Overview
We bring you to two irresistible Italian realms in full WT style, with stunning hikes each day and expert Trip Leaders who bring this celebrated land to life. Our hikes cross Tuscany’s harmonious landscape, discovering terraced vineyards, tiny hamlets, and classic hill towns on our way from the walled village of San Quirico d’Orcia to Volterra, with its Etruscan origins. After a walk on Lucca’s historic walls, we head to Cinque Terre, where five ancient villages nestle on cliffs and along deep coves on the Ligurian coast. We connect these seaside villages with breathtaking hikes, sample Ligurian cuisine (think fresh seafood!), and ferry to Palmaria Island for a final hike with spectacular Cinque Terre panoramas.
I enjoy reliving the beauty of the countryside, the plethora of information received, the charm of the medieval cities, the delicious picnics, and the company of interesting, intelligent, cheerful people—both fellow tour members and the wonderful trip leaders.
— Susan M., Burlingame, CA
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-2
Greve / San Quirico d’Orcia / Pienza / Montalcino
Heading into Chianti’s vineyards, we’ll stretch our legs on a hike and enjoy a picnic at a family-run winery, then explore the charming walled town of San Quirico d’Orcia. From tiny Pienza, a prime exemplar of 15th century Italy, we hike the iconic landscape of the Val d’Orcia, with its patchwork of rolling wheat fields, cypress-lined roads, and stone farmhouses. We’ll taste wines at medieval Montalcino, known for its deep red Brunellos.
Days 3-4
Siena / San Gimignano / Volterra
Siena is a ravishing medieval city and we’ll stroll its back lanes and scallop-shaped piazza, surrounded by a majestic ensemble of Gothic architecture. In San Gimignano, with its crown of stone watchtowers built by feuding nobles, we hike down through olive groves to the village of San Donato for a picnic lunch. At atmospheric Volterra, we visit the Roman theater and Etruscan ruins.
Days 5-6
Lucca
We walk the remarkable Renaissance-era city walls in Lucca, birthplace of Puccini, attend an evening concert, and hike on an ancient aqueduct that crosses the serene Vorno Valley.
Days 7-10
Cinque Terre Villages
The five Cinque Terre villages are centuries-old towns on the cliffs of the Ligurian coast. Our hikes connect the impossibly picturesque settings of Vernazza, Corniglia, and Manarola. Ferrying out to Palmaria Island, part of the Cinque Terre World Heritage area, our final hike brings us spectacular views along the entire Ligurian coast. Depart on Day 10 via Pisa.
Tuscany and the Cinque Terre
