| A ride through Etruscan Tuscany on Horseback - nice! | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Contact: Email IV Travel |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Leader: Ryan and the gang |
||||||||||||||||||
| The Etruscan Trail - A journey on horseback from central Italy to the coast of the Mediterranean and return. Follow the tracks of the oldest Italian inhabitants through the "Vie Cave" These are ancient Etruscan pathways carved out of the rock. You can ride on them just like the Etruscans did thousands of years ago. They are carved deep into the rock, so it is almost like being in a cave, but they are open at the top. Ride across Tuff plateaus, through evergreen forests and along the beaches - mostly following old border trails and ancient Etruscan and Roman roads of South Tuscany and Northern Lazio. Discover one of the most unique, rural and original landscapes of Italy, where the horse tradition was born and for centuries took part in the lives and culture of its inhabitants. Travel from from continental to Mediterranean nature, from high plateaus over hills to large sandy beaches. Overnight in traditional farmhouses with their warm hospitality, taste the delicious specialities of the area and their local wines. | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Tour Schedule and Itinerary |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Day
1:
Transfer
from
Orvieto
to
Proceno. The first night will be spent at the Castle of Proceno, a 12th century fortress built to protect the ancient hamlet. The surrounding region is full of Etruscan, Medieval and Renaissance monuments that testify to the presence of ancient civilizations. For dinner your guide will introduce you to the itinerary and plan for the next days. |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Day
2:
Proceno
–
Pantanello Leave Proceno and ride across a historic private forest area, former county, pass a large flat tuff plateau, basically used for sheep breeding and cheese production, until San Quirico for the lunch break. In the afternoon continue the ride in the tuff area with wide scenery in a sportive paste. Arrive in the evening in a lonely, very nice restored farmhouse, where the housewife will cook for you, using mostly her own produced ingredients. |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Day
3:
Pantanello
–
Capalbio
Ride in the direction of a marble quarry in the far distance, down to the river valley of the river Fiora. Pass its waters and climb up through forests with a slow change in the nature from continental to evergreen forest (macchia mediteranea). The scenery changes and the sea breeze is already in the air. The lunch stop is in the middle of this beautiful countryside. In the afternoon you ride for an hour through the woods to another valley where the agricultural activities created the original Southern Tuscan landscape, called Maremma, where the cowboys, called Butteri, have their tradition and where the horses find easily a place for the night. |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Day
4:
Capalbio
–
Beach
–
Capalbio The hills are covered with evergreen Mediterranean forests and ruins of old roman roads that lead us to the coast. Lunch is right on the seaside in a traditional seafood restaurant. Another trail takes us away from the coast, back into hillcountry now illuminated by the red sunset. Enjoy the magic atmosphere of the region and return to the comfortable accommodation.
Day
5:
Capalbio
–
Monti
di
Castro |
||||||||||||||||||
|
Day
6:
Monti
di
Castro
–
Lago
di
Mezzano The trail leads through fields to a unique national park with volcanic stones on the base of a strange wooded area where we stop for lunch. A soft canter on sandy roads leads us across the territory to the top of the hills around the Vulcano Lake and down to the farm for the night. Day 7: Lago di Mezzano – Proceno Along dirt roads the ride continues to a green hilly area without any settlements. We reach and pass a sandy plateau at a quick pace. After lunch the area changes completely, the ride goes now on ancient Etruscan roads, entrenched deep into the tuff stone, along the river Lente and back to the starting point in Proceno with overnight at the castle. Day 8: Our last breakfast together. Departure from our accommodation between 7 to 10 a.m. for return to Orvieto train station. |
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||