Things To Do During Your Vacation to the Tuscany Region of Italy
BIKE TOURING
Tuscany Hill Towns Bike Tour, Central Italy
ROCK CLIMBING
Camaiorese Climbing Area, Lucca Province
Il Gabellaccia Climbing Area, Carrara-Massa Province
Monsummano Rossa Climbing Area, Pistoia Province
St Anna di Stazzema (Monte Lieto) Climbing Area, Carrara-Massa Province
Vecchiano Climbing Area, Pisa Province
The Town Of Gaiole in Chianti In Tuscany
GAIOLE IN CHIANTI | SIENA PROVINCE Historically the town of Gaiole has always been on the edge of Florentine territory, although today it is part of the province of Siena. It sits at an altitude of 367 meters a.s.l. in the Chianti Hills. Gaiole grew up on the banks of the river Massellone thanks to the trade that passed up and down the river. Many local place names have either Etruscan or Roman origins and many archaeological sites prove the existence of settlements here in ancient times, such as the remains of the necropolis at Cacchiano (I – III century) and the columns of the church of San Marcellino. Many small settlements grew up throughout the territory in the Medieval period. Many Romanesque structures are still visible today such as the churches of San Giusto in Salcio, San Polo in Rosso, Spaltenna and San Vincenti, all of which used to be part of the powerful diocese of Fiesole except the last which belonged to the Bishop of Arezzo. Ownership of the Montegrossi fort was particularly violently contested. This feudal castle on the Valdarno road was fought over by Florence and Imperial forces. In the XIV century, Gaiole became the region capital for ‘terziere’ within the Lega del Chianti (Chianti League). This political and military association was run from Florence. What was already a centre for trade and business became an important defensive bulwark between Florence and Siena and the town was continually rampaged through until 1555. In that year, Siena definitively surrendered and became an annexation of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The Chianti League was broken up in 1776 when the ruling Lorena family turned the ‘terzieri’ towns into independent municipalities. The Gaiole region is home to many different Medieval castles. Visitors can admire Cacchiano Castle, built in the XIII century by the Ricasoli family. This castle was destroyed by the Aragonesi in 1478 and then rebuilt in 1530. The same family also gave Gaiole Brolio Castle which was transformed into a Neo-gothic villa in the XIX century. In was renovated by the famous architect, Sangallo in 1484 after a military strike by the Sienese. Monteluco Castle sits on a hilltop just a few kilometres from Gaiole.
The best way to explore Tuscany is on foot. From the peaks of the Tuscan mountains to the Via Francigena, travellers and nature lovers can walk their way through the beauties of Tuscany. Walking through Tuscany, exploring it slowly to savour the details and nuances that are often missed. Trekking is a way of being in direct contact with nature and this incredible landscape. These are unique experiences that are very different from mass tourism.
Tuscany is the ideal place for this kind of 'slow travel' because it offers a host of different landscapes—from the mountain peaks of the Apennines to the Tuscan Maremma. Step by step, excursionists always find something spectacular and unexpected before them. A rich network of footpaths crosses the region: itineraries for all kinds of trekkers. From Sunday treks with the whole family in the region's natural parks to more difficult routes for mountain trekkers—the region offers a wealth of options.
Unspoilt nature, routes with varying difficulty that can be combined with sports or cuisine: this is the Garfagnana. Here you'll find small medieval hamlets, where age-old traditions can still be experienced. A beautiful show of the white mountains of the Apuan Alps: marble that sparkles under the bright rays of the sun. Only here can you find such beauty.
For those who want to avoid high altitudes, Siena and its footpaths are a perfect alternative. With its ups and downs, Siena is ideal for urban trekking because it is the perfect marriage between physical activity and art. On the hills that surround Florence, some 170 km of paths await. Along the Ring of the Renaissance, trekkers will walk through ancient monasteries, castles, churches, towns until reaching the Tuscan capital.
For those who prefer the seaside, the Costa degli Etruschi offers itineraries characterized by sky, land and sea. These itineraries can also be travelled by mountain bike or on horseback.