horseback holidays (6 giorni)
Etruscan ride - Tuscany and Lazio
Horseback riding in Tuscany, Italy
Exploring the border country of Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria: Tuscia – a natural landscape, one the most wild and rugged lands beetween Tuscany and Lazio with iconic scenes of cypress trees and fields of wheat studded with poppies. A part of Tuscany that other tourists seldom visit.
An experience on way to realizing your Italy experience dream.
Etruscan Vie Cave (ancient trails through rocky gorges in the forest), old paths created by charcoal-burnes and Brigant trails - overcoming gentle slopes, steep hills, olive groves, vineyards, rivers and forests of mediterranean oak and hazel – lead you to fortified villages and hamlets often top the hills, ruins, and places full of history.
Italy nature, well-schooled responsive horses and an experience guide will make your week funny and relaxing.
The guide is professional but also easy going. He has a small back-up assistence. You should not expect luxury service but efficent, fun and friendly team.
Nights are spend in great and confortable half-board agriturismos, village hotels and guesthouses for a good night’s rest after an active day out (there is generally between 5 and 6 hours riding a day)
program
Itineraries include about 5 to 6 hours in the saddle each day (except day 5).
DAY 1
Arrival to Sovana - preserved medieval village on Maremma’s hills, at the foot of Monte Amiata -
at Sovana Hotel & Resort in a 12.000 sqm park of olive trees and a good view on Roman chatedral.
Dinner with typical Tuscan food, made with carefully selected products from the best local producers.
An opportunity to get to know other riders and the guide.
DAY 2
Short transfer.
Assignment of the horses.
10am set off riding towards the small town of Proceno.
Going north along Lente river, we join a medieval fortress – Castell’Ottieri.
Stopping for a picnic lunch on the way to San Rocco church.
Landscape change During the afternoon: gentle Tuscan hills and wide gravel roads to enjoy a good canter.
The night is spent in the walls of the castle of Proceno - a 12th century fortress which has been converted into a guesthouse. Guided tour of the castle walls by your host whose family have lived here for 3 centuries. The castle is wonderfully situated in the centre of the medieval hilltop town with views across the town and surrounding countryside.
Dinner at their hosts restaurant.
DAY 3
10am set off riding towards Vitozza, Mezzano lake and Selva del Lamone natural reserve.
Going direction San Quirico di Sorano, the trail crosses Stridolone river, it passes through Montorio property – where once was located the holdings of Orsini Counts- and reaches one the most biggest and important Italian rock settlements: Vitozza. These Ancient cave dwellings was already settled back in Paleolitic times. The remains of roman cisterns and medieval castle can also be visited.
Stopping for a picnic lunch.
During the afternoon the ride passes the area of Mezzano lake – a small volcanic lake- direction to the mysterious Selva del Lamone.
Dinner and night at Agriturismo Frà Viaco or B&B Vallecupa (depends on the availability).
DAY 4
10am set off riding towards Castro and Vulci Archaeological Nature Park.
During the morning ride reaches Castro – Roman-Etruscan ruins plunged into a dense growth contained in walls of tuff. The route continues towards Via Cava di Castro – ancient Etruscan small roads built-in in the tuff rock with very hight wall.
Pic-nic lunch on the way.
Continue trough forested valleys, penetrating into the forest of the Selva del Lamone riding in Paths of Brigands – one of the most rugged, wild and solitary area in Lazio. This particulary lush flora -dense forest, lava blocks, dark recesses and impenetrable hedges has contributed to the creation of the myth of the dancing forest.
Arrival to Vulci. Short transfer for the night at Terre di Musignano. Dinner inside the hotel: traditional dishes or fish specialities.
DAY 5
Morning ride in a guided tour in Parco Naturalistico Archeologico di Vulci one of the most valuable evidence of the Etruscan civilization, near Montalto di Castro in the Province of Viterbo.
Lunch at il Casaletto.
Free afternnon
Night and dinner at Il Paglieto with hot termal swimming pool
DAY 6
10 am set off riding towards Farnese – small village set up on larger boulder of tuff, where Napoleone’s brother lived.
Pic-nic lunch by the river.
Then on saddle to pass Romitori - complex of buildings excavated in sandstone by heremits monks- and cattle and sheep farms riding by a different route back to B&B Vallecupa.
DAY 7
10am set off riding towards Vitozza, Gran Canyon and Sovana.
Touching Pratolungo and San Quirico; continue back through forested valleys, untill Gran canyon valley and finally climbing to the plateau with views of Sovana. Journeing the lenght of the Lente river ride go up the valley untill a track on the way from Pitigliano to Sovana.
Farewell to the horses.
Short transfer to Sovana Hotel and Resort for the night.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
DAY 8
Breakfast and onward travel
VIDEO
Well trained and looked horses. They are all a responsive, willing and enjoyable to ride as well as being sensible and calm to handle.
They are fairly lively temperament but calm with traffic and surefooted.
Mixed breed. They are medium builded local Italian saddlebreds crossed with various other breeds. Some local Maremma crosses, Anglo Arab, Sicilian, Andalucian & Apaloosa crosses.
Mostly English style and most horses are ridden in snaffles.
Mostly Wintec saddles or similar. Very comfortable - but don’t expect tack to be gleaming, or anything more than adequate.
There are pockets in the saddle blankets with room for water bottles, a light raincoat, suncream etc
Horses are prepared and tacked up for you each morning - some help with untacking etc at the end of the
day is appreciated.
Specific difficulties: These rides are at a fairly relaxed pace overall but there are good chances to canter each day and you need to able to control a well schooled horse at all paces in open country. You will follow white dirt tracks, narrow paths through the forest, and will climb up to ridges and descend into deep valleys so should have a good independent seat. Suitable for intermediete riders and above. You should be reasonably riding fit and should have a fairly good level of general fitness as there can be long periods of trot and canter. You should be able to mount a horse without help, be confident on and around horses and comfortable, relaxed and secure in the saddle. There is some tarmac work every day, crossing roads, riding through local villages but you do have to cross busier roads occasionally but safe going that the horses are used to. You may be asked to get off from time to time to lead the horses over rough or stony ground. Pace: moderate overall, some good chances to move on, also fast canter. The pace will vary from day to day and will be limited by the terrain. There are good opportunities to trot and canter on the chalky white dirt track or when you cross agricultural land and ride through vineyards.
Path length: 180 km.
Places: Italy, Tuscany, Lazio, Maremma, Sovana, Proceno, Vitozza, Mezzano, Selva del Lamone, Casrto, Vulci, Farnese.
Steeper hills with rocky canyons and narrow; Etruscan Vie Cave: ancient trails through rocky gorges in the forest; old paths created by charcoal-burnes; Brigant trails; gentle slopes; steep hills; olive groves; vineyards; stony paths, rivers; forests of mediterranean oak and hazel; fortified villages and hamlets often top the hills; and ruins.
Chalky white dirt tracks, agricultural and vineyards lands, steep climbs, wooded country, narrow winding paths.
Period: all year, on request
accomodation
Accommodation each night is at comfortable agriturismos, country guesthouses or village hotels all of which have been chosen for their character, location, atmosphere and hospitality. They are simple and traditionally furnished; although simple, are all reasonably comfortable.
In most cases there is a swimming pool in the structure.
Bedrooms may be in small ‘apartments’.
Bedrooms have their own bathrooms with loo and shower.
You can have twin or double beds.
Back-up assistance will take care of moving luggages by vehicle.
*For Single travellers who are travelling alone: single rooms can usually be arranged on request for a supplement
services aviable on request
Rates EXCLUDE international flights to Italy, transfers between your arrival / departing airport/ train station and Sovana (the start / end point of the ride), ’premium’ (label) wines, and extra drinks whilst riding, personal medical / travel insurance, supplements for a single room, any visa fees and any tips you may wish to leave.
Private tour available.
- por person in double room*
- 3 days riding with our horse
- 3 nights twin accomodation
- meals from dinner ”day 1” to lunch ”day 3” + house wine with dinner
- equestrian guide
- assistance for luggage tranfert
- *single supplements - please also note that if you book alone - you will need to pay the supplement for a single room. this will be charged on all single bookings. however if you are prepared to share a twin room with another rider (of the same sex) please let us know and we will do our best to find a sharer. in this case no supplement will be payable. we cannot guarantee finding a sharer as it depends on another guest wishing to share a room
- por person in double room*
- 6 days riding with our horse
- 7 nights twin accomodation
- meals from dinner ”day 1” to breakfast ”day 8” + house wine with dinner
- equestrian guide
- assistance for luggage tranfert
- *single supplements - please also note that if you book alone - you will need to pay the supplement for a single room. this will be charged on all single bookings. however if you are prepared to share a twin room with another rider (of the same sex) please let us know and we will do our best to find a sharer. in this case no supplement will be payable. we cannot guarantee finding a sharer as it depends on another guest wishing to share a room
Note
No strict weight limit on these rides but, if you are over 14 stone / 90 kgs, please contact us to check that suitable horse is available.
