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Trip Overview
Day hikes from two villages that seem frozen in time |
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Hiking in Tuscany, Italy: Frequently-Asked Questions about Tuscan Trails On this Tuscany hiking week we'll start with a night in Florience, then split our time between two villages, hiking over rolling hills and into oak forests alive with pheasants, fallow deer and even wild boar, past ancient stone villages, churches, and farms. This FAQ page is intended to accompany other pages about this trip and about our company (see links at left). Some of the answers below may include links to other other sites; please use the BACK key of your browser to return to this page. Contents:
When does the trip start and end?
What is the best way to get to Florence?
Pisa Airport (PSA), which is about 60 miles west of Florence, is treated as the same "city" in airline computers, and you can take a train or bus from Pisa Airport directly to the Florence train station. You could also visit the Leaning Tower and then take a train to Florence. You can sometimes save money by flying into Rome (FCO), Milan (MXP) or another European hub and taking a high-speed train to Florence. Is it complicated to use buses in Italy?
In Italy, however, buses often provide a faster and more economical way to travel. They are scheduled more frequently than trains, and seem to do a better job of staying on schedule. And while it can be a bit more complicated, the benefits will often be worth it. Click here for the on-line schedule of the SITA bus line. Where can I get a train schedule for Italy?
How do I leave Radda, where the trip ends?
Or if you prefer, we'll get you to the bus station in Radda, where you can catch a bus to Siena, one of Tuscany's most beautiful old cities, and well worth a day or two if your schedule allows. If you are making same day connections home, please note that the earliest bus of the day from Radda to Florence will not arrive in Florence until 9am or 10am, depending on the day of the week. Should I schedule my flight home on the last day of the trip?
I'll arrive in Italy a couple days before the trip starts. Should I spend them in San Gimignano?
I'll have a couple extra days in Italy before I return home. Should I spend them in Radda-in-Chianti, where the trip ends?
What's the weather like in Tuscany?
While you should always be prepared for rain, and it's not uncommon to have a light rain for half a day during the course of a week, it's unlikely that heavy rain will greatly interfere with outdoor activities between late April and late September. Precipitation increases in October, and reaches its peak in November and December. Will I need good map-reading skills for this trip?
The roadside trails are easy to follow, and are often well-signed. You should have a map and compass, but as long as you're alert and have a basic understanding of how to use these tools, you should easily find your way. The more remote trails are fun -- yet often harder to follow. Some are signed, some are not. Trails that appear on a map may be closed; new trails may have appeared. Our guide will often lead a group on these trails. If you want to explore them on your own, you should have strong map-reading skills. Our philosophy is to encourage independence, so we'll devote some time, especially the first day, to reviewing these techniques with anyone who wants to brush up on them. For further help, please see the map and compass advice on our hiking website. I'm not in great shape. Will the hiking be too strenuous for me?
However, if you want to hike independently, you can enjoy shorter hikes. You'll generally have no trouble finding a few others who would also like a more leisurely pace. Who were these Etruscans?
For half a millennium, the Etruscans developed their own art, culture, weapons, and political systems. Then they lost out to the growing power of Rome. The Etruscans vanished as a civilization, but many of their religious customs and architectural styles were adopted by the Romans. Most Etruscan buildings apparently were made of wood, and did not survive. But some of their cities, such as Volterra, Cortona, and Chiusi, live on. The Etruscans developed elaborate burial rituals, with massive stone tombs and burial chambers. Although robbers have long ago looted these tombs, we can still walk inside them. And, of course, the Etruscans survive in the present-day name for the region where they lived: Tuscany. How many days are there in an 8-day trip?
Our "8-day" trip thus consists of 7 full days and two partial days. And no, this question isn't analogous to asking "Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?" Some companies promote a trip of this length as being 9 days since it includes pieces of 9 different days. We feel it's more accurate to refer to this as 8 days. I'm traveling alone. Will everyone else be in couples?
You don't need to pay the single supplement if you're traveling alone. We'll be happy to match you with a roommate. Pay the single supplement only if you want a bedroom to yourself. Can I talk to someone who's been on this trip?
Our website includes a full page of comments from past travelers. Most of them have volunteered to talk about their experiences with future potential travelers. Please call for the names and phone numbers of references in your area.
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