This part of Tuscany is known for its landscapes shaped by nature and man, its thousand-year history and the production of some of the most famous Chianti wine in the world. With this experience we want to share these "wonders" by combining them with the ancient and slow rhythm of the journey on horseback.
The places that can be admired are along the Via Francigena, the ancient medieval road, or riding the paths along the vineyards on the Chianti hills with farms with a centuries-old history where Chianti Classico wines are produced, the almost lunar landscapes of the Crete Senesi with the inevitable skyline of the city of Siena.
When you see a horse for the first time you can have two reactions: fear or amazement. I had the second one, I was five years old.
I began a journey made of sacrifices, lessons, competitions in various disciplines at various levels, even important ones, in an environment where sporting results at increasingly higher levels count.
Then I changed my point of view.
Great women and horsemen, famous or not, who fortunately I met, taught me that technique is very useful and you can learn it, training is fundamental with the right times, healthy competition is not negative if it respects a living being cognitive and complex, but it is important to "observe, wait and listen".
In that moment everything changed, the sacrifices, the comparisons, the frustrations increased, and then in small steps we reached the goal: doing things "for" the horse and not just "with".
This is what I do with horses and this is what I try to convey to my students, and sometimes when the results are slow in coming I always remember a phrase from a great horse man, Ray Hunt:
“… believe in your horse and he will believe in you”.
In 1999, after long training, I obtained the third level federal instructor license for hippotherapy and equestrian guide and in 2000 I began to deal exclusively with teaching and equestrian tourism and since 2013 I have been doing so here in Tuscany, in Siena, with my legally registered business, organizing various types of equestrian experiences, including horseback riding trips.
I am aware that the horse arouses emotions, fascinates, but you must approach it safely and with the awareness of "meeting" a cognitive, intelligent and different living being compared to others, for many reasons.
For this reason I do not "rental" horses but propose, with great passion, "tailor-made and quality" activities for guests, with particular attention to safety and fun.
With my equestrian experiences I want to share the passion for these splendid animals, for nature, the millenary history and the excellence of this part of Tuscany, combining them with the ancient and slow rhythm of traveling on horseback.
Anyone who wants to "take time" and have an equestrian experience in the Tuscan nature is welcome.
Nothing and no one is perfect, but what I do I do with great passion!
Tour highlights
Feel the History
We ride in an area with a thousand-year history.
Try Chianti Wines
In these wines there is all the passion of the farms for this land.
Ride Surrounded by Landscapes Shaped by Nature and Man
The ancient relationship between man and nature.
Route details
Day 1
Arrival
Meeting at the Equestrian Tourism Center and accommodation of guests and dinner.
Day 2
Monteriggioni Castle - Abbadia Isola
Departure from the equestrian center at 9.30. The first part of the route crosses Pian del Lago, where until the mid-18th century there was a lake (or rather a swamp) called Verano which was completely reclaimed at the behest of the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo.
This stretch of the Via Francigena will lead us first to the Chiocciola Castle with its cylindrical tower located on the eastern side which contains a beautiful ‘spiral’ helical staircase and then to the Monteriggioni Castle built between 1214 and 1219.
After the lunch stop and still on the Via Francigena, we pass through Abbadia Isola. “Abbadia” stands for abbey, the church being a Cistercian foundation, while “Isola” reminds us of the fact that it originally stood on the marshy Lake Verano. After passing Castel Pietraio we reach the horse stopping point of this first stage.
Day 3
Ride on the Chianti hills along vineyards
The Via Francigena will lead us, in the territory of Castellina in Chianti, to Villa Trasqua whose first records date back to the year 1001. Since then, the link between this farm and the territory has never been broken, continuing the production of Sangiovese and Chianti wines today 100% organic, which will accompany our lunch.
The journey proceeds along the vineyards of this part of the Sienese Chianti, crossing oak and holm woods, to reach the horse rest point.
Day 4
Chianti hills towards Crete Senesi
Today’s route will be on the hills of the Chianti Senese north of Siena. A rural landscape with woods, vineyards, centuries-old olive trees and sown fields will lead us to the Monaciano estate and along the dirt roads of the estate we reach the Villa di Monaciano dating back to the 18th century.
After lunch, which will be accompanied by the wines produced on this estate, we set off again to reach the horse stopping point in Mociano. This location is important for the Siena people because the selection and training activities for the horses of the Palio di Siena are carried out.
Day 5
On the Crete Senesi
Today from Chianti we move to the Crete Senesi area south-east of Siena. The name “Crete” derives from the clay present in the soil formed when between 2.5 and 4.5 million years ago this entire area was covered by the sea.
The landscape, depending on the seasons, can have a grey-blue colour, almost lunar or green, with gently rolling hills, oaks, cypresses, and isolated farms.
After the lunch stop, we cross the territory of San Rocco a Pilli, an area already inhabited in Etruscan and Roman times, to then reach the horse rest point in Rinidia, home to an important farm that produces organic products.
Day 6
Via Francigena on the Sienese Montagnola
Today is the last day of the trip and to return to the equestrian center we travel along part of the Via Francigena on the Sienese Montagnola. Having crossed Ponte allo Spino, an early medieval village, the paths will lead us to the Villa Cetinale built in 1676, to the Romitorio di Cetinale, an eighteenth-century religious building and to the Parish Church of Pernina, a church whose first records date back to 1078.
After the stop lunch the route continues on the Montagnola Senese, until reaching the Hermitage of San Leonardo al Lago whose first certain information dates back to the year 1112. The Via Francigena will lead us to the equestrian center passing through the Pyramid, an obelisk in memory of the reclamation of the Lake Verano.
Day 7
Departure
Breakfast and departure.
Difficulty
Moderate
Tour provider's comments
The journey doesn’t hide any particular difficulties, lasts five and half days with approx. 4/6 hours in the saddle per day. In case and if possible we can modify the gait.
Accommodation
Comfort
Upscale
Guest House
6 nights
For the stay of our guests, within the estate, we offer various types of accommodation.
In ancient and typical Tuscan farmhouses, welcoming and comfortable rooms are available apartments, all with private bathrooms and fully furnished.
6 nights
Farm House
Travel recommendations
Group meeting place
Strada del Pian del Lago, Siena, Province of Siena, Italy
Tour conditions
Included
seven days / six nights in a double room in full board formula;
a shuttle service will take care of all guests transfer;
the itineraries;
lunch stops along the routes and dinners include beverages;
wine tasting in the farm.
Extras
transfer from / to airport.
Group size
up to 6 tourists
Duration
7 days
6 nights
It's important to know
Cancellation of booking
If it is not possible to change the booking and for this reason the customer cancels the confirmed booking, the following cancellation fees will apply. In case of cancellation of a confirmed and final booking of a service, the date of written communication represents the criterion according to which the following cancellation fees will be calculated on the total price of the service: - for cancellation communicated up to 30 days before the start of the service, the cancellation fee will be 25% of the total amount of the service - for cancellation communicated up from29 days up to 3 days before the start of the service, the cancellation fee will be 50% of the total amount of the service - for cancellation communicated less than 48 hours before the start of the service, no show, showing up with a delay of more than 30 minutes after the beginning of the service or for those who renounce to the ongoing service, the total amount of the service is required.
Tour reviews
5.0
Based on 2 reviews
A
Alessandro
10 Jan, 2024
about provider
Sergio really loves what he does and knows a lot about it. My wife and I didn't spend that much time here but he made sure the activity suited us perfectly. We had a lot of fun and learned a lot. Riding around the ranch was really enjoyable and safe. Grazie.
10 Jan, 2024
V
Valentina
6 Oct, 2023
about provider
Il trekking con Sergio non è solo camminare a cavallo. Oltre alla sua bravura equestre e ai suoi ottimi cavalli, c'è tanto altro: la vita vissuta, la conoscenza del luogo, della storia, della cucina, il tutto accompagnato dalla sua gentilezza e simpatia! Grazie Sergio per le splendide giornate dell'estate!
