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Montevarchi is the closest town to the ride base
Ride World Wide
Riding holidays and horse safaris
Italy ~ Chianti
These rides start from a traditional Tuscan farmhouse south east of Florence and north east of Siena and explore the surrounding vineyards, villages and neighbouring Chianti hills. In the valleys there are scarlet fields of poppies, vivid red clover, sunflowers and orchards bursting with fruit. Perched on distant hills, are ancient castles and enchanting medieval villages that seem lost in another time. Warm spring days are full of birdsong and wild flowers and end in long balmy evenings. Autumn is when vines are heavy with fruit and forests burst with golden colours of the turning leaves. Three different itineraries are available in 2012. The Castle Ride includes a few days riding from the farmhouse base with afternoons of guided sightseeing, then a circular ride to the medieval walled city of Siena with its wonderful piazza and palazzos; the Discover Tuscany Ride and Taste of Tuscany Rides are relaxing 7 and 4 night long itineraries respectively, based at the farmhouse throughout and combining a few hours riding most days, with time for leisurely sightseeing. Non riders are welcome on the Discover Tuscany program and the 'Walk and Ride' weeks offer parallel guided walks and rides. Under the careful and knowledgeable guidance of your English host who is a mine of information on the local area, both rides are an excellent introduction to rural Tuscany.
7 and 4 night rides are run from various set dates between April and June and in September and October. Other stays at the farmhouse base can sometimes also be arranged on request.
Riding: 3-6 hours a day.
Horses: local Maremmani crosses, Arab crosses
Pace: moderate but relaxed.
Riding ability: one base rides are suitable for novice riders and above; other itineraries are suitable for intermediate riders and above.
Weight limit: 87kg (13st 10lbs).
Accommodation: farmhouse, 3* hotels.
Group size: maximum 7 (for Discover Tuscany and Taste of Tuscany Rides maximum 10, but the group is split for riding).
There are about 22 horses at Rendola, mainly crosses of local Italian breeds such as Sicilian Maremmani, with several Arab crosses and a few pure Arabs, originating from Sardinia. They are a medium build and average between 14.2hh and 16hh. They are all well schooled and are a responsive, enjoyable ride and there is a good selection of horses for riders of all levels. Tack is English style with suede 'seat savers' and saddlebags provided if required. There is a strict rider weight limit of 13 stone 10 lbs / 87 kgs. The Discover Tuscany and Taste of Tuscany Rides are limited to a maximum of 10 guests split into two groups of 5 for riding. On the Castles Ride the maximum in a group is 7 riders.
Hours: There is generally between 3 and 6 hours riding a day on the Castles Ride and between 2 and 5 hours a day on The Discover Tuscany and Taste of Tuscany Rides, with a day off mid-week on the former.
Pace and experience required: These rides are at a relaxed and fairly gentle pace, the aim being to enjoy the surrounding countryside, and to combine sightseeing with riding, rather than hard, fast riding. The minimum requirement to take part is that you have a reasonable amount of previous riding experience (English style) and are comfortable and secure on a horse at a walk, trot and canter. You should also be used to riding over varied terrain. The Castles Ride is for intermediate riders and above; more novice riders can be taken on the Discover Tuscany and Taste of Tusany itineraries. The horses are well schooled and there are plenty of chances to trot and canter during the rides although trots and canters are normally in short stretches as you are riding around small fields, vineyards, villages and wooded valleys.
Accommodation is at Rendola, a traditional Tuscan farmhouse in the hamlet of the same name and on 'moving' rides, includes nights in other similar farmhouses and local hotels. Rendola, which is your hosts home, is a traditional two storey stone farmhouse. It is very much a home rather than a hotel - but accommodation is comfortable. Bedrooms are of varying sizes, painted in fresh pastel colours and furnished in typical rural Italian style. They have terracotta tiled floors and all have a small adjoining tiled bathroom with loo and shower. There is a large beamed dining room downstairs where meals are eaten at a long table and a small sitting room upstairs. The house is at the top of a hill surrounded by olive groves with lovely views over the Arno valley. The atmosphere is informal and welcoming - you will immediately feel at home. On moving rides when not at Rendola, nights will be at other similar farmhouses belonging to friends of your host (bathrooms may be shared in some of these) and at local hotels chosen as far as possible for their character. When staying in Siena your hotel will either be a lovely old mansion with frescoes and views over the hills or an old coaching inn both of which are very central. Rates on all trips are based on twin rooms. Single rooms are not always possible and depend on numbers on the ride.
| Rates 2012 |
Castles Ride - Euros 1725 Discover Tuscany Ride - Euros 1410 *Single rooms at Rendola cannot be guaranteed and depend on group numbers. Castles Ride Rates include - 7 nights twin accommodation, all riding, guiding and equipment, meals from dinner Day 1 to breakfast Day 8 (except dinner in Siena on Day 5 and lunch and dinner in Siena on Day 6), house wine with meals, except in Siena, and return transfers from / to Florence on Days 1 / 8 at set times with the group by train and minivan. Castles Ride Rates exclude - international flights / travel to Florence, dinner in Siena on Day 5 and lunch and dinner in Siena on Day 6, drinks at hotels, extra drinks / premium wines at Rendola, personal medical insurance (compulsory) and any tips you may wish to leave. Discover Tuscany Ride Rates include - 7 nights twin accommodation, all riding, guiding and equipment, meals (except lunch on one day) house wine with meals, return transfers from Florence by train and car. Discover Tuscany Ride Rates exclude - international flights / travel to Florence, lunch on one day, extra drinks / premium wines throughout, any extra sightseeing / excursions / transfers etc., personal medical / travel insurance (which all riders must have), supplements for a single room, any visa fees and any tips you may wish to leave. Taste of Tuscany Ride Rates include - 4 nights twin accommodation at Rendola, riding as indicated (two morning rides of 2 to 2 ½ hours and one longer day ride), sightseeing on 2 afternoons, meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 5, house wine with lunch and dinner and also return transfers from / to Florence on Days 1 / 5 at set times with the group by train and minivan. Taste of Tuscany Ride Rates exclude - international flights / travel to Florence, extra drinks / premium wines throughout, any extra sightseeing / excursions / transfers etc., personal medical / travel insurance (which you must have), supplements for a single room, any visa fees and any tips you wish to leave. Prices are quoted in Euros. Payments to us can of course be made in pounds sterling if you wish and we can give you a sterling rate at the time of booking. |
| Dates 2012 |
Castles Ride |
| Season | April to June, September and October. |
The meeting point for the ride is Florence train station. There are direct flights to Florence from London (Gatwick) daily with Meridiana. Alternatively you can fly to Pisa or Bologna and take a train to Florence. British Airways have direct flights from London to Pisa which is only about 1 hour by train from Florence. Both British Airways and Easy Jet (from Stansted) have direct flights to Bologna (about 2 hours on the train to Florence). For flights to Florence budget around £150 to £250 (depending on the season). Flights to Bologna and Pisa are usually available for around £120 to £150.
Itinerary in Brief, Castles Ride (please enquire for other itineraries)
| Day 1 | Arrive Florence station where you will be met at 17.45 and taken by train to Montevarchi. From Montevarchi there is a short drive to the farmhouse in Rendola. Dinner and overnight at Rendola. |
| Day 2 |
Breakfast, then a morning ride of about 2½ hours through the picturesque Arno valley, along woodland tracks and around vineyards returning to Rendola for lunch. In the afternoon guided sightseeing then dinner and overnight at Rendola. |
| Day 3 |
Breakfast and a morning ride returning to Rendola for lunch. An afternoon of guided sightseeing with a chance to visit the Abbey of Coltibueno and the town of Radda which is one of the most interesting in the Chianti area. Dinner and the night at Rendola. |
| Day 4 |
A morning ride of about 3 hours through the Chianti Hills in the direction of Castelnuovo Berardenga passing the tower of Galatrona and the villages of Cennina and Montebenichi, stopping for a picnic lunch on the way. Ride on for about another 1½ hours to a local farmhouse where the horses spend the night. Dinner and overnight at the farmhouse or you will be driven back to Rendola for dinner and the night. |
| Day 5 |
Breakfast then meet the horses and ride on through the estate of Villa Arceno and across the Chianti Hills. Stable the horses and a picnic lunch before visiting the 12th century Castle of Brolio. Drive onto a hotel in Siena, an elegant villa decorated with frescoes. Own arrangements for dinner. |
| Day 6 |
The day free for sightseeing and to shop in historic Siena. Second night in the hotel in Siena. |
| Day 7 |
Breakfast then drive to Corbina to meet the horses and a ride of about 5 hours in all taking you through the vast estate of Brolio, with a picnic lunch overlooking the castle of Meleto. Ride back to Rendola for dinner and the final night. |
| Day 8 |
Breakfast and you will then be driven to Montevarchi station for the train to Florence. |
| Contact us on 01837-82544 for further information, detailed itineraries, dates and answers to questions |
