WELCOME TO ITALY

Few destinations make for a more picturesque setting for active walking/hiking tour than Northern Italy. This wonderful adventure combines the pleasure of discovering the marvelous landscapes of Italy's northern regions with the exhilaration of exploring highly memorable historic and cultural sites in some of the world's most rewarding cities. In Florence, a city surrounded olive vineyards and thick cypresses, we see Michelangelo's David at the Academia, the majestic cathedral, and the fresco-covered tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo. Via the forested ridges of the Chianti hills and the paving stones of Roman roads in Pienza, we head to Siena, known as 'the Queen of the Hill Towns'. Our ramble culminates with a spectacular walk along the romantic Cinque Terre route, one of the finest walks in all of Europe.

ITINERARY IN BRIEF
For detailed itinerary (PDF), click here
For hotel samples, click here.

Day 1 • Arrival in Florence, a vivid, busy, absorbing city.

Day 2 • A city tour of Florence takes us to the Academia, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio.

Day 3 • We’re off to Tuscany via Chianti. Stop in Greve, heart of one of Italy's most important wine regions.

Day 4 • Walking around Radda: forests and fields, wild herbs along the margins of our trail, to little village of Volpaia.

Day 5 • To Pienza by road; town tour.

Day 6 • A 3-hour walk brings us to Bagno Vignoni, across paving stones from Roman roads that passed this way. Tonight, treat yourself to wines for which the area is justly famous.

Day 7 • Ah, medieval Montepulciano, highest of southern Tuscany's hill towns.

Day 8 •Walk and drive to Siena, via the impressive 14th century Benedictine abbey of Monte Olivetto Maggiore. We also walk through the shade of an oak forest, across a bridge to the beautiful and diminutive walled town of Buonconvento.

Day 9 • Guided tour of Siena’s principal sites and time to savour the "Queen of the Hill Towns." Optional Tuscan cooking class.

Day 10 • Tonight we sleep in coastal Lerici, where over dinner we reminisce about our morning visits to San Gimignano and Pisa, to see the famous leaning tower.

Day 11 • A major highlight today—walking the Cinque Terre. Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Vernazza… pinch yourself!

Day 12 • Travel by train back to Florence; last minute shopping before a farewell dinner.

Day 13 • Departure from Florence. Buon Viaggio!

OUT FACTOR

Unsure about the impact of gay Italians on the art world through the centuries? All will be revealed (literally) when you first set your eyes upon everyone's favourite model of man, Michelangelo's David. (Note his peculiarly large feet and hands.) Together we’ll trace the development of the famed ‘vizio fiorentino’—intellectualized homosexuality—which so permeated the life of Renaissance Florence. Overall, the gayest aspect of this trip is the fact that every thing we see, everywhere we go, everything we eat, will be simply fabulous. And this is Europe—no need to be anything but yourself, especially since most of our carefully-chosen hotels are self-described as gay-friendly.

PLEASE NOTE

This itinerary is correct at time of publishing. For a more detailed itinerary, download a PDF here. We reserve the right to make changes as necessary due to reasons beyond our control. For booking terms and conditions, please refer to our Booking Terms.