Arrive in beautiful Florence and settle in to your hotel. Depending on the time of your arrival, you will have the opportunity to explore this enchanting city. Wander in the footsteps of the Medici along gorgeous, narrow, cobbled streets, and across the Ponte Vecchio to the Piazza della Signoria - the heart of the city. Florence may be compact yet it is packed full of cultural delights. With its romantic Renaissance architecture, breathtaking cathedral, elegant palazzi (palaces), magnificent marble basilicas, and paintings by famous artists including the great Michelangelo, there is plenty to see. As well as offering an abundance of sights to explore, Florence's location in the heart of Tuscany means you will be spoilt for choice for excellent cuisine and wines that are renowned across the world. You might even want to add an additional night or two in Florence at the beginning of this trip so that you can really immerse yourself in everything the city has to offer.

After breakfast, your day begins with a short welcome meeting with our local representative you will explain more about the week ahead and will answer any questions you may have. After this, it is time to hop on the local bus for a short ride to Gabbiano. This quaint little hamlet in the hills of the Chianti region is home to an historic castle and winery, Castello di Gabbiano, where award-winning Chianti wines have been produced for hundreds of years. Hopping off the bus, your route today is a wonderful introduction to Tuscany and the Chianti region as you make your way through meadows and along the famous gravel-covered 'strade bianche' backroads, weaving your way between vineyards and olive groves. Walking on, your route takes you through fragrant woodland and past old stone villages, with lofty cypress trees lining your way. You really are immersed in the classic picture-perfect Tuscan landscape! Finally, you reach the town of Greve in Chianti, your home for tonight and the gateway to the Chianti region. You will have time to explore this small medieval town - it is a great place to browse for local wines and foods. Later on, you might enjoy relaxing with a glass of the excellent local Chianti wine over dinner at a restaurant on the town's unusual triangular-shaped main piazza, as you watch the world go by.

Today you will set out along beautiful forest paths, passing several wine-growing estates as you make your way towards Panzano. Why not pause for a coffee and a bit of exploring? This hilltop town dates back more than 2,000 years to Etruscan times, and has had a rather turbulent past. Situated half-way between Florence and Siena, it was fought over during the Middle Ages as the two cities sought control, and had to be rebuilt four times between the 13th and 16th centuries. More recently, the town was put on the map by local butcher Dario Cecchini, an extrovert dubbed 'the world's best butcher'. His restaurant attracts food connoisseurs from around the world. Leaving Panzano, your will continue through golden cornfields and more vineyards to the pretty hamlet of Lucarelli, where you will find only a church and a welcoming restaurant alongside its few houses. From here, it is a short bus ride to Castellina in Chianti, your home for tonight. Castellina is another hilltop town and, although it is a little off the main tourist track (one of the reasons we love it!), it is renowned for its exquisite wineries. Perhaps you will head to Gelateria di Castellina, a favourite of visitors and locals alike, to enjoy some of their ice cream or semifreddo cake? You might decide to visit the town's historic centre with its ancient fortress, Rocca di Castellina, and then enjoy sweeping views out across the town and surrounding countryside from its large tower. Inside the Rocca there is an interesting Archaeological museum where you can see objects found in the area and learn more about the local history. If you really want to feel like you have stepped back in time, a stroll along the Via delle Volte is a must. This unique fortified walkway built into the hillside inside the old town walls was designed by Brunelleschi, one of the founding fathers of Renaissance architecture, and perhaps best-known for designing the dome on Florence's Duomo cathedral. Retaining its original Renaissance features, the walkway is covered with a stone vaulted ceiling and, every so often, small openings in the walls offer you a glimpse over the countryside below as you stroll along - perhaps popping into the small galleries, shops, and wine cellars as you go. It is then time to settle in to your hotel and enjoy another delicious Tuscan meal out this evening. PANZANO FESTIVALS: On April 25th each year, the lively Festa della Stagion Bona sees locals dress in traditional costumes and parade up the main street before many go on to participate in the performance of an open-air play, re-enacting an ancient feud between two local noble families. There is plenty of music and dancing as well as food and Chianti Classico wine tastings, along with other types of entertainment - such as jugglers, fire-eaters, or medieval combat displays - varying from year to year. Entry is free. Later in the year, usually during the four days spanning the third weekend in September, the Vino al Vino festival takes place in the town's main square. After all the hard work of the growing season, this festival showcases the produce of the local wineries and is a great opportunity to sample some excellent wines. Information can be found at https://viticoltoripanzano.com/en/vino-al-vino/. Definitely worth a visit!

Today you will walk along a section of the Via Romea, a popular pilgrim route that stretches some 2,200km from Stade in northern Germany, to Rome. You will be pleased to know you will only be walking as far as Siena today! Following the marked route you will meander south through olive groves and vineyards, and in the shade of forests. Today's route is one of peace, as you will encounter just one tiny village along your route before arriving at Siena, home of the renowned 'Palio' horse race. The event dates back to the 17th century and sees ten horses ridden bareback around the semi-circular Piazza del Campo, their riders dressed in traditional outfits in the colours of their city ward. You will have time to enjoy a stroll the Piazza with its bustling cafes, perhaps imagining how different it must be on race day with the clatter of hooves and the sound of cheering crowds. Wander along the narrow streets, admire some of the fantastically preserved medieval city gates in the old town walls, and perhaps stop to sample some delicious Panforte, the well-known traditional Italian Christmas dessert, at one of the local shops - perhaps you will take some home. Then freshen up at your hotel before heading out this evening, to delight in dinner at one of the many restaurants the city has to offer. PALIO HORSE RACES: The racing takes place on the Piazza del Campo every year on 2nd July and 16th August. Leading up to the event there are festivities, parades, and feasts all over the city.

After breakfast you will take the local bus to Colle Val d'Elsa, a charming town to the northwest of Siena and an important centre for the production of crystal glass, that you will have time to explore before beginning your walk. Wander through its historic fortress complex and marvel at the medieval architecture before heading out through more vineyards and alongside roaring rivers as you stroll to San Gimignano. You will start out towards the small medieval village of Quartaia, where you might pause for a morning coffee before continuing through rolling hills to Coneo Abbey, a Romanesque abbey founded by the Benedictines and restored in the 1920s when it was opened to the public. Leaving the abbey you are soon walking on a section of the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrim route similar to the 'caminos' that lead to Spain's Santiago de Compostela, that connects Canterbury in England, to Rome. You may even meet some pilgrims on their way to Rome as you make your way to Molino d'Aiano, from where the silhouette of your final goal for the day, San Gimignano, can already be seen punctuating the peaceful panorama. Sometimes called 'The Manhattan of Tuscany' due to the distinctive medieval towers that dominate its skyline, the delightful town of San Gimignano is encircled by 13th-century walls and is centred on the Piazza della Cisterna. Ramble its many little alleyways and really soak up the atmosphere here as you marvel at the seemingly countless number of towers. It is easy to understand how this jewel of a town has earned its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On today's walk you will experience a complete contrast to the typical Tuscan landscape you been immersed in earlier in the week, as you explore the alpine-like landscapes of the Montenero Nature Reserve and follow the ancient Via del Sale to Volterra. Your day begins with a transfer to the nearby Montenero Nature Reserve, from where your route will take you through a rugged landscape cloaked with lush green forest, eventually unveiling the Cascate della Strolla, a picturesque waterfall with clear blue-green waters. This makes the perfect spot to pause and cool your feet before ascending and crossing above the waterfall to reach a rewarding viewpoint - a head for heights and surefootedness is recommended for this section. Leaving the forest behind, you soon join the ancient Via del Sale leading you to your final goal, Volterra. This once-vital route for transporting salt, the area's main source of income, from the lakes of Volterra to San Gimignano, is today a popular walking and cycling trail. On your way, you will pass an atmospheric ancient Etruscan necropolis that is worth a visit, and entry is free. Finally, you arrive in Volterra! You have reached your home for tonight, and you will have time to discover its attractive alleyways and cosy cafes. This medieval walled town, perched on a hill overlooking the pretty landscape, has a rich Etruscan heritage and oozes its own take on Tuscan charm. It will capture your heart. We recommend taking time to explore the old town walls, a real feat of military engineering, originally constructed around the 4th century BC to protect Volterra in Etruscan times and modified throughout the centuries. Two main gates, the Porta dell'Arco and Porta Diana, are particularly well preserved. Other architectural sights you might like to see include the Acropolis, housing several buildings and the remains of two ancient temples, the impressive Teatro Romano built in the 1st century AD in a natural amphitheatre, and the cathedral that may seem unassuming from the outside yet is full of highlights inside. In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants at Palazzo dei Priori and watch the world go by.

Today's route is split into three sections to offer you ultimate flexibility. Perhaps you will decide to linger a little longer in Volterra? Maybe you would prefer to work up an appetite with a full day of walking, or instead make the most of your time on the coast? Or, if you like, you can enjoy a mixture of all three! The first part of your route follows a disused railway line that was once the main transport link for goods between Saline and Volterra. This section of old railway now leads you between wild hillsides, with fantastic views back to Volterra. Arriving at Saline railway station, and modern times once again, you can hop on the train to Cecina where your options for the day continue. Beginning the second part of your route here in Cecina, you will follow the river towards the coastal town of Cecina Mare where you can explore the Tomboli di Cecina Nature Reserve. Here you can wander through a giant pine grove, or pineta, that is one of the most beautiful woods in Italy, with its dense, varied vegetation. It is scattered with tranquil picnic areas and is a lovely place to enjoy a break, surrounded by the refreshing scent of pine trees. Alternatively, you may wish to arrive in Cecina Mare, grab a good book and simply relax on the sandy beach. In the evening take a stroll to the marina and dine at one of the many excellent restaurants serving freshly caught seafood. Toast to a great week in Tuscany as you gaze out at the Tyrrhenian Sea, glistening turquoise in the crimson evening sun, whist the islands of Elba, Capraia, and Gorgona sink until they are out of sight.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast and a stroll along the coast before making your onward journey.