You will enjoy the rare beauty and bucolic serenity of the Orcia Valley and Cetona Mountain. Each day brings a richly different experience as the trails traverse through forests, vineyards, rows of slender cypress and shimmering olive groves to Renaissance villages, prehistoric caves and medieval fortresses. Your evenings are filled with cooking lessons, delicious traditional meals and notable wines.

ITINERARY:

Day 1: Sunday
Transfer from the train station or airport to your country manor. You will meet your fellow riders for an aperitif and dinner.

Day 2: Monday
You will ride across scenic rolling clay hills and cultivated fields. Noteworthy is the perennial erosive action of atmospheric agents that have created the startling slopes and ridges known as “calanchi.” As the ride continues along the famous Via Francigena, the road of the ancient Etruscans and Romans, you will see majestic golden wheat fields, gray balze and picturesque farms.

Day 3: Tuesday
Your horse will carry you to the most important prehistoric settlings of central Italy, the Cetona Mountain. Since the Paleolithic era (50,000 years ago) many of its natural caves were occupied by humans and native animals such as green woodpeckers, deer and roe. In the afternoon, you learn the secrets of Italian cooking from the manor’s chef.

Day 4: Wednesday
A non-riding day to tour Pienza and Montepulciano or enjoy the Day Spa with thermal pools, Turkish baths at Fonteverde. Pienza is a a rare example of Renaissance men’s desire to create an “utopia town” where life and government existed in harmony. Montepulciano, built in 1511 along a narrow limestone ridge, is encircled by walls and fortifications. Inside the walls, the streets are crammed with Renaissance-style palazzi and churches. A long, winding street called the Corso climbs up into the main square, which crowns the summit of the hill. The village is chiefly known for the “Vino Nobile” wines.

Day 5: Thursday
You will ride to the 9th century castle of Radicofani occupied by the Ghino di Tacco, an Italian Robin Hood mentioned by Dante in the Devine Comedy.n the Decamerone. The structure dominates the region between the Mount Cetona, the Orcia Valley and the Mount Amiata. In the afternoon, the chef will teach you more tips for savory Italian cooking.

Day 6: Friday
The trail will lead you to ‘Crete Senesi’, the Rigo Valley, and San Casciano Bagni, valued by the ancient Romans for the 46 thermal water sources that encircle it. In the evening, wine tasting of the notable regional wines await you.

Day 7: Saturday:
After breakfast, transfer to your airport or train station.

DETAILS:
Dates: April 10 – 16, April 30 – May 7, May 15 – 21, August 28 – September 3, September 17 – 24, October 1 – 8
Train Station: Chiusi train station
Riding days: 4 morning rides
Pace: walk, trot and canter
Riding ability: Intermediate
Group size: 4-8
Horses: Arabian, Italian saddles, Arab cross
Saddles: Endurance
Hotel/s: Country manor
Non-riding activities: swimming, spa, cooking class, wine tasting
*Price: $2,036 per person, double occupancy, apartment; $2,213 per person, double occupancy, suite; $356 single supplement; $1,462 non-rider, per person, double occupancy, apartment; $1,639 non-rider, per person, double occupancy, suite

*Prices will fluctuate with dollar/euro exchange and will be fixed at your final payment

Includes: 6 night’s lodging, 4 lunches, 6 dinners, 4 days guided riding, 1 entrance to the spa, 1 cooking class, 1 wine tasting

Not included: airfare, transfer to and from Chiusi train station (100 euro round trip)