Walking Tours in italy

Walks in the Florentine Hills

*  The essence of Tuscany: classic landscapes, mediaeval towns, olives, sunflowers, vineyards

*  Superb hotels: a magnificent C18 villa, a country retreat, and a cosy mountain hunting lodge with stunning alpine views

*  Beautiful swimming pools 6 nights out of 8

*  Exceptional value for money holiday

*  Stay in Florence – arguably Italy’s most beautiful city

On this walking holiday, you blaze a trail through an almost forgotten corner of Tuscany.  The Mugello valley, an area of outstanding beauty, just north of Florence, has always been the secret retreat of the city’s noblemen and luckily for us it’s stayed that way more or less.  You’ll find many villas owned by the Medici tucked away in cypress groves.  Giotto and Fra Angelico were born here, and the sunflower and poppy fields framed by oak and walnut tree-cloaked hills evoke many of the landscapes of their paintings. 

After a night in Florence your walk takes you along the ridge between the Mugello and Sieve valleys through chestnut forests and along paths lined with crocuses and orchids. You enjoy glorious views over the wide Mugello valley, dotted with honey-coloured farmhouses, and the vineyards and olive groves of the Sieve valley lie at your feet. Grapes have been harvested here since the Etruscans, and there are plenty of opportunities for wine tasting. 

The area became part of the Florentine City State in the 11C and you’ll find many beautiful castles, villas and churches to visit en route.  And the hotels here are among our favourites: a four-star villa popular with royalty, a country retreat beneath Monte Giovi with its own fishing lake, a three-star country villa in parkland near Fiesole and a three-star hotel in the centre of Florence.

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