Tuscany for the Traveller
ChiantiWe hope that the information on this page will help you plan your trip to Tuscany. We have tried to cover all the things you need to know, and we have added other information to make your Tuscan holiday interesting, fun and an adventure.
If you have any suggestions on what other things we should include on this page please email us on sue@viawalking.com.au
The History of Italian Walking Paths.
Ancient routes have evolved over the centuries. Forrest trails connected monasteries of the medieval period, old trade routes called at abbeys, paved roads passed through medieval towns and winding mule tracks from fields to farm to churches. The Via Francigena was one such route traveled by pilgrims going to Rome. It is these ancient roads that we will walk together.
Walking along the ancient pathways, through magnificent forests, past stone hamlets and on via an abbey gives you a particular sense and appreciation of the lives and work of the past and present. Approaching a medieval town or church by foot and viewing it as it has been seen for centuries is particularly satisfying.
Worth Reading before traveling to Tuscany
Part of the enjoyment in planning a holiday to Italy, particularly Tuscany is to immerse your self in a good book; history, cooking, wine, what ever takes your fancy. Tim Park gives you a delightful read with “Italian Neighbors” published by Vintage. Vanilla Beans and Brodo by Isabella Dusi is another must read.
The Medieval Hill Towns and Villages of Tuscany.
Staying within the walls of Radda, San Gimignano and Montalcino allows time to engage in the rich history of the town and region, enjoy daily life, take photos from the sun drenched stone walls of magnificent views, savor the famous Chianti, Brunello and Vernaccia wine, olive oil and pecorino cheese or hunt for the elusive treasure.
Using these medieval villages as our base we not only walk on pathways through beautiful forests of Holm Oaks and Chestnuts, past vineyards and olive groves, but we also pass through and explore the best medieval towns and abbey’s Tuscany has to offer.
Castellina, Monteriggioni, the Cistercian Abbey of Abbadia a Isola, Montepulciano and Pienza are a few of the fascinating hill towns we explore. Great stops to have a breather and an excuse to sample the local bars, coffee and pastry or café for the specialty of the village.
More on Radda in Chianti
More on San Gimignano
More on Montalcino
When to visit Tuscany
Tuscan Food
Tuscany is famous for food, wine and local produce grown and harvested from its rich and fertile land. Words best to describe the food of Tuscany is rustic simplicity, herbs and most importantly the freshness of local seasonal produce and olive oil. Walking along the mule tracks and pathways you pass herbs growing wild. Every Tuscan farmhouse has hedges of Bay, pots of herbs, clumps of rosemary and sage. To see the local farmer come home for pranzo/mid day meal, stop at the farm door and pick a sprig of herb, that’s when you know you are walking in Tuscany.
More on food in Radda in Chianti
More on food in San Gimignano
More on food in Montalcino
Wines of Tuscany
The breathtaking beauty of the Tuscan landscape is something to behold. Its patch work of woods, olive groves, fields, rampart wildflowers and vineyards are breathtaking. Tuscany is famous for Chianti Classico, Vernaccia and Brunello wine. There is nothing more satisfying after a day walking to celebrate your achievement by sitting in a piazza with a glass of fine local wine or maybe sampling the varieties from the choice of Enotecas in the village.
Sangiovese is the grape variety that dominates the red wines of Tuscany forming the backbone of not only the well known Chianti but also Vino Nobile Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino, and numerous other wines. In broad terms there are two sub varieties Sangiovese Grosso and Sangiovese Piccolo, the former is so called because its berries are bigger. The Tuscan DOC’s and DOCG’s with the single exception of Brunello di Montalcino allow for a blend of grape varieties, and, consequently considerable flexibility in the style of wine. One of the key flavours characteristics of Sangiovese is certain astringency, a vivacity, which is often called una energia
The first written record of Chianti in fact describes a white wine. In the papers of the Prato, merchant Francesco di Marco Datini. A century later the red wines of the Chianti area began to acquire a reputation in England.
In 1932 came the first recognition of the various zones where un vino denominato del Chianti could be produced. There were no precise regulations on the blend of grape, that would not come until the creation of the system of Denominazione di Origine Controllatta or DOC in 1963. Even these regulations were not enough to restrict the exploitation of the fine Chianti name with poor blends particularly in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Things finally began to improve with the introduction of the stricter regulations of Denominazione di Origine Controllatta e guarantee or DOCG. Both percentages of wine variety and yields were strictly controlled.
Following the lead of some of the best wine makers from the area, in 1996 a change in regulations finally legalised Chianti Classico being made from Sangiovese alone.
Further south around the hill town of Montalcino, the famous Brunello began to appear in the early 1800’s. Four families all claim to have been the first to use the name although the Biondi Santi have succeeded in convincing the market they created this unique style of 100% Sangiovese wine. Today wealthy Americans and Europeans have pushed the price of most vintages to over $100 per bottle.
West of Sienna, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a white wine is the most well known variety outside of Sangiovese. With its origins around the middle ages, the soil composition of the vineyards of San Gimignano favours white wine with tufa and yellow sandstone mixed with clay.
For more information on the Merchant of Prato Franceso di Marco Datini
www.po-net.prato.it
For more information on Vernaccia, Brunello and Chianti wine
Chianti www.albola.it
Vernaccia www.italianmade.com
Vernaccia www.vernaccia.it
Brunello www.pantagruel.com.ua
Brunello www.castellobanfi.com
Brunello www.consorziobrunellodimontalcino.it
Florence, Siena and the three Via Waking tour locations in Italy www.terresiena.it
www.firenzeturismo.it
More on wine in Radda in Chianti
More on wine in San Gimignano
More on wine in Montalcino
Map of Tuscany overview
Florence, Siena and the three Via Waking tours in Italy
Via Walking have carefully researched and chosen base locations that combine the very best and most interesting of Tuscan walking within a short distance of the famous and magnificent cities of Florence and Siena. Within an hour of these historic cities you will join a discovery tour of these Hilltowns that protected their famous cities over the centuries.
Via Walking differs from other tours groups in a number of important ways:
- Our accommodation is in the medieval hill towns themselves rather than in the larger, satellite towns;
- We don’t just show you the scenery but also give you an engaging appreciation of the culture, context and rich history of the region.
- We tread lightly in small unobtrusive groups (maximum of 8);
- Finally the Via Walking partners personally accompany every group, guaranteeing you knowledgeable and passionate guides;
For more information on Florence
www.firenzeturismo.it
www.italiantourism.com
For more information on Siena
www.terresiena.it
www.italyworldclub.com
Via Walking. 534 Park Street,
Princes Hill, 3054 Victoria, Australia
ABN: 1234 1234 1234 t: +61 3 9387 8045 f: +61 33 9380 2541
m: +61 417 590 535 e: sue@viawalking.com.au
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