Walking holidays
Guided walking excursions-trekking in the History and Nature of Southern Tuscany
These are special holidays for those who love walking and exploring new lands rich in history, art and nature. Guided by Pietro, an officially licenced environmental and historical guide, you can choose among several different excursions that will take place in a land set in between southern Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria.
A world off the beaten track, where wooded hills, valleys, rivers and lakes frame a unique historical and archeological paradise. From the Etruscans to the Romans and from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance to our present times, history of mankind has left, layer after layer, its trace in an incredible succession. It is difficult to find elsewhere so many memories of different eras all together and in such a special setting.
A special guide will lead you through this journey, his name is Pietro Labate, a man with an an outstanding experience in his field. A licensed guide, who has worked for WWF for 20 years and now shows you incredible places and tell you every possible story about our region, its history and its nature.
Special packages from a minimum of 2 nights (week-end) to a week of trekking will allow you to discover this new world with a special base where to stay: Castle S. Cristina.
Terms and conditions
This is a special walking holiday program with packages of simply one or more days of excursion according to our clients’ choice.
For clients who are already at the castle renting self-catering cottages or B&B bedrooms for a holiday, the cost for any of the excursions mentioned below will be €30 per person per day at the same conditions as below (no meals , no museum tickets, no transportation).
One day package
The basic cost for your holiday is:
- €80 per person per day for groups of less than 4 people.
- €70 per person per day for groups of more than 4 people.
That cost includes a doublebedroom accommodation (sharing), including breakfast, and a guided full day excursion .
Minimum number of people required to form a group: 2 people.
The costs mentioned above do not include meals, museum tickets and transportation of any kind .
Single bedrooms will have a €10 extra charge per day.
- Week-end package: € 200 per person (includes B&B and excursion)
Arrival on Friday afternoon (2 nights), departure on Sunday with two full day excursions, including a doublebedroom accommodation(sharing) half-board.
Minimum number of people required to form a group: 2 people.
The costs mentioned above do not include any of the tickets for museums, historical sites or transportation of any kind.
Single bedrooms will have a € 10 extra charge per day.
- Weekly Package € 600 per person (includes B&B and excursions)
A week of walking excursions through nature, history and art with Pietro Labate, the official guide of Santa Cristina Castle. Flexible dates.
Arrival on Sunday, one day to settle down in your new environment with a local excursion, then 5 days of excursions chosen with you among the proposals described below. Departure on Sunday.
Doublebedroom accommodation(sharing) half board .
Minimum number of people required to form a group: 2 people.
The costs mentioned above do not include any of the tickets for museums, historical sites or transportation of any kind .
Single bedrooms will have a € 10 extra charge per day.
We have divided our excursions in 3 different areas according to the distance from the castle :
- 1) Excursions within a range of 30 minutes drive from the Castle: Southern Tuscany, Lake Bolsena, Orvieto.
Sorano village and the ancient Etruscan hollow routes
Our guide Pietro will lead you through the famous ‘Vie Cave’, hollow routes carved into the volcanic rock by the Etruscans more than 2500 years ago. Once upon a time they were the highways of the Etruscan civilization, now they have been changed by the vegetation and turned into green tunnels inhabited by many animals who leave constantly clear traces of their passage.
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty level: easy
River Fiora rocky cliffs centuries old hermitage spots.
The rocky cliffs along river Fiora hosted in the past a congregation of monks who lived like hermits in caves carved into the rock .
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty level: Easy
Civita, the ‘Dying Town’ and the ‘Calanchi’ valley
This excursion will show you a rocky, moon like landscape that is slowly collapsing day after day, due to continuous erosion. On top of a hill, this is one of the best preserved and most beautiful medieval villages in Italy .
Time: 5 hours
Difficulty level: medium
Pitigliano and the Etruscan routes
Surrounded by a deep gorge carved by the river Lente, Pitigliano is built with volcanic rock on top of a hill, the ancient routes were carved by expert engeneers, who climbed to the top of small plateaus covered by vinyards. Today, on top of these plateaus, the famous wite wine ‘Bianco di Pitigliano’ is produced .
Time: 5 hours
Difficuly level: easy
Castro, the vanished town
This place is similar to a central american Maya site and is now covered by thick vegetation. During the Renaissance period (XVI century) Castro was the capital of this territory and was built with great skill by the most famous European architects like Sangallo, summoned to this place by the powerful Farnese family. An incredible story that is part of the history of the ancient Vatican state.
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty level: Medium
Vulci, an Etruscan metropolis
A great archeological site, bordered by gorges formed by the river Fiora. This is a river of great naturalistic interest as it remains one of the most unpolluted rivers in Italy. On the site of the river an astonishing castle with an ancient bridge that is a miracle of architecture.
Water walking (only end of june\july)
We will be flowing in the river Fiora and walking in the waters of the river, letting the current push our legs. Wet suits provided, sometimes swimming , sometimes walking , we will follow along this enchanting waterway.
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty level: Medium
From Orvieto to Bolsena
From the famous town of Orvieto with its duomo, across beautiful countryside, we will reach Lake Bolsena. We will visit the archeological Roman town of Vulsinii, then we will descend through the small streets of the medieval town of Bolsena overlooked by its castle.
Tuscania and the Etruscan ring
We will do archeological trekking along another river valley, starting from the center of this enchanting town of Tuscania, south of lake Bolsena. Different Etruscan necropolis, alternated by very interesting Romanesque churches will be our target during this day .
Time: 6 hours
Difficulty level: medium
- 2) Excursions to the seaside area of Mount Argentario , approx. 1 hr and 15min from the castle.
The Spanish forts
This trekking will lead you through the Spanish fortresses of porto Ercole. Placed on the two sides of the harbour , the magnificent Spanish fortresses offer a great view to the visitors.
Time : 5 hours
Difficulty level : medium
Giglio Island (Isola del Giglio)
A magnificent island, a few miles away by sea from the Argentario peninsula. It is dominated by a castle that we will visit after climbing the mountain from east to west. Once at the castle we will descend to the western side of the island .
Time: 6 hours
Difficulty level: difficult
Porto Ercole – Passionisti fathers convent
A nice climb to the top of mount Argentario that will be rewarded by stunning views of the surrounding coast .
Time : 5 hours
Difficulty level : easy
Argentario 1
The Argentera medieval watchtower is the target of our climb. Through old abandoned railway tracks abandoned we will find ancient forts who were meant to protect the coast from the Moors (invaders of Arabic descent).
Time : 4 hours
Difficulty level : medium
- 3) Excursions near the town of Viterbo, within 1 hour drive from the castle.
Barbarano-Blera
Along the old roman road Via Clodia, we will find a mix of Etruscan and Roman archeology, blending with small villages surrounded by woods.
Time : 4 hours
Difficulty level: easy
Castel d’Asso-Norchia
The first Etruscan tombtowns built on rocky cliffs to be discovered .
Time : 4 hours
Difficulty level : easy
Corviano
A medieval castle and several human settlements carved into the rock belonging to the pre-etruscan era .
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty level: easy
DATES
April : 18-19-20
May : 9-10-11-12
May : 18-19
May : 23-24-25-26
June : 4-5-6-7-8-9
June : 18-19
June : 22-23
June : 25-26
July : 2-3-4
July : 6-7
July :13-14
July : 16-17
July : 20-21
July : 23-34
July : 27-28
July : 30-31