|
Horseback riding tours
Rides in
Italy
Intro to Italy
![]() Abruzzo/Molise![]() Sardinia![]() Sicily![]() Tuscany
France
Spain
Portugal
Europe Overview
Add Ons:
Hiking
Cycling
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arts & Riding Holiday in Tuscany
Tuscany
Italy
This new program has been specially tailored for riders who are also art lovers. The week offers not only riding but also walking and cultural visits.
Jenny, your host, is not an art historian but is passionate about medieval and early Renaissance frescoes and is happy to transmit her enthusiasm to other art-lovers. The tour includes many of the most famous frescoes of Tuscany. The dates are chosen to avoid the main tourist season so that you can fully enjoy the beauty Italy has to offer!
If it’s your first time in Italy, no problem; Jenny and her colleagues will introduce you to the Italian lifestyle with open arms. You will get plenty of chances to meet the people of Italy and discover what delightful people they are. And if you think Italian food is all pasta and pizzas, you have a lot of pleasant surprises ahead. Chianti wine will be served with all meals. Sorry to say, but expect to put on a couple of pounds during your stay!
The horses are well-trained and fit, Jenny does her best to match them to the individual riders whom come to visit. We promise you will have loads of fun, but safety is also a priority here. The woods and hills surrounding the center are ideal for hacking because there are innumerable trails, with no gates and very little roadwork. Each day your ride will be unique and with new features - a canter between rows of vines, a trot along a cypress avenue, a visit to a semi-ruined castle, a barbecue on the mountaintop, you name it!
|
Family Vacation
Riding and Cooking Classes
Center-based ride
|
|
Meeting:
|
Farm
|
|
Airport:
|
Florence
|
|
Transfer:
|
Florence
|
|
Riders:
|
Min
2 riders
Max
4 riders
|
|
Trip Brochure (PDF) 
Trip Rating
|
|
|
|
Rates and Dates for 2025
Rates include*:
Accommodation at the farmhouse, Most meals including wine, 3 morning rides, Transfer from Florence train station, drop off at Montevarchi station
| A | 2025 | 8 day trip | 8d / 7n | €1950 | $2145 |
* prices are per person based on double/twin occupancy
Transfer and Other Charges:
|
2025
|
Transfer to Montevarchi train station at set times included
|
€
0
|
$0
|
|
2025
|
Non-rider rate
|
€
1,950
|
$2,145
|
|
2025
|
Transfer from Florence (Firenze Santa Maria Novella) train station on Day 1 included
|
€
0
|
$0
|
|
2025
|
Single supplement
|
€
275
|
$305
|
|
2025
|
Private transfer to Florence airport
- to be paid locally
|
€
200
|
$220
|
Pick-up from Florence station (Santa Maria Novella), drop off at Montevarchi station
Tour Dates for 2025
* it may be possible to schedule other tour dates -- please inquire
|
Rates do not include:
Local public transportation, Museum and churches entrance fee, Travel insurance (mandatory) & Gratuities
Sample Itinerary subject to changes
Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival
Meet your host Jenny at the main Florence station, S-M.N., outside the Feltrinelli bookshop opposite platform 14 at 17.50. By train (Jenny has the tickets) to Montevarchi (40 mins), then by van (10 mins) to the ranch. After settling in, welcoming dinner at the ranch.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at the Farm
Day 2 (Sunday): Morning ride or walk around vineyards
For riders, a morning ride with Eraldo, your guide. For non-riders, a stroll round vineyards and olive groves with Jenny, author of two books about the countryside. After lunch, a talk about that medieval marvel, ‘the cycle of the months’, and then a woodland walk. Dinner at the ranch.
Riding approx. 2 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farm
Day 3 (Monday): Morning ride or walk around Arezzo
For riders, a morning ride with Eraldo. For non-riders, on what is called ‘Pietro’s walk’: you will soon learn why! After lunch a short train journey to Arezzo to see a 2,500-year-old Etruscan statue, a Roman amphitheater and a 13C ‘cycle of the months’ in a beautiful medieval church. Then a drink in the picturesque main square where the Joust if the Saracen takes place. Back at the ranch for dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farm
Day 4 (Tuesday): Walking tour
Walk to the medieval tower of Galatrona, then have a drink at a local bar. Lunch in the medieval village of Loro Ciuffenna and then visit the medieval church of Gropina, the most interesting of its kind in Tuscany, with its rare 9th-century pulpit and animal carvings. Dinner at the ranch.
Riding approx. 2 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farm
Day 5 (Wednesday): City center tour
For the horses – a free day! For humans, go to Florence by train for Jenny’s fun tour of the city centre – unlike any other! Lunch at Jenny’s favourite restaurant, then up to the 11C church of San Miniato and a stroll round Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view of the city. Alternatively, an unaccompanied visit to Assisi or Orvieto, both easily reached by train. Dinner at the ranch.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farm
Day 6 (Thursday): Morning ride or walk in the neighborhood
For riders a morning ride, for non-riders a walk to have coffee with a neighbor. After lunch a walk and then a talk about the Renaissance artist Piero della Francesca and his world-famous frescoes in Arezzo about which Jenny is writing a book. Dinner at the ranch.
Riding approx. 2 hours
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farm
Day 7 (Friday): Arezzo
By train to Arezzo to see Piero’s frescoes in the Basilica of San Francesco, as well as other interesting artworks there, both medieval and modern. An opportunity to shop, then lunch in a trattoria, followed by a stroll up to the cathedral and ‘Il Prato’, the city park, with its Medici fortress and wonderful views. Back at the ranch for dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at the Farm
Day 8 (Saturday): Departure
Breakfast and EITHER your own arrangements to leave (departure is usually by 10:00 am) OR a ten-minute drive to Montevarchi to meet the train back to Florence. For those going to Rome, there is a direct train from Montevarchi.
Meals included: Breakfast
Non-Riders
Non-riders are welcome, of course, but they must not be shocked at the occasional whiff of manure! Franca, the cook, organizes cooking courses on specific dates but can also provide, on request, tailor-made cooking lessons.
For walkers and mountain-bikers there are many waymarked trails radiating out from the Centre. For those using road-bikes, there are plenty of quiet lanes in the Chianti region and the Arno valley.
Riding can be substituted for walks and/or cooking lessons for riders who need a rest from the saddle!
Meeting:
Farm
Airport:
Florence
Train station:
Montevarchi
Transfer:
Florence
Pick-up from Florence station (Santa Maria Novella), drop off at Montevarchi station
|
Tack:
|
|
English
|
|
Horses:
|
|
Local Sicilian and Maremma
|
|
Pace:
|
|
Moderate with some trots and canters
|
Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
|
|
Level:
|
|
(2.5
to
3
out of 5) Low Intermediate
|
|
Age:
|
|
Min
14
|
|
|
Weight:
|
|
Max
190 lbs
|
|
Riders:
|
|
Min
2 riders
|
Max
4 riders
|
|
Riding
In a week's stay, you will never do the same ride twice. This is not fast riding country, but there is so much to look at that speed is not an issue. You will follow trails through pretty vineyards, olive groves and woodlands without any landowners objecting and without meeting a single gate, something that never ceases to amaze.
Horses
There are 12 horses on our property, and they are of various breeds, as we believe that it is the temperament of the horse, not the breed that matters.
The horses are kept in the stables immediately behind the house or in the surrounding fields.
The horses, all trained in the English style of riding, are sleek, fit and even those which are stable-kept spend some hours in the paddocks every day if they are not ridden. They all have good characters, strong hooves and plenty of stamina. All the horses do arena work as well as riding out on the trail, so they are obedient and responsive to the aids on all occasions.
There are also 2 ponies available, but they are lively little fellows and are not suitable for children less than ten years old.
If riders feel inclined, they are welcome to help with the grooming and tacking up of the horses, an excellent way of making friends with their mounts.
Staff
Jenny set up the riding center because she wanted to transmit to others her love of horses and the Tuscan countryside. She is very knowledgeable about the local history, art and architecture as well as the flora and fauna.
Eraldo (qualified as a BHS instructor) is in charge of the riding side of activities. He is very knowledgeable about birds, is an experienced instructor and guide, a keen fisherman and hunter – and a charming fellow with a great gift of the gab!
Non-Riders
Non-riders are welcome, of course, but they must not be shocked at the occasional whiff of manure! Franca, the cook, organizes cooking courses on specific dates but can also provide, on request, tailor-made cooking lessons.
For walkers and mountain-bikers there are many waymarked trails radiating out from the Centre. For those using road-bikes, there are plenty of quiet lanes in the Chianti region and the Arno valley.
Passport and Visa Requirements:
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card. Passport Note(a) Italy is. more
Montevarchi area
|
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
Average High Temperature (°F)
|
49
|
52
|
60
|
66
|
75
|
82
|
89
|
89
|
79
|
69
|
57
|
50
|
|
Average Low Temperature (°F)
|
34
|
35
|
40
|
44
|
51
|
58
|
62
|
61
|
55
|
50
|
42
|
36
|
|
Average High Temperature (°C)
|
9
|
11
|
16
|
19
|
24
|
28
|
32
|
32
|
26
|
21
|
14
|
10
|
|
Average Low Temperature (°C)
|
1
|
2
|
4
|
7
|
10
|
14
|
17
|
16
|
13
|
10
|
6
|
2
|
Source: NOAA
Seasons
Central Italy benefits from a kind of ocean climate with mild winters and temperatures are hot but bearable (thanks to the ocean) for the summer. The climate in Tuscany is very mild and the seasons each have their merits.
Spring and autumn are particularly good times to visit.
Spring is a delightful time to visit when the trees and flowers are blooming, the air is warm and the nightingales are singing day and night.
Autumn brings glorious colors and you can see the farmers prepare for the olive and grape harvests.
For riders essential items are: helmet, riding-trousers (jeans are not always comfortable), riding boots or walking shoes + half-chaps (easier to pack), full-length raincoat (yes, it can rain in Italy, too!), and gloves if you are used to wearing them. Otherwise dress according to the season. Remember that you don’t have to bring out your finery! There is a washing-machine and an iron if you need them. Other useful items: sun cream, lip salve, personal medicines, small camera with strap you can put round your neck, gilet with pockets or bumbag. Remember that there are plenty of good books at the farm and that there is free WIFI. All guests are advised not to bring too much luggage: bulky suitcases hamper you on your travels (there are steps everywhere!). Reserve some space, however, for anything you might want to buy during your stay. Buy your shampoos and suchlike when you get to Italy to avoid having to show them at the airport.
| This list is only a guideline for you |
|
|
| Travel Documents and Voucher |
| Personal Travel Insurance |
| Flight tickets |
| Passport |
| Visa (check with your consulate) |
|
|
| RIDING GEAR |
| Riding pants or Jodhpurs |
| Riding boots and Mini-chaps |
| Riding helmet (recommended for all trips) |
| Riding gloves |
| Hat (with chin strap) for sun protection |
| Rain jacket |
|
|
| PERSONAL CLOTHING |
| Jacket or sweater for cool evenings |
| Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts |
| Casual pants |
| Shorts |
| Underwear and socks |
| Pyjama |
| Lightweight rain jacket |
| Casual footwear |
| Swimsuit |
| |
| ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING |
| Personal Toiletries |
| Insect protection |
| Personal medications |
| Sore cream (for an emergency) |
| Sewing kit |
| Handkerchiefs |
| Adapter for electric appliances |
| Camera and enough extra films |
| Sun glasses with strap |
| Sun tan lotion and lip balm |
Sorry, no video is currently available for this tour.
*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.
** No trip reports found
with the tour ID you provided.
|
..view other reports for different trips
Accommodations
This is a stationary ride so all nights are spent at the same location (except for one night spent in San Gimignano at extra cost).
Description
This small family-run farm holiday center in the Chianti hills was established back in 1969. While fully surrounded by pristine countryside (vineyards, olive-groves and woodlands), it is conveniently less than thirty miles from Florence and Siena by car and only three miles from the station of Montevarchi.
The 17th-century house has a panoramic view over the Arno valley. It is typically Tuscan, with its pigeon-loft, beams, terracotta floors and arches. Each bedroom is attractively furnished and has its own small bathroom. There is a sitting room with a large selection of English books and classical music and a fire is prepared on the hearth on wintry days.
It is not for people looking for elegance. Hens and ducks peck around the house, our Labrador Miranda greets you on your arrival, and you may find Catkin the cat curled up in an armchair.
The farm is primarily a riding-centre: the stables are just behind the house, a dozen or so horses graze in the surrounding paddocks. No one has to dress up on any occasion. Non-riders are welcome, of course, but they must not be shocked at the occasional whiff of manure! The house itself is clean and pretty, but it is after all a family home, with books spilling out of the shelves and jackets hanging on the back of chairs.
Jenny and her son Nicholas are happy to welcome country-lovers to their home and guests quickly become friends. The place is suitable also for single people, who will here feel looked after and cherished.
Washing machines are on site. There is free internet access (WIFI) at the riding center.
Meals
Most meals are included in this trip, except for lunches in Florence and San Gimignano.
At meal-times the guests all sit together at a long table and there is plenty of merriment as well as good food and wine.
You will be amazed at the variety of Tuscan dishes offered. Our cook has a large repertoire of pasta, rice and meat dishes and typical Italian desserts. Franca has now been our cook for several years and Jenny gives her a hand with her cooking classes. A typical meal comprises 3 courses: a “primo piatto” of pasta or rice, a meat or fish dish, followed by fresh fruit or dessert.
The Farm has a well-stocked organic vegetable garden. Eggs are home-produced and the extra-virgin olive oil used for cooking comes from the groves around the house.
Local Chianti wine is served with every meal and each evening there will be a chance to sample other local wines and liqueurs.
Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to all dietary restrictions with prior notice.
This trip
includes some wine with dinner
and
can accommodate special dietary requests.
|
Tack:
|
|
English
|
|
Horses:
|
|
Local Sicilian and Maremma
|
|
Pace:
|
|
Moderate with some trots and canters
|
Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
|
|
Level:
|
|
(2.5
to
3
out of 5) Low Intermediate
|
|
Age:
|
|
Min
14
|
|
|
Weight:
|
|
Max
190 lbs
|
|
Riders:
|
|
Min
2 riders
|
Max
4 riders
|
|
Riding
In a week's stay, you will never do the same ride twice. This is not fast riding country, but there is so much to look at that speed is not an issue. You will follow trails through pretty vineyards, olive groves and woodlands without any landowners objecting and without meeting a single gate, something that never ceases to amaze.
Horses
There are 12 horses on our property, and they are of various breeds, as we believe that it is the temperament of the horse, not the breed that matters.
The horses are kept in the stables immediately behind the house or in the surrounding fields.
The horses, all trained in the English style of riding, are sleek, fit and even those which are stable-kept spend some hours in the paddocks every day if they are not ridden. They all have good characters, strong hooves and plenty of stamina. All the horses do arena work as well as riding out on the trail, so they are obedient and responsive to the aids on all occasions.
There are also 2 ponies available, but they are lively little fellows and are not suitable for children less than ten years old.
If riders feel inclined, they are welcome to help with the grooming and tacking up of the horses, an excellent way of making friends with their mounts.
Staff
Jenny set up the riding center because she wanted to transmit to others her love of horses and the Tuscan countryside. She is very knowledgeable about the local history, art and architecture as well as the flora and fauna.
Eraldo (qualified as a BHS instructor) is in charge of the riding side of activities. He is very knowledgeable about birds, is an experienced instructor and guide, a keen fisherman and hunter – and a charming fellow with a great gift of the gab!
Non-Riders
Non-riders are welcome, of course, but they must not be shocked at the occasional whiff of manure! Franca, the cook, organizes cooking courses on specific dates but can also provide, on request, tailor-made cooking lessons.
For walkers and mountain-bikers there are many waymarked trails radiating out from the Centre. For those using road-bikes, there are plenty of quiet lanes in the Chianti region and the Arno valley.
Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:
(a) 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Passport Note
(a) Italy is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement. (b) The regulations stated below also apply to San Marino and the Vatican City.
Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period;
(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements
| Passport Required? |
| British |
Yes |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
| Other EU |
1 |
| Visa Required? |
| British |
No |
| Australian |
No |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
No |
| Other EU |
No |
| Return Ticket Required? |
| British |
No |
| Australian |
No |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
No |
| Other EU |
No |
This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.
|
|
|
|
Arts & Riding Holiday in Tuscany
Tour Code:
IT-ITSR04
8 days /
7 nights
Dates :
Apr-May & Sep
Difficulty :
Riding Level Explained | A | Beginner
 | Beginner A rider who has limited experience, is unable to post the trot and does not canter. | | B | Novice
 | Novice A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, capable of
applying basic aids, comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length posting
trots, and short canters. | | C | Intermediate
 | Intermediate A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control at all paces
(including posting trots, two point canters and gallops), but does not ride regularly. |
| D | Strong Intermediate
 | Strong Intermediate An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 6 hours per day. | | E | Advanced
 | All of the above, plus an independent seat, soft hands, and capable of handlinga spirited horse in open country. |
|