The Medieval Castle Trail follows the boundary between southern Tuscany and northern Lazio, where the tuff rock hills provide both the foundations and the building materials for spectacular towns like Sorano and Pitigliano. The towns are embedded in an area which displays a very rich cultural and historical background – the first Etruscan settlements and the former border area of the State of the Vatican City.
Follow the tracks made by the oldest of Italian inhabitants and through the "Vie Caves", ancient and mysterious Etruscan pathways carved out of the rock. You can ride along them just as the Etruscans did thousands of years ago. Carved deep into the rock bed, it is almost like being in a cave, but they are left open at the top, leaving the sky visible above. Ride across the Tuff plateaus, through lush evergreen forests, following old border trails and ancient Etruscan and Roman roads of South Tuscany and Northern Lazio. Discover one of the most unique, rural and original landscapes of Italy, where the horse tradition was born and for centuries took part in the lives and culture of its inhabitants.
You will be comfortably accommodated in two different medieval castles and a fortress: The Castle of Proceno, the Castle Santa Cristina and the Fortress of Sorano.

HTML clipboard We overnight in two different medieval castles, and a fortress: Castle Santa Cristina, the Fortress of Sorano and Castle Proceno.
The first castle is a country castle out of the village surrounded by agricultural terrain. The main house is still inhabited by the owner, who is also the tenant of some horses. You will be accommodated in the romantic dependence, its walls fully covered with green ivy and the swimming pool is directly in front surrounded by green grass and vegetation.
The fortress of Sorano is located above this unique Etruscan town. The fortress walls, which surround your rooms, are more than one metre thick. Your rooms have a panoramic view on the town and on the canyon, which provided a barrier against attacks. Just take a few steps downhill to have a walk through the town centre with all its narrow streets to get up and down, its passage gates, arches and small steps.
The second castle is located in the little town of Proceno, parts of it form the town´s defensive walls; the castle has its rooms on different levels along the only passage through the village. The swimming pool is situated just outside the castle ramparts on spacious grounds of wide panoramic terraces.
Come and take a breath of medieval lives style – with modern comforts of course.

You will eat the freshest traditional home made cuisine and drink fine local wines. The Tuscan cuisine and hospitality bear witness to the long history of agriculture in the region.
They are used to our riding attire, so there is no need to bring formal clothes for dinner. Casual dress is fine. However, if you prefer to be a little more presentable for the evening, when eating in the castle, please feel free to take some nicer clothes with you.

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Day 1 Arrival in Rome or Orvieto and transfer to Grotte di Castro and the Castle Cristina, where you will be accommodated for the next three nights. You meet with your guide, take a first glance at the horses and enjoy a great dinner before your overnight.
Day 2 Day ride to Lake Bolsena. From the castle we ride through the neighboring farmland, through chestnut woods and using an ancient track which will carry us right above the crater of Lake Bolsena, the largest volcanic lake in Europe. While riding, we will witness some breath–taking views of the lake and surrounding area and of the two islands Isola Bisentina and Martana. As we head down to the lake, you will note many Etruscan tombs scattered throughout the countryside some reused by farmers as cellars for their wine but still serving as a reminder of the ancient history which abounds in this area.
Once at the lake, lunch is served in a typical trattoria, right on the beach. In the right season if you wish to cool off in the water, a swim in the lake can be done before starting riding back up. Passing the archeological area of Pianezze literally full of Etruscan tombs dating back 2600 years. Once at the top of the crater, we turn right through some vineyards until we reach the shepherds' trail in the woods to the Cristina Castle estate.
Day 3 Day ride to Lake Mezzano. The Lake Mezzano area is of great interest both historically and naturally. The lake was once a volcanic crater and historical site with human settlements going back to the pre-etruscan era (aprox 2700 years ago) and is now submerged by water due to earthquakes. Our excursion takes riders through the farmland, up into the wooded hills which surround Onano. Here, the horses have the opportunity to canter along a wonderful natural passage surrounded by trees. At the top of this plateau, we have a chance to take in the dazzling scenery, before we carry on down past local farms into a very old wood made by huge chestnut trees that leads us into a flat open plain which offers a of scenery. Here, if desired, horses can canter up the old tracks, before we reach the marshlands and vineyards which surround the lake Mezzano itself. The Lake area is part of the Selva del Lamone natural reserve and here is the small restaurant where we stop for lunch with a fantastic view overlooking the water. During the warmer months you can also swim in the lake with its crystal clear waters. In the afternoon, we ride back following the old Brigands trail, taking in a few historical sights on the way.

Day 4 Ride on horseback from S Cristina to Sorano. Romantic forests, steep ditches, narrow canyons and old Etruscan roads are on your way today. You can almost grasp culture and history the closer you get to Sorano. You will have lunch in San Quirico with different dishes. You will be accommodated in the medieval fortress high above the old Etruscan town. Dinner in a restaurant down in the centre.
Day 5 Full-day ride in the unique area of Sorano with its age-old, narrow roads cut into the tuff rock and brought to perfection by the Etruscans and with the innumerable gravesites all over the hills. You will have lunch in Sovana - one of the most famous Etruscan settlements - with its monumental tombs nearby. Back in Sorano dinner in another restaurant in the village.
Day 6 From Sorano we depart in the morning to the Castle of Proceno. We ride through clay hills into the valley of the river Palia - with marvelous view on the mountains of Amiata and Cetona. Lunch at the former Italy-Vatican State border - called Dogana - on cool days a fire is also lit in the dining room for preparing barbecue specialties. The way then goes uphill in the afternoon sun, with a stunning view over soft cornfields and sheep pastures. Dinner in a local farmhouse in the countryside – it is the oldest real agriturismo - with all kinds of animals around and home-made and home-cooked dishes on the menu. Proceno is a village dominated by its fortress, dating back to the medieval times around year 1000.
Day 7 A brisk trot along vineyards takes us to an 18th century ex-convent. From here we head through thick vegetation taking advantage of an old trail once use by the local farmers - finally descending the side of the plateau reaching the Stridolone River, which we must cross again and again in knee deep waters. In the distance we can see the Fortress of Proceno. After a lunch stop our ride takes us through the most unspoiled Tuscan countryside. Crossing the Montorio game reserve, if we are lucky pheasants, fallow-deer, and boars will be spotted while riding by. We will reach the outskirts of the village of Onano and the XVI century, little country church of Madonna delle Grazie from where we will have a beautiful view of the medieval village walls. Now the country road turns north into enchanting countryside on the border between Lazio and Southern Tuscany. Soon we reach Castello Cristina for our farewell dinner and last night sleep.
Day 8 Departure

Rates include:

Accommodations in medieval castles, fortress and country hotels with high traditional, partwise antique furnishing. Private bathrooms. Both castles with pool. Continental or Italian Breakfast. Lunch in little restaurants or picnic along the way. Dinner partwise in restaurants or directly in the accomodation. Table water, wine and coffee included. 6 riding days

Tour Dates

Season		Tour Dates			Min / Max	Reserve
A	2010	05/01 - 05/08	8d / 7n	8 day trip, AP	4 /10	Reserve
A	2010	05/22 - 05/29	8d / 7n	8 day trip, AP	4 /10	Reserve
A	2010	05/29 - 06/05	8d / 7n	8 day trip, AP	4 /10	Reserve
A	2010	06/19 - 06/26	8d / 7n	8 day trip, AP	4 /10	Reserve
A	2010	07/03 - 07/10	8d / 7n	8 day trip, AP	4 /10	Reserve
A	2010	08/28 - 09/04	8d / 7n	8 day trip, AP	4 /10	Reserve
A	2010	09/11 - 09/18	8d / 7n	8 day trip, AP	4 /10	Reserve
A	2010	09/18 - 09/25	8d / 7n	8 day trip, AP	4 /10	Reserve
A	2010	10/09 - 10/16	8d / 7n	8 day trip, AP	4 /10	Reserve
A	2010	10/16 - 10/23	8d / 7n	8 day trip, AP	4 /10	Reserve

Dates Note: We are looking for 2 more riders for the October 18 to 25 2009 trip.

Other Info
Meeting: Grotte di Castro or Orvieto
Airport: Rome or Florence
Transfer: Rome or Orvieto

Medieval Castles

Rates include:

Packages and Options

Transfer Option:

Tour Dates