbey and the Montesiepi Hermitage with its mysterious sword in the stone. After lunch together near the abbey, our bus will meet us to tour the Merse River Valley, a historically rich agricultural land filled with farms, forests, and medieval churches. This evening we'll enjoy dinner at our agriturismo.

Day 5: Today we’ll hike through the farmlands and forests surrounding Volterra, an ancient city founded at the very top of a steep hill. Volterra is known for its Etruscan tombs, alabaster workshops, and artisan galleries. After lunch on our own, we will have free time to visit the well-displayed artifacts in the Etruscan museum, watch alabaster being carved, or browse the local shops.This evening we'll enjoy dinner at our agriturismo.

Day 6: Today we’ll visit Siena, originally an Etruscan town and later a Roman settlement. Siena is famous for its red-brown brick buildings and for the Palio horse race, run twice a year on the Campo (central piazza). We’ll tour the town with our guide, and then enjoy lunch on our own. We’ll spend the afternoon in the famous Chianti Classico area, tasting wine and walking through vineyards growing Sangiovese grapes for Chianti wines. This evening we'll enjoy dinner at our agriturismo.

Day 7: We’ll hike in the Montalcino region through farmland and vineyards to visit the serene Abbey Sant’ Antimo, recently restored and hauntingly beautiful in its Romanesque simplicity. This evening we'll enjoy dinner at our agriturismo.

Day 8: We’ll travel south to hike alongside the ancient collapsed volcanic caldera that is Lake Bolsena, the largest lake in Europe. We’ll hike on a section of the Via Francigena on dirt road and trail, walking among woodlands, olive groves, and farmland, and enjoying stunning views of the lake. Our lodging for the next three nights will be at a rural agriturismo near Viterbo.

Day 9: We’ll hike through woodlands of oak and chestnut trees on the Via Cimina (a branch of the Via Francigena) near the shore of another volcanic lake -- Lago di Vico and its protected natural environment. We’ll return to our agriturismo outside of Viterbo.

Day 10: We’ll visit the southern part of Tuscany and the medieval town of Pitigliano set high on a tufa plateau.  Then on to Sorana and Sovana, exploring “vie cave” (man-made excavations carved into tufa rock by the Etruscans during the Bronze Age) and Etruscan tombs. We’ll return to our agriturismo outside of Viterbo.

Day 11: We’ll continue our journey south to Rome and a take a guided walking tour in the historic city center. Rome is home to the Vatican museums, the Pantheon, Roman Forum, and the Colosseum. We’ll have lunch on our own and take time to explore the area. We’ll stay in a hotel in Rome.

Day 12: After breakfast we’ll be transported to the Rome airport and say arrividerci! to our Italian guides and group.

Getting There

The trip starts in Pisa and ends in Rome. Participants can fly into the Pisa airport and leave from the Rome Fiumicino airport.  To reduce fuso orario (jet lag) we suggest arriving a day or two before the trip starts. Pisa (and its Leaning Tower of Pisa) and the Vatican in Rome are easy to see on your own, so spend a day or two there before and after our trip.

Accommodations and Food

We will be staying in two agriturismi, rural estates that offer accommodations to visitors. Agriturismi have become popular in Italy as a way to provide extra income and help small farmers stay on their land. They are a peaceful home base and perfect setting for relaxation after a full day, and they will serve all our breakfasts and most dinners. While in Lucca and Rome, we will be staying in centrally located hotels. Rooms (some on the small side) are double-occupancy, and a roommate will be provided for solo travelers. The trip price includes all meals except four lunches and one dinner on your own, which allows you to sample local cafes, osterias, trattorias, or even Italian fast food. Wine and other drinks will be at your own expense, except when served with meals or at our wine tasting. Many restaurants offer vegetarian dishes, but vegan or special dietary meals may not be available. The Italian diet contains many wheat products, such as pasta, pizza, and bread soups, and there may be few options for those with wheat allergies and restricted carbohydrate diets.

Trip Difficulty

This is a hiking and cultural trip that is suitable for all who are in reasonably good health and who can hike up to six miles on trail or dirt road without difficulty while keeping a pace of two miles an hour.

Tuscany is a very hilly place, and most of our hikes, combined with excursions into towns, will total three to six miles on uneven surfaces or rocky trails. In the Garfagnana near Lucca, our hike will be through a mountainous area with some steep sections. The Italian hill towns we will visit have narrow cobblestone streets and lots of stairs. We will have to park our bus outside the old walls and walk into the town center. As with all active trips, the better your physical condition, the more you will enjoy yourself, so prepare for this trip by hiking on hilly, uneven trails.

Equipment and Clothing

The climate in Tuscany in September is usually pleasant, with daytime temperatures in the 70s and 80s. Dress will be casual and comfortable. Churches prohibit visitors in sleeveless tops, short skirts, or shorts. Your leader will provide a comprehensive packing list prior to the trip.

References

Books:

• Nabham, Gary Paul, Songbirds, Truffles, and Wolves: An American Naturalist in Italy.
• Alvarez, Walter, The Mountains of Saint Francis: Discovering the Geologic Events that Shaped our Earth.
• King, Ross, Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling.
• Mayes, Frances, Under the Tuscan Sun.

Conservation

Tuscany is famous for food, and "0 kilometer cibo" (eating local) means delicious fresh meals. The link between farm and table is clearly visible at our agriturismi, and we will have the opportunity to learn about how our food is grown and prepared. Similar to the U.S., Italy has national and regional parks, and marine reserves. Italians appreciate the beauty of their countryside, and we will observe how they are conserving it as we hike in parks and protected areas with our naturalist guides.

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward environmentally understanding parallel concerns at home and abroad.

Evacuation and Travel Insurance

The Sierra Club provides evacuation insurance to all participants on international trips. Since this coverage does not include any trip cancellation or interruption insurance, we suggest you purchase another policy separately to provide coverage for your trip and other travel costs. This policy also does not cover pre-trip and post-trip travel. Please note the evacuation insurance provided does not cover claims resulting from any pre-existing condition that occurs within 60 days of the trip departure. If you have specific questions about this exclusion, please review the insurance brochure. For information on purchasing a separate policy, please see our travel insurance page.