If you've been quietly following my photo stream on Instagram or Facebook, you may have been wondering about the exact location of the Sunday walks we've been taking this spring.
Not that I'd tell you.
I prefer to keep the hills of our valley to ourselves. Just the thought of a fellow hiker getting to the wild asparagus a few minutes before me; or a loud American tour group spoiling our calm morning in the fields...
Luckily, our Tuscan village is more generous at heart than I am. As every year on the first Sunday of May, a trekking is organized that gives locals and not the chance to discover yet another corner of Cinigiano's stunning countryside. Called Una Terra tra Mare e Montagna (a place between sea and mountain), this year's hiking itinerary will make it obvious why the name.
Starting from the Podernuovo winery (my neighbors, for God's sake!), the walk leads uphill along a dismissed countryside road to Castiglioncello Bandini. On a crisp day, the small hamlet sports the most amazing views towards the coast and the southern islands of the Tuscan archipelago. The hikers will be welcomed by a lunch prepared by a bunch of village ladies, my Tuscan native (he promised he'll throw in his fabulous sage pesto!) and - obviously - plenty of the local Montecucco wine.
And then there is Castiglioncello's local bar (because what is a walk in Tuscany, without a stopover in a bar?) where you can get an espresso or a corretto - a coffee 'corrected' with grappa or any other high percentage beverage. It's Sunday after all. After that we'll take yet another off-the-beaten-path route to roll down the hill, so as to arrive back at the Podernuovo winery just in time for... a wine tasting. Exactly. We're talking trekking Cinigiano style.
So book a flight, tighten those hiking boots and trod along through some of Tuscany's most beautiful landscape.
CINIGIANO TOURIST OFFICE: Sunday, 5th of May, 9 am
Meeting point: Tourist office, piazza Capitano Brucchi, right next to bar Sport, where you can have a quick coffee before we take off. We'll drive the cars to Podernuovo and start walking from there.
Price: 15€ including lunch (kids 5€), wine tasting and insurance (you never know what might happen after lunch).
Not that I'd tell you.
I prefer to keep the hills of our valley to ourselves. Just the thought of a fellow hiker getting to the wild asparagus a few minutes before me; or a loud American tour group spoiling our calm morning in the fields...
 |
Luckily, our Tuscan village is more generous at heart than I am. As every year on the first Sunday of May, a trekking is organized that gives locals and not the chance to discover yet another corner of Cinigiano's stunning countryside. Called Una Terra tra Mare e Montagna (a place between sea and mountain), this year's hiking itinerary will make it obvious why the name.
Starting from the Podernuovo winery (my neighbors, for God's sake!), the walk leads uphill along a dismissed countryside road to Castiglioncello Bandini. On a crisp day, the small hamlet sports the most amazing views towards the coast and the southern islands of the Tuscan archipelago. The hikers will be welcomed by a lunch prepared by a bunch of village ladies, my Tuscan native (he promised he'll throw in his fabulous sage pesto!) and - obviously - plenty of the local Montecucco wine.
And then there is Castiglioncello's local bar (because what is a walk in Tuscany, without a stopover in a bar?) where you can get an espresso or a corretto - a coffee 'corrected' with grappa or any other high percentage beverage. It's Sunday after all. After that we'll take yet another off-the-beaten-path route to roll down the hill, so as to arrive back at the Podernuovo winery just in time for... a wine tasting. Exactly. We're talking trekking Cinigiano style.
So book a flight, tighten those hiking boots and trod along through some of Tuscany's most beautiful landscape.
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| Ready for take off |
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| Let's dive in... |
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| and prepare for plenty of up and down |
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| Golden hour at the Podernuovo winery |
CINIGIANO TOURIST OFFICE: Sunday, 5th of May, 9 am
Meeting point: Tourist office, piazza Capitano Brucchi, right next to bar Sport, where you can have a quick coffee before we take off. We'll drive the cars to Podernuovo and start walking from there.
Price: 15€ including lunch (kids 5€), wine tasting and insurance (you never know what might happen after lunch).