Walking in Tuscany: 43 walks including Val d’Orcia, San Gimignano and the Isle of Elba

Description

Few regions on earth combine natural beauty and cultural richness quite like Tuscany, a landscape of rolling hills, medieval hill towns, cypress-lined lanes, Etruscan ruins, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. From the environs of Florence and the Chianti vineyards to the wild Alpi Apuane, the Val d’Orcia, and the island of Elba, the region offers an extraordinary variety of walking landscapes across its nine distinct areas. This trusted Cicerone guidebook by expert author Gillian Price describes 43 mostly easy day walks ranging from 3 to 18km (2 to 11 miles), completable in 2 to 7 hours and graded 1 to 3. It pairs clear route descriptions with detailed planning information to help you explore Tuscany’s most beautiful corners at a pace that lets you savour every view, village, and glass of local wine. The 43 walks are graded and organised across nine areas, from the hills around Florence and Fiesole and the high Apennines to the Chianti vineyards, the UNESCO World Heritage scenery of the Val d’Orcia and San Gimignano, the island of Elba, and the Maremma coast, giving a comprehensive picture of walking in TuscanyMany routes follow historical pathways once used by traders, pilgrims, and armies, threading through medieval hamlets, past Medici villas, and Renaissance towns, adding rich cultural depth to every walkEvery route is illustrated with 1:50,000 maps and supported by detailed information on planning, accommodation, and public transport, making this a fully self-contained guide for independent explorers and those using Tuscany’s excellent rail and bus connectionsRich background sections cover Tuscany’s plants, flowers, and wildlife alongside notes on food and wine, local history, and what to take, giving you the full context to understand and appreciate everything you encounter on the trailTuscany’s mild climate makes it a genuine year-round walking destination, with spring and autumn particularly rewarding at lower altitudes and the higher Apennine and Alpi Apuane routes coming into their own in summer Now in its fourth edition, this guidebook’s route descriptions, 1:50,000 maps, and expert local knowledge cover Tuscany’s full breadth, from Etruscan coastline and Chianti vineyards to the UNESCO hilltowns of Val d’Orcia and San Gimignano. Explore one of Europe’s greatest walking destinations with confidence.