Day 1 - Saturday
Riding: No riding.
Arrival to Montevarchi-Terranuova station and transfer to the 400 year old farmhouse where you will be staying. There is time to settle in and enjoy a chat with a glass of Chianti Classico wine. Your dinner will be prepared by Isabella and is served with local wine.
Day 2 - Sunday
Riding: 2 - 3 hours
After breakfast you will mount up for your first ride of around two and half hours with your English-speaking guide Eraldo. The ride today takes you through vineyards, olive groves and woodlands, as well as by an 18th century villa and a 14th century church. On return to the stables you will head out together for a Sunday lunch at a local hostelry before walking back for a cup of tea.
This afternoon your host will give a fun lesson on Italian pronunciation which you can put into practice over the following days. For example you will learn that the "ch" in the Italian word 'bruschetta' is pronounced like a 'k'!
Day 3 - Monday
Riding: 2 - 3 hours
After breakfast you will head out on another morning ride in the surrounding countryside of the Chianti hills. Lunch is served at the farmhouse.
In the afternoon Eraldo will take you to visit the farm of his friend Alessandro where you will learn how pecorino cheese is made. There will be a cheese-tasting before Eraldo drives you on to Fattoria Casabianca where the owner, Aldo, produces top-quality wine and his award-winning vin santo (an Italian dessert wine/liqueur).
Day 4 - Tuesday
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
Today is your first day ride with around five hours in the saddle. You will ride by the medieval village of San Leolini, the Castle of Cennina and a scenic lake before stopping for a picnic nearby. The way home brings you past the Castle of Lupinari and you can enjoy many canters on the way home.
Day 5 - Wednesday
Riding: No riding.
Today is a free day for you to relax or to make your own arrangements for sightseeing, although you will be dropped off at the local train station and picked up again before dinner to suit your plans. Florence is a popular choice and your hostess Jenny, who knows it well, may be available to go with you and give you a guided tour of the main sites. Alternatively you may like to visit one of the hill towns of Cortona, Assisi or Orvieto, all beautiful in their own way and easily reached with a direct train from Montevarchi. Dinner and overnight back at the farmhouse.
Day 6 - Thursday
Riding: 2 - 3 hours
Today begins with breakfast and another beautiful morning ride - there are so many lovely routes available from the house.
After lunch Eraldo will take you to the winery of Cantalici in the Chianti Classico region for a wine-tasting and a visit to its cellars where you can learn about the advanced technology they are using for their wine production. After arriving back at the farmhouse you are welcome to watch (and help) Isabelle whilst she prepares your dinner or she can give you a full-blown Tuscan cooking lesson if you are interested.
Day 7 - Friday
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
Today's final day ride is around four hours long. Riding along the Chianti hills you will stop at the medieval tower of Galatrona with its spectacular views, then down to visit a 14th century church and the 18th century Villa Petrolo. Here you will be served a light lunch accompanied by the fattoria's award-winning wines. Then you will ride home for a farewell dinner back at the farmhouse.
Day 8 - Saturday
Riding: No riding.
Breakfast is served before you take a transfer of around ten minutes back to Montevarchi station to begin your journey home.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.