Things to do in Val d'Orcia: the 10 best experiences

Horseback riding in the Sienese Hills in Tuscany can last one or two hours, and has the riding stables as its starting point. Nearby there are many woods through which you will be led.

Favorite destinations to reach are several hermitages, such as churches and monasteries, including Eremo di Lecceto or San Leonardo al Lago (2h). The latter is located on the Via Francigena, a beautiful scenic road with views of the Sienese hills.

Little curiosity: the Via Francigena is a pilgrimage route that in the Middle Ages joined Canterbury to Rome, site of St. Peter's tomb, and this to the ports of Puglia, where it was possible to embark to the Holy Land.

Wine tasting in San Gimignano at a family-run estate surrounded by Tuscan nature.

You can choose from 4 types of tastings:

As you want them

This tasting begins with a short walk through one of the vineyards where the guide will give you information about the estate along with several trivia about the vine. Once back you can then choose 4 wines to taste from the 7 types produced.

4 wines for a few

This tasting will allow you to taste 4 "special" wines since less than 1,000 bottles of each are produced per year. The wines are: "Ximon” Toscana Bianco IGT, “Donna Lucia” Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Centodue” Toscana Rosso IGT, Chianti Riserva DOCG.

4 DOCG wines

In this tasting you will taste the most classic wines of the Tuscan tradition, including Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Donna Lucia” Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, Chianti Riserva DOCG.

The Fantastic 7

During this tasting you will taste all 7 wines that are produced by the estate, specifically: Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Donna Lucia” Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Ximon” Toscana Bianco IGT, “Il Rosato della via vecchia”, Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, Chianti Riserva DOCG, “Centodue” Toscana Rosso IGT.

During the vespa tour of Chianti from Castellina, you will have the opportunity to rent vespas for an entire day, as a couple or with friends to explore the Chianti hills.

The experience is unique, one of the most beautiful in the area, and you will spend a day immersed in green fields, or among vines ripe in autumn.

The wasps are easy to ride so even beginners can use them, only a B-type license required.

If you decide to participate in this Vespa ride, you will be immersed in the beauty of Tuscany and experience an adventure you will remember forever.

Gasoline is not included and will have to be paid on site.

A wine tasting with a visit to the Tenuta degli Dei in Chianti is the perfect opportunity to spend a relaxing time surrounded by the picturesque Tuscan vineyards.

The meeting begins in front of the Church of San Leolino, a three-nave basilica that preserves valuable works of art from the Tuscan artistic tradition.

The tour continues with a visit to the vat cellar, where the vats in which the fermentation of the wines takes place, and the barrique cellar, which houses the fine French oak barrels in which the wine rests until it reaches perfect maturity.

Next, you will reach the Estate, where the tasting will take place. In the dedicated room, you will have the opportunity to taste five wines: a white wine, a rosé, a Chianti Classico and two IGTs, accompanied by a small sampling of local cured meats and cheeses.

You can choose between the tour in Italian and English.

Minors and those not participating in the tasting do not pay and will receive a tasting of local products.

In case of food allergies or intolerances, you can contact the property after booking.

Finally, the estate is pet friendly, welcoming your four-legged friends as well.

The horseback riding tour among the vineyards and tasting in San Gimignano will take place among the unforgettable panoramic views among rustic farmhouses and vineyards in the area.

It is a horseback tour of the estate, nearby vineyards and the forest around San Gimignano (1 hour).

Afterwards there will be a short lecture on wine and vineyards, after which there will be a full wine tasting and then, if selected, lunch outdoors in the garden.

Horseback riding in the hills of the Sienese Chianti is a unique experience that allows you to admire the striking views of Tuscany.

On arrival at the stables you will be greeted by experienced equestrian guides who will hand you the’equipment and safety devices to be able to ride a horse.

Before leaving for the ride you will go to the sand rectangle where the guides will explain the basics of horseback riding.

At this point you will be ready to set off and reach the hills of the Sienese Chianti region, where you can admire unique landscapes and discover more about local products: wine and oil.

There will be no lack of little pearls of history and anecdotes that will make the walk even more enjoyable.

Comfortable clothing with long pants and closed shoes is recommended.

Wine tasting in San Gimignano at a family-run estate surrounded by Tuscan nature.

You can choose from 4 types of tastings:

As you want them

This tasting begins with a short walk through one of the vineyards where the guide will give you information about the estate along with several trivia about the vine. Once back you can then choose 4 wines to taste from the 7 types produced.

4 wines for a few

This tasting will allow you to taste 4 "special" wines since less than 1,000 bottles of each are produced per year. The wines are: "Ximon” Toscana Bianco IGT, “Donna Lucia” Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Centodue” Toscana Rosso IGT, Chianti Riserva DOCG.

4 DOCG wines

In this tasting you will taste the most classic wines of the Tuscan tradition, including Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Donna Lucia” Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, Chianti Riserva DOCG.

The Fantastic 7

During this tasting you will taste all 7 wines that are produced by the estate, specifically: Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Donna Lucia” Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Ximon” Toscana Bianco IGT, “Il Rosato della via vecchia”, Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, Chianti Riserva DOCG, “Centodue” Toscana Rosso IGT.

During the vespa tour of Chianti from Castellina, you will have the opportunity to rent vespas for an entire day, as a couple or with friends to explore the Chianti hills.

The experience is unique, one of the most beautiful in the area, and you will spend a day immersed in green fields, or among vines ripe in autumn.

The wasps are easy to ride so even beginners can use them, only a B-type license required.

If you decide to participate in this Vespa ride, you will be immersed in the beauty of Tuscany and experience an adventure you will remember forever.

Gasoline is not included and will have to be paid on site.

The quad bike excursion in the countryside between Volterra and San Gimignano è a unique experience that combines adventure, nature and Tuscan culture.

This tour traverses hills, woods and country roads with panoramic views and breathtaking scenery. You will begin the l'excursion with a brief introduction to ATV riding and safety measures.

Following that, the adventure can begin! This type of experience è the ideal for nature lovers looking for an adventure off the beaten path, to discover an authentic and adventurous side of Tuscany that goes beyond the classic tourist routes.

The tours can be one hour or one and a half hours and are suitable for all levels of experience and families even with children, as long as they are over 5 years old.

A wine tasting with a visit to the Tenuta degli Dei in Chianti is the perfect opportunity to spend a relaxing time surrounded by the picturesque Tuscan vineyards.

The meeting begins in front of the Church of San Leolino, a three-nave basilica that preserves valuable works of art from the Tuscan artistic tradition.

The tour continues with a visit to the vat cellar, where the vats in which the fermentation of the wines takes place, and the barrique cellar, which houses the fine French oak barrels in which the wine rests until it reaches perfect maturity.

Next, you will reach the Estate, where the tasting will take place. In the dedicated room, you will have the opportunity to taste five wines: a white wine, a rosé, a Chianti Classico and two IGTs, accompanied by a small sampling of local cured meats and cheeses.

You can choose between the tour in Italian and English.

Minors and those not participating in the tasting do not pay and will receive a tasting of local products.

In case of food allergies or intolerances, you can contact the property after booking.

Finally, the estate is pet friendly, welcoming your four-legged friends as well.

The walk with alpacas in the Florentine Hills is a pleasant experience in the midst of woods and fields on the outskirts of Florence, accompanied by the sweetest alpacas. During the loop trail, about 3 km long, you will learn about all the alpacas you will walk with.

After the walk you can stop on the meadow and enjoy the spectacle of the alpacas in the wild.

We recommend that you wear comfortable clothes and sports or hiking shoes.

The horseback riding tour among the vineyards and tasting in San Gimignano will take place among the unforgettable panoramic views among rustic farmhouses and vineyards in the area.

It is a horseback tour of the estate, nearby vineyards and the forest around San Gimignano (1 hour).

Afterwards there will be a short lecture on wine and vineyards, after which there will be a full wine tasting and then, if selected, lunch outdoors in the garden.

Wine tasting in San Gimignano at a family-run estate surrounded by Tuscan nature.

You can choose from 4 types of tastings:

As you want them

This tasting begins with a short walk through one of the vineyards where the guide will give you information about the estate along with several trivia about the vine. Once back you can then choose 4 wines to taste from the 7 types produced.

4 wines for a few

This tasting will allow you to taste 4 "special" wines since less than 1,000 bottles of each are produced per year. The wines are: "Ximon” Toscana Bianco IGT, “Donna Lucia” Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Centodue” Toscana Rosso IGT, Chianti Riserva DOCG.

4 DOCG wines

In this tasting you will taste the most classic wines of the Tuscan tradition, including Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Donna Lucia” Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, Chianti Riserva DOCG.

The Fantastic 7

During this tasting you will taste all 7 wines that are produced by the estate, specifically: Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Donna Lucia” Vernaccia di San Gimignano DOCG, “Ximon” Toscana Bianco IGT, “Il Rosato della via vecchia”, Chianti Colli Senesi DOCG, Chianti Riserva DOCG, “Centodue” Toscana Rosso IGT.

The horseback riding tour among the vineyards and tasting in San Gimignano will take place among the unforgettable panoramic views among rustic farmhouses and vineyards in the area.

It is a horseback tour of the estate, nearby vineyards and the forest around San Gimignano (1 hour).

Afterwards there will be a short lecture on wine and vineyards, after which there will be a full wine tasting and then, if selected, lunch outdoors in the garden.

Lunch among the vineyards and wine tasting in San Gimignano is a very romantic experience in Tuscany. It is also available for dinner and includes a walk through the vineyards, during which you will be shown the technique of harvesting grapes. Afterwards you will be given a lesson on wine, from winemaking techniques to how to preserve a vineyard.

This will be followed by a tasting of wines and typical Tuscan products among the rows of the estate vineyard, with lunch or dinner served. The experience consists of a vertical tasting of 15 Tuscan products.

Lunch or dinner will be accompanied by the tasting and the following courses:

•    Aperitivo with typical Tuscan cold cuts and cheeses and bruschetta.
•    Tuscan Ribollita or Lasagna with truffles
•    Roasted meat with side dish
•    Cantuccini with Dessert Wine or Vanilla Ice Cream with Balsamic.

Available upon request are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu.

Wine and oil tasting with a visit to the winery offers you the opportunity to enjoy an authentic experience in the heart of Chianti.

You will be welcomed by a winery nestled among rolling hills, cypress trees, vineyards and olive groves.

The experience includes a guided tour of the winery, during which you will discover firsthand the winemaking techniques adopted by the estate.

Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to taste 2 or 3 wines together with locally produced Extra Virgin Olive Oil, accompanied by olives in oil, freshly baked Tuscan bread, salami and Tuscan pecorino cheese.

For any food allergies or intolerances you can contact the property after booking.

Horseback riding in San Gimignano is a pleasant experience among the beautiful views of San Gimignano, in the hills just outside the town.

The walk starts in the morning or afternoon. During the trek you will have the opportunity to love getting to know the horse thanks to the guides who will accompany you during the tour.

The horseback ride lasts 1h. You will take a pleasant horseback ride among the beautiful views of San Gimignano, where you will have the opportunity to love getting to know the horse thanks to the guides who will accompany you during the tour.

You will be provided with all horse riding equipment, including helmet (mandatory). Recommended clothing includes long pants and closed shoes.

The panoramic group or exclusive hot air balloon flight over the Tuscan hills is a unique experience that will allow you to spend an unforgettable morning.

The duration of the activity is about 3 hours, including balloon inflation, flight of about 1 hour, recovery, balloon packing, breakfast and return to the meeting point. You can choose from 3 different destinations.

Chianti

It starts from Barberino Tavernelle at dawn and the flight route varies each time depending on the intensity and direction of the wind. During the experience you can admire the various castles, villages and vineyards that characterize the Tuscan countryside. On a clear day, if you fly high enough you can even see the Tyrrhenian Sea in the distance.

San Gimignano

You take off in the San Gimignano areas, and you will be able to admire right away the village that is among the most renowned in Tuscany. Once you get to altitude you will have a view of the entire Tuscan countryside characterized by vineyards and olive trees. In the distance you can also see the Apennines including the white peaks characterized by Carrara Marble.

Siena

Depart just outside the city; you will be able to see Piazza Campo right away. Depending on the direction of the wind you will either fly directly over the city or be transported to Chianti in the hills of Siena.

Florence

This exclusively private tour offers you the unique thrill of admiring the Tuscan capital from above — not only the entire city of Florence, but also the enchanting hills that surround it.

Once you land before returning to the meeting point you will be offered breakfast.

Required clothing to participate is seasonally appropriate sportswear with long pants and closed-toe shoes without heels.