Italy: Tuscany: A Getaway

To experience Italy’s rural heartland of Tuscany on foot is to move at its famously relaxed pace of life. The sun-washed land inspires deep admiration for this idyllic setting of verdant meadows, undulating hills, and gorgeous valleys. The path winds easily through fields and forests, vineyards and silvery olive groves, amidst working farms that yield the freshest of products. Tuscany is home to the renowned Chianti region.
     Your immersion in this stirring area includes sampling the local harvest—naturally—complete with a visit to an authentic Tuscan winery.  The sense of tranquility that embraces the walking traveler in Tuscany takes on a dreamlike air as the route reaches medieval villages beckoning in the distance from hilltop perches. Like a pilgrim of another era, you approach these hamlets on foot, and sometimes down inviting cypress-lined lanes. Delighting in the sensation of stepping back in time, you explore the narrow streets of such historic marvels as Volterra, San Gimignano, Siena, and Monteriggioni, with Florence a fitting finale. Surrounded by the echoes of the Etruscans and Romans, you explore ancient fortresses and cathedrals.
     Your accommodations in Tuscany showcase the region’s best attributes—reminiscent of the glories of the ancient world and graced with comfortable amenities. Situated to make the most of the region’s superb walking opportunities, your lodgings foster the deep sense of relaxation that defines a wanderer’s most authentic encounter with Tuscany.