Discover Tuscany 2017

DISCOVER TUSCANY, 2017

Saturday Own arrangements to reach Florence main station (Firenze Santa Maria Novella). At 17.50 meet either Jenny Bawtree (middle-aged, white-haired) or her son Nicholas (tall, dark and handsome) outside the snack bar at the beginning of platform 16. You will be accompanied on a forty-minute train ride to Montevarchi and then on a ten-minute drive to Rendola, the 400-year-old typically Tuscan home of your hosts. Settle in and then enjoy a chat and a glass of Chianti Classico wine. Dinner and night at Rendola.

Sunday  Breakfast and morning ride (about two and a half hours) through vineyards, olive-groves and woodland, passing near an 11^th-century tower and a 14^th century church. Return to Rendola for lunch. After a short siesta and possibly a guided walk to introduce you to the local flora and fauna, join your host for a lesson in Italian pronunciation which will prove useful over the following days (learn, for example, that the “ch” in the Italian word bruschetta is pronounced like a 'k'!). For dinner, freshly made pizzas followed by dessert.

Monday Breakfast and morning ride (about two and a half hours) in the wooded hills north of Rendola, scattered with charming hamlets and traditional farmhouses. After lunch go to the ancient city of Arezzo and enjoy a guided visit to the fascinating, world-famous frescoes of Piero della Francesca of which your host has made a special study and then to the main square made familiar by the film “Life is Beautiful”.There is a chance, too, to do some shopping. Dinner and night at Rendola.

Tuesday Day ride and picnic in the Chianti hills south of Rendola (about five hours in the saddle). During your ride you will pass the medieval village of San Leolino, a lake and the castles of Cennina and Lupinari. Dinner and night at Rendola.

Wednesday  A free day to make your arrangements for sightseeing, perhaps to visit Florence (if she is available your host will gladly give you a guided tour of the main sights) or the hill towns of Cortona, Assisi or Orvieto – take your pick. All three are an easy train journey from Montevarchi and you will be driven to and from the station.

Thursday  Either a morning ride or a guided visit to the local town of Montevarchi and its famous weekly market: a good chance to pick up bargains! Lunch at a gourmet restaurant in Loro Ciuffenna, a medieval village built round a ravine on the other side of the Arno valley. Drive back to Rendola and have either an afternoon ride or a lesson with our BHS instructor in the school. Dinner and night at Rendola.

Friday  A final day ride (about five hours in the saddle) to the top of the Chianti hills (nearly 2,500 feet) behind Rendola. Enjoy a barbecue on the ridge beside a boarhunters' hut and ride back to Rendola via the village and castle of Montegonzi. A farewell dinner and, if desired, a visit to the local pub.

Saturday Breakfast and then a ten-minute journey to Montevarchi station to meet the train back to Florence. Own arrangements for your onward journey from Florence. For those going to Rome there is a direct and inexpensive train from Montevarchi every two hours.

Dates for 2017: Spring:     22-29 April, 6-13 May, 20-27 May Autumn:   23-30 September, 7-14 October

IMPORTANT NOTE: There is a new variant of the Discover Tuscany week specially tailored for riders who are also art lovers:1-8 April, 21-28 October. Details and price will follow.