Trekking in Tuscany: Val d'Orcia, San Gimignano and the Island of Elba

Tuscany is rightly renowned for its glorious landscapes. Romantic hilltop villages clinging to rolling hills contrast with dense forests, rugged mountains and long sandy beaches. This is a region that resonates with history - Etruscan remains, Medici villas, Renaissance towns and landscapes that inspired Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Dante.

The routes take in the Renaissance splendour of Florence and Siena, the World Heritage landscape of the Val d'Orcia and San Gimignano and the breathtaking island of Elba.

Add to this the climate and the excellent food and wine and you have a perfect destination for hiking.

Practical guide

When to go?

Tuscany's mild climate makes it suitable all year round: spring and autumn can be spectacular; the summer months are sometimes hot and foggy at low altitudes, and it is then that the higher altitudes become most impressive.

Cities & Services

Florence, Fiesole, Siena, Elba, San Quirico d'Orcia, Pienza, Montepulciano, Cortona, Montalcino, Radda in Chianti, Volterra, San Gimignano, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Abetone, Pitigliano, Chiusi della Verna

Not to be missed

• At Val d'Orcia and San GimignanoThe wild peaks of the Apuan and Apennine mountains, the little-known Montalbano and Pratomagno, the Chianti hills and the landscapes declared World Heritage Sites.
• In the National Park of the Casentino about Arezzo: medieval hamlets, Medici villas, Renaissance towns, Etruscan remains, unspoilt coasts, natural parks, magnificent forests and monasteries.
• The magnificent food Tuscany and memorable wines.

The routes

• The coast and the hinterland of Maremma /// Le Torri / Circuit San Rabano / Feniglia / Pitigliano a Sovana / Sorano a San Quirico /
• Elba and the Tyrrhenian coast /// Promontorio De Enfola / Marciana Marina Circuit / Marciana a Pomonte / Porto Azzurro / Baratti and the tip of Populonia / Campiglia Marittima-Suvereto circuit /
• La Crete and Val d'Orcia /// Chiusure and San Giovanni d'Asso / Montalcino to Sant'Antimo / San Quirico d'Orcia to Pienza / San Quirico d'Orcia to Bagno Vignoni / Bagno Vignoni Circuit / Montepulciano / Radicofani /
• West Siena /// Sovicille / Monteriggioni Circuit / San Gimignano / Volterra to Saline di Volterra /
• Chianti /// Gaiole and Badia a Coltibuono / Castellina a Radda in Chianti / Volpaia / Poggio San Polo /
• Pratomagno and the Foreste Casentinesi /// Vallombrosa / Monte Falco, Monte Falterona, Lago degli Idoli / Eremo di Camaldoli / Monte Penna / Cortona /
• Alpi Apuane //// Monte Forato / Monte Croce / Return to Monte Procinto /
• The foothills and the high Apennines //// Collodi and Pescia / Le Piastre a Pontepetri / Scaffaiolo Lake / Libro Aperto / San Pellegrino and Giro del Diavolo / Monte Prado /
• The surroundings of Florence /// Fiesole to Settignano / Around Artimino / The hills of Da Vinci /