Pieve a Castello 2023 brochure

5th century BC alabaster bust of a goddess excavated during building works The site is believed to have been an Etruscan temple

The large, isolated ecclesiastical buildings, an Augustinian canonry, were constructed to accommodate the high volume of early medieval pilgrims and other travellers on their way to and from Rome

Manuscript of the route of the Via Francigena, recorded in 990 AD by Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England, during his return journey from Rome

Nicholas Breakspear, an Augustinian Canon and the only English Pope (Adrian IV 1154-1159), was among the canonry ’ s benefactors

Before 20 years of restoration Christopher Whinney receiving the Conservation International and National Geographic ‘World Legacy Award’ for Heritage Tourism from Queen Noor of Jordan, at National Geographic, Washington DC

You Can Expect

You will be staying as a ‘house guest’ at this historic and architecturally important 8th century Augustinian canonry Pieve a Castello – on a secluded, fortified site, with unspoilt views, is located between Florence and Siena in central Tuscany, and was for centuries a main over-night stop for the thousands of travellers each year on the Via Francigena, the medieval ‘main road to Rome’

Today, fully restored to a high standard*, you will be welcomed and looked after by a team of experienced staff that includes an ATG resident Manager, a skilled chef and on Escorted trips, an ATG Tour Leader and Tour Manager

Your room will be one of 10, each different, some in the main house, others opening onto the central courtyard, but all having en suite facilities, a sofa, writing table, fridge-bar, a safe (in cupboard with drawers) TV, WiFi, airconditioning and views of the ancient courtyard and also unspoilt Tuscan countryside

Exploring further you will find comfortable rooms and shaded terraces for sitting and relaxing, a proto-Romanesque church with a concert grand piano and ‘perfect’ acoustics, a well-stocked library, a travertine pool with salt filtration and organic vegetable gardens

Meals and wines (all included): Breakfast, a wide choice of options, including fresh eggs from the chickens, is usually served in the courtyard; lunch on the lower shaded terrace (or ATG picnic on Escorted trips); pre-dinner drinks and canapés on the library terrace, with, on Escorted trips, a presentation relating to the next day’s itinerary; then dinner, with ingredients from the organic gardens and local area, with fine regional wines, usually served in early medieval splendour of the former baptistry

Walking: ancient paths of the Via Francigena ‘fan out’ through vineyards, olive groves, meadows and forested hills, and include over 200 miles of excellent walking (complimentary Route Book in your room with 20 self-guided walks of 1 to 7 hours)

Excursions to places of outstanding interest, often include walking options *A licensed ‘Residenza d’Epoca’

D i n e i n s t y l e , e n j o y i n g C l a s s i c T u s c a n c u i s i n e a n d f i n e w i n e s o f t h e r e g i o n

Room

R O O M W I T H A V I E W

Room 1: Large, first-floor room with writing room, bath & shower (double/twin)

2: Large, second-floor room with writing room, bath & shower (double/twin)

Room 3: Large, second-floor room with unique shower room (double/twin)

Room 4: ‘Cosy’ room on second floor with four-poster bed, bath & shower (double)

Room 5: Former dovecote on second floor with spacious shower (double)

There are 10 bedrooms, originally used for multiple-occupancy by early medieval travellers In a protected building of this antiquity, every room is different, each with unique features All bedrooms have private ensuite facilities (with bath/shower or shower), heating and air-conditioning, sofa, writing desk, fridge-bar, TV, cupboard with drawers and safe, and views of the central courtyard and open countryside

Room 7: Courtyard room with bath, shower and side door to garden (double/twin)

Room 11: Courtyard room – with writing niche, shower and 8th century apse (!) (double)

Room 10: Cosy courtyard room with shower (single room with single bed*)

*Rooms 9 & 10 do not have a single occupancy supplement

Room 9: Charming, corner courtyard room with shower (single room, French-sized double bed*)

Room 8: Courtyard room with bath, shower and side door to garden (double/twin)

Tuscan

cuisine is recognised as one of the world’s best – distinguished by its high quality of flavours derived from local, sustainably produced, ingredients – that can make even the simplest of dishes seem a ‘Classic’

Many ingredients used in the kitchens at Pieve a Castello are grown in its organic vegetable gardens, and almost all are sourced from a day’s walking distance

With greenhouse gas ‘consumption emissions’ rampant – is adopting sustainable cuisine a viable option ?

What is included?

Tours Individual Stays

Airport transfers (Florence or Pisa – 4+ night stays)

All rooms with both courtyard and country views

All rooms with en suite bath/shower room, sofa, writing desk, fridge-bar, safe, TV and air-con

W iFi

Comfortable rooms for sitting and relaxing

Library with books & music

Church with perfected acoustics, recording facilities and concert grand piano

Concert in the church by professional musicians

Guest kitchen with coffee, tea, home-made biscuits – and an arched loggia with seating and views!

Shaded terraces with seating

Pool – travertine with salt filtration (May to October)

Organic vegetable garden

Substantial breakfast, including fresh eggs

Lunch – celebrated ATG picnics

Buffet lunch 12.30 – 2.30 p.m.

Packed lunch option

After noon tea with home-made cake etc

Early/light dinner option (pizza/ice-cream)

ATG Leader and Tour Manager

Pre-dinner presentations relating to the area, its history and places visited Pre-dinner drinks & canapés

Traditional Tuscan cuisine with ingredients sourced within a day’s walk

Fine Dining with fine wines

7 gour met menus – one for each day

Vegetarian and vegan menu options

Itinerary of exclusive accompanied/guided visits t o p l a c e s o f o u t s t a n d i n g i n t e re s t i n t h e a re a

Guided walks in the area

Accompanied visits to wine estates and private gardens

Scheduled daily shuttle service to nearby medieval hill towns and villages

ATG ‘Footloose’ Route Book

Self-guided walks around places of interest

20 self-guided walks of 1–7 hours

Over 200 miles of self-guided walking routes

Parking with charging points for electric vehicles

Escorted

Loggia view ATG Tour Manager

8th Century Baptistry Courtyard breakfast

Cake for tea Library terrace

San Gimignano Pool with a view!

Siena Palio

Painting Tuscany

Pieve a Castello

Pieve a Castello is a restored, historically and architecturally important 8th century Augustinian canonry in a prime location between Florence and Siena in central Italy

When not welcoming exclusive Escorted groups, it opens its doors to individual travellers – offering over 200 miles of self-guided walks and a weekly schedule of excursions (in luxury electric minibuses) to nearby places of outstanding interest, with opportunities for sightseeing, exploring and shopping – and also versatile walking options:

Saturday:

Colle Val d’Elsa

Lower town, with remarkable old subterranean mill-race canals, with ancient (pedestrian) brick road (or elevator!) to high, walled medieval hill town with fine tunnel streets Excellent ice-creams! Walk back through meadows and woods (2-3 hours). Driving time 10 minutes.

Sunday: Monteriggioni

Iconic, walled hill village with 14 watchtowers and 84 inhabitants (and restored main arched gate – an ATG Trust project). Approach on foot – 1 hour from the Benedictine Abbey of Isola or 15 minutes from below the village Walk to/from Pieve a Castello – through forests (3-4 hours) Driving time 10 minutes

Monday: San Gimignano

‘The medieval Manhattan’ – famous for its towers and churches with superb, medieval frescoes Climb a tower, see a museum. Go shopping, eat an ice-cream. Scenic approach on foot (20 minutes) Retur n walk 7 hours Driving time 25 minutes

Tuesday: Pieve a Castello

A day to enjoy the 8th century Augustinian canonry and the 200 miles of self-guided walks that fan out through vineyards, olive groves and forest Transfers to/from Florence and Pisa airports.

Wednesday: Casole d’Elsa

Casole, whose lights we see twinkling across the valley at night, is a small, medieval hill town with fine walls, churches and museum. Walks through meadows of the Elsa Valley. Driving time 15 minutes

Thursday: Siena

Best-preserved, great medieval city in Europe. Cathedral. Piazza del Campo Great medieval Art by Sienese Masters City walk in Route Book – 2 hours Walking to/from Pieve a Castello – 7 hours or there is a fine part-way walk back through forest tracks of the ancient Via Francigena (2-3 hours) Driving time 25 minutes

Friday: Pieve a Castello

A day to enjoy… with opportunities to walk some of the 200 miles of ancient paths and tracks – through vineyards, olive groves and extensive forests of the Montagnola Senese Transfers to/from Florence and Pisa airports

TEMPERATURE & RAINFALL

INTRODUCTORY OFFER:

GETTING THERE: AIRPORTS

u Florence (45 miles)

Taxi: 50 mins ~€150 (one way)

u Pisa (67 miles)

Taxi: 1 hour 15 mins €180 (one way)

Free airport transfers included for bookings for a stay of more than 4 nights/5 days…. Transfers every Tuesday and Friday for the frequent inter national and domestic flights into Florence and Pisa airports Please contact office for transfer times.

Route Book: 200 pages with detailed walking directions, marked maps, comprehensive local and background infor mation

Walking: As much or as little as you like – with over 200 miles of self-guided walks from 1-2 - hour circular routes from Pieve a Castello to longer 7-8 - hour walks to San Gimignano and Siena… and the possibility of utilising the daily ‘excursion shuttle’ for a convenient ‘drop off ’ to walk back to Pieve a Castello.

Terrain: Paths and tracks including routes of the ancient Via Francigena, through vineyards, olive groves, meadows and extensive forest

As You Like iT - 1

stay at one of the oldest, most perfectly preserved, early medieval buildings in europe, surrounded by idyllic countryside, with the leisure to explore the area ’ s incomparably rich cultural Heritage

Day 1 After arrival at Pieve a Castello and time to relax, there will be a tour of this unique complex of early 8th century buildings Evening presentation: Tuscan heritage

Day 2 We walk through idyllic countryside to discover paths and tracks – once routes of the ancient ‘main road to Rome’ We return for lunch, and later enjoy a tour of the organic vegetable gardens, followed by a cooking demonstration Evening presentation: Dante Alighieri, Guelfs and Ghibelline

Day 3 We drive (25 minutes) to Villa Vicobello, and visit the fine Renaissance garden built by Baldassare Peruzzi for the Chigi family in the 16th century After returning for lunch there is the option of a walk following the ancient Via Francigena to a frescoed church and hermitage Evening presentation: Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti

Day 4 We spend the morning in Siena, visiting the Palazzo Pubblico and enjoying iconic, early Renaissance works of art including Lorenzetti’s renowned frescoes Optional free afternoon to explore the city Evening presentation: Ascendancy of the Medici

Day 5 We drive (45 mins) to hills overlooking Florence, and walk to visit the magnificent church of San Miniato al Monte, before exploring other nearby ‘ gems ’ Evening concert in the church before dinner

Day 6 We drive (1 hour 10) to Montalcino, south of Siena, centre of the famous Brunello wine producing area, then walk through vineyards to the exquisite Abbey church of Sant’ Antimo, built of alabaster and onyx Evening presentation and wine tasting: Chianti!

Day 7 We walk through forests of the Montagnola –following early medieval paths, to the fortified, hilltop village of Monteriggioni, with its 14 watchtowers, described in Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ Evening: gala dinner

Day 8 Departure day

As You Like iT - 2

Whilst the diversity of sightseeing opportunities, based at Pieve a Castello, is of an incomparably high standard – so, too, are the opportunities for exploring the area on foot

Day 1 After arrival at Pieve a Castello, there will be a tour of this unique complex of early 8th century buildings Evening presentation: The Augustinian Canonry

Day 2 We walk, following routes used by early medieval travellers between Pieve a Castello’s 22 small, dependent canonries We return for lunch, and later enjoy a tour of the organic vegetable gardens, followed by a cooking demonstration Evening presentation: Renewable medieval energy

Day 3 We walk from Pieve a Castello following ancient tracks to nearby Colle Val d’Elsa where we visit the fortified, medieval ‘Colle Alta’ and its evocative ‘tunnel’ streets, and lower town with ‘le gore ’ – an ancient water system powering this ‘town of mills’ Evening presentation: The Anti-chamber of Paradise

Day 4 We walk through forests of the Montagnola to a frescoed church and hermitage After lunch we visit Siena to discover the history and outstanding art and architecture of the Cathedral complex Evening presentation: Wealth created by the Via Francigena

Day 5 We drive (20 mins), then walk up a track with panoramic views of San Gimignano, the ‘medieval Manhattan’, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards After walking through the town, we continue down into the scenic hills to the Elsa Valley to visit the fortified village of Certaldo, birthplace of Boccaccio We return to Pieve a Castello for a concert in the church before dinner

Day 6 We drive (1 hour) to visit the great Benedictine abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, where amongst other delights, is a cloister with frescoes by Signorelli and Sodoma We walk through the surrounding landscape of picturesquely eroded hills Evening presentation and wine tasting: Chianti!

Day 7 We drive (35 mins) to visit Villa Geggiano, just outside Siena, with its elegant gardens, theatre and wonderful views over the city Afternoon free to relax and enjoy Evening: gala dinner

Day 8 Departure day

As You Like iT

stay at an exclusive, private residence – an award-winning conservation project – in unspoilt countryside each day explores a different aspect of Tuscany’s fascinating history, art, architecture and landscape

Day 1 After arrival at Pieve a Castello and time to relax, there will be a tour of this unique complex of early 8th century buildings Evening presentation: The Via Francigena

Day 2 We walk, following ancient routes of the Via Francigena, the early medieval ‘main Road to Rome’, through idyllic countryside to the Benedictine Abbey of Isola, and the walled hilltop town of Monteriggioni We return for lunch, and later enjoy a tour of the organic vegetable gardens, followed by a cooking demonstration Evening presentation: The Medieval Traveller and the Legend of the Sword in the Stone

Day 3 We drive (40 mins) to the village of Chiusdino and visit its small museum We then walk to the spectacular, ruined Cistercian abbey of San Galgano; and nearby small, domed Romanesque church – still with the ‘Sword in the Stone’ (of San Galgano), from which the fable originates Evening presentation: Contrada Tradition

Day 4 We spend the morning in Siena, where we visit lesser-known areas of ‘the best-preserved great medieval city in Europe’ and its ancient, but still vibrant ‘contrada culture’ Evening presentation: Etruscan origins and legacy

Day 5 We drive (1 hour) across scenic hills, then walk to explore the great Etruscan city of Volterra, visiting Etruscan tombs, walls and gateways and the fine Etruscan museum We return to Pieve a Castello (built on Etruscan foundations!) for a private concert in the church

Day 6 We walk through open country of the upper Elsa Valley before following paths up through olive groves to the medieval hill village of Casole d’Elsa –built on Etruscan foundations Evening presentation and wine tasting: Chianti: Great Reds

Day 7 We drive (20 mins) to Castello di Celsa –high in the Montagnola (wonderful views!), and visit its fine 16th century gardens There is a delightful (optional) walk part of the way back to Pieve a Castello Evening: gala dinner

Day 8 Departure day

P H O T O : S A R A H W E L L B

sieNA & THe PALio

siena & the Palio includes the opportunity to watch this historic festival and famous horse race from the windows of probably the best-situated palazzo on siena’s central Piazza del Campo –around which (packed with earth for the festival) horses have raced since the 14th century

The race itself, scheduled to start at 8.00 pm on 2 July, is preceded by days with traditional events that for the cognoscenti contribute to the drama of the occasion

There are opportunities to visit siena for some of these – or relax in the tranquillity of Pieve a Castello

Day 1 After arrival at Pieve a Castello, and time to relax, there will be a tour of this unique complex of early 8th century buildings Evening presentation: The Palio: its history and traditions

Day 2 Morning visit, with a range of walking options (10 minutes to 3 hours), to the nearby walled, hilltop village of Monteriggioni, with its 14 watchtowers Evening presentation: Siena; The Antechamber of Paradise

Day 3 Morning visit to Siena to watch the tense ‘draw’ in which Palio horses are allotted to contrade After lunch at a restaurant in the medieval city, there are opportunities for further exploration of Siena or walking historic paths through the forested Montagnola, back to Pieve a Castello Evening presentation: Via Francigena

Day 4 Morning visit to iconic San Gimignano, ‘the Medieval Manhattan’, with a brief, optional, scenic approach on foot, and a range of walking options Lunch at Pieve a Castello Evening presentation: Palio di Provenzana

Day 5 We visit Siena in the late afternoon to see the Prova Generale – the final practice race in the Piazza del Campo, which we watch from the palazzo windows, before joining one of the contrade as guests at their pre-Palio dinner

Day 6 Palio Day Afternoon visit to Siena to see the colourful medieval pageant and watch the Palio horse race from windows of the ideally situated palazzo followed by dinner at a restaurant in the medieval city

Day 7 Day to relax at Pieve a Castello Evening concert in the church, followed by a gala dinner

ViA FRANCiGeNA 990

in 990 AD sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, during his return journey from Rome, made notes of where he stayed overnight – the earliest surviving record of the Via Francigena route We follow the best-preserved sections of sigeric’s route to Pieve a Castello, the oldest and best-preserved overnight stopping place on the Via Francigena Walking: Moderate to challenging walking along dirt and gravel roads, farm tracks, mule paths, vineyards, woodland trails and tracks

Day 1 From Rome Fiumicino airport we drive (1 hour) to Sutri, where we visit the evocative Roman amphitheatre and ancient church (visited by Sigeric), before continuing to our hotel Night 1 4H Relais Sans Souci, Ronciglione

Day 2 We walk from Lake Vico through the forested Monti Cimini to medieval Viterbo, then on to ancient thermal baths (opportunity to wallow), before following original paved Roman road to Montefiascone (13 5 miles, 7 hours) Night 2 3H Urbano V, Montefiascone

Day 3 We enjoy fine views of the lake on our walk to Bolsena, where we explore features that existed at the time of Sigeric’s visit (11 miles, 5 5 hours) Night 3 5H Ludwig Boutique Hotel, Bolsena

Day 4 We follow the Francigena route to the ancient town of Acquapendente, visit fine 9C crypt, then continue along the Paglia Valley to walk, following ancient tracks across a pass, before continuing to the Orcia Valley, and San Quirico (12 miles, 6 hours) Night 4 4H Hotel Palazzo del Capitano, San Quirico

Day 5 We continue by road to Siena and then walk across the forested Montagnola hills to Pieve a Castello (11 miles, 5 hours) Nights 5 - 7 4H Pieve a Castello

Day 6 We walk to the 10C Benedictine monastery Abbadia Isola, then continue on foot to the iconic, fortified village of Monteriggioni (8 miles, 4 hours)

Day 7 We follow the route of the early medieval Via Francigena, passing several pilgrim ‘stations’, to San Gimignano – with its famous towers (15 miles, 8 hours) Evening: gala dinner

Day 8 Departure day

TusCAN GARDeNs

Three great centres of italian gardens –Lucca, Florence and siena, with outstanding Tuscan gardens representing their development from the early Renaissance through to modern times.

Day 1 We travel by road from Pisa or Florence airport to the delightful, walled city of Lucca Nights 1 & 2 4H Hotel Ilaria, Lucca

Day 2 We visit two historic properties: Villa Reale di Marlia, an historic garden that once belonged to Elisa Bonaparte; and Villa Torrigiani, an elaborate villa set in a simple, formal garden After lunch, free time to explore Lucca

Day 3 We drive (1 5 hours) to Florence and visit (subject to opening) one of the historic Medici properties to the north of the city, Villa di Castello or Villa Petraia After lunch we visit the delightful garden of Villa Gamberaia, much appreciated by Edith Wharton, before continuing to Pieve a Castello (1 hour, 15 mins) Nights 3 - 7 4H Pieve a Castello

Day 4 We drive (35 mins) to visit Villa Geggiano, just outside Siena, with its elegant gardens, theatre and wonderful views over the city Optional free afternoon in Siena, or return to Pieve

Day 5 We drive (25 minutes) to Villa Vicobello, and visit the fine Renaissance garden built by Baldassare Peruzzi for the Chigi family in the 16th century Optional afternoon walk (1 hour) Evening: private concert in the church

Day 6 We follow scenic roads south to the villages of San Quirico (1 5 hours) and Pienza (25 mins), pausing in each to visit small, historic gardens After lunch we continue (30 mins) to the superbly designed gardens of La Foce, creation and former home of writer Iris Origo

Day 7 We drive (30 mins) into the wooded hills behind Pieve to visit the ‘Peruzzi’ gardens of the Castello di Celsa We enjoy a scenic drive through the Montagnola, with an optional walk (1 5 hours) Evening: gala dinner

Day 8 Departure day

iTALiAN GARDeNs

Complementing the Tuscan Gardens itinerary, this trip makes a progression from further south, visiting some wonderful gardens, ancient and modern – all very different in character, but each in its own way outstanding.

Day 1 From Rome Fiumicino airport we drive (1 5 hours) to the Monti Lepini and visit Ninfa, ‘the world’s most romantic garden’ Night 1 3H Hotel Principe Serrone, Sermoneta

Day 2 We drive (1 5 hours) to gardens created 1,900 years ago at Tivoli’s Villa of the Emperor Hadrian We continue (1 hour) to the Monti Cimini and visit the splendid Villa Farnese at Caprarola and its influential 16C gardens, before continuing to Ronciglione and our hotel in a garden setting Night 2 3H Relais Villa Lina, Ronciglione

Day 3 We visit the Villa Lante gardens, a synergy of Vignola’s Palladian geometry with his patron’s taste for outdoor living We then visit the starkly contrasting, 16th century, Surrealist Gardens of Bomarzo gardens, before continuing (2 hours) to Pieve a Castello Nights 3 - 7 4H Pieve a Castello

Day 4 We drive (25 minutes) to Villa Vicobello, and visit the fine Renaissance garden built by Baldassare Peruzzi for the Chigi family in the 16th century Optional afternoon visit to Siena

Day 5 We drive (1 hour) to the Florentine countryside to visit the magnificent gardens of Boboli and Bardini, with wonderful views across the city and the surrounding hills Evening: private concert in the church

Day 6 We visit two gardens near Siena: at the Certosa di Pontignano, with its impressive cloister; and at Villa Geggiano, with wonderful views over the city

Day 7 We drive (30 mins) into the wooded hills behind Pieve to visit the ‘Peruzzi’ gardens of the Castello di Celsa We enjoy a scenic drive through the Montagnola, with an optional walk (1 5 hours) Optional afternoon walk, followed by farewell gala dinner

Day 8 Departure day

WALkiNG, LANGuAGe & LiBReTTo

There is no language more beautiful than italian And we have yet to find a teacher more delightful or inspirational than Giancarla Bindi, who has been leading our language and Palio trips for many years Her belief is that the enjoyment in learning a language lies in being able to immediately use what has been learned – providing insights into italian culture and way of life: immersion! Divided into groups according to knowledge of italian, whether ‘ none ’ , ‘ a few words’ or ‘conversational’ – you will soon be speaking italian!

Day 1 After arrival at Pieve a Castello and time to relax, a tour of the 8th century buildings is followed by a presentation of Giancarla’s approach to the week

Day 2 Morning Italian lessons After lunch at Pieve a Castello, an optional afternoon walk explores the surrounding countryside (2 hours), before returning for afternoon tea Time to relax before dinner

Day 3 Morning Italian lessons After lunch we visit the nearby iconic, hilltop village of Monteriggioni, with an optional walk (3 5 hours) back to Pieve a Castello

Day 4 Morning visit to Siena, visiting the astonishing 15th century frescoes in the Santa Maria della Scala hospital, followed by a guided tour (in Italian!) of the Duomo (cathedral) crypt After lunch, enjoy a free afternoon in Siena, or an optional walk, following the route of the early medieval Via Francigena (3 hours), back to Pieve a Castello

Day 5 Morning Italian lessons Afternoon walk and visit to San Gimignano , the ‘medieval Manhattan’, with its famous towers We later enjoy a private concert in the Pieve a Castello church before dinner

Day 6 Morning Italian lessons Late morning visit to Colle Val d’Elsa, and exploration of the ancient town’s fascinating, medieval tunnel streets, returning to Pieve a Castello for lunch Afternoon free, with optional walk (1-2 hours) Before dinner we enjoy a wine tasting, sampling a range of interesting local wines

Day 7 Morning Italian lessons In the afternoon, time to relax and enjoy Pieve a Castello Optional walk In the evening we enjoy a farewell gala dinner

Day 8 Departure day

PAiNTiNG TusCANY

spend each morning painting in an idyllic spot at or near Pieve a Castello, with views over the timeless Tuscan countryside Afternoons include optional walks of 1 - 2 hours and sightseeing – and/or free time to paint This tour will be led by a renowned painter specialising in Tuscan landscapes

Day 1 After arrival at Pieve a Castello and time to relax, there will be a tour of this unique complex of early 8th century buildings Pre-dinner presentation of the tour leader's approach to the week

Day 2 Morning painting session in the grounds of Pieve a Castello After lunch, an optional afternoon walk explores the surrounding countryside (1-2 hours), before returning for afternoon tea Time to relax – or paint – before dinner

Day 3 We drive (10 mins) to a picturesque spot at the hamlet of nearby Abbadia Isola After painting and visiting the abbey, we continue to hilltop Monteriggioni, a tiny medieval village, encircled by 13th century walls with 14 watchtowers Late afternoon walk in the surrounding hills (1-2 hours)

Day 4 Morning painting session at a castle dating from the 13th century with Peruzzi gardens and wonderful views toward Monte Amiata Optional afternoon walk

Day 5 We drive (20 mins) to a picturesque, frescoed church and hermitage for our morning painting session and enjoy wonderful views of Siena Optional afternoon visit to nearby Casole, whose twinkling lights are visible at night from Pieve a Castello Evening: private concert in the church

Day 6 We drive (30 mins) to a viewpoint over classic Tuscan countryside After our morning painting session we enjoy a picnic lunch ‘with a view’ – of medieval, iconic San Gimignano and its famous towers Optional afternoon walk (1 hour) and visit to the town, or return to Pieve a Castello to paint or relax

Day 7 Morning painting session Optional afternoon visit to nearby Colle di Val d’Elsa, with its ancient walls and fascinating, medieval ‘tunnel’ streets Optional late-afternoon walk (1-2 hours), before a gala dinner

Day 8 Departure day

s t a y

a n d v i s i t n e a r b y

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Alternative Travel Group Limited and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for non-flight packages. Our ABTOT Trust number is 5181.