Day 1 - Saturday - Arrival
Riding: No riding.
You will be met at either Rome Ciampino or Fiumicino airports. The transfers will leave once the final guest has arrived this day.
As you arrive at the castle you will meet your guides, the staff and count Antonio, owner of the castle. You will also be able to enjoy your first encounter with the horses before taking a guided tour of your first 17th Century Castle - the very castle where you will be staying over the next few nights.
You will enjoy a delicious Italian dinner before you head to your comfortable apartments within the castle grounds.
Day 2 - Onano, Sorano & Wine Tasting
Riding: 3 hours
Breakfast will be served, as always, in the old Stables room at the Castle.
This morning you will mount up and take the Brigands path headed north, through the hills, towards Onano. This fortified village with a medieval castle was the stronghold of the Monaldeschi family who ruled this area during the Middle Ages.
After lunch back at the castle, you will be picked up and transferred to visit the magical Sorano Fortress. Enjoy sightseeing around this gem in Tuscany at your leisure, before proceeding to Fattoria Aldobrandesca Antinori vineyard to taste some of the famous wines of this area.
Day 3 - Lake Bolsena
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
This morning you will enjoy your first full-day trail, heading out from the castle across farmland and through chestnut woods. You will be following ancient tracks that will lead you right above the crater of Lake Bolsena, the largest volcanic lake in Europe. You will descend from here to the village of Gradoli, dominated by an impressive renaissance palace. It was said to have been the wedding gift of Pope Paulus III Farnese to his nephew around the middle of the 16th century. You can enjoy breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding areas. See if you can spot the two islands; Isola Bisentina and Martana, in the centre of Bolsena lake. On the shore of the lake, you can enjoy a thrilling canter before reaching your midday stop.
Lunch will be served on the terrace of a typical trattoria right on the beach, where Antonietta the cook will serve delicious local food. If the weather is good, you might like to cool off with a swim in the lake - don't forget your swimsuit!
In the afternoon you will head back to the castle. This region holds many important Etruscan remains including ancient tombs carved into the rock throughout the countryside. Many have been reused by farmers as cellars for their wine, but they still serve as a reminder of the ancient history which abounds in this region. You will pass through the archaeological area of Pianezze where you will see Etruscan tombs dating back 2600 years.
Leaving lake Bolsena behind, you will wind your way back through the vineyards and ancient woodlands to return to the castle for another tasty dinner.
Day 4 - Lake Mezzano
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
Another full-day trail will see you ride to the great volcanic lake, Mezzano.
This lake was also once a large volcanic crater and historical site, with human settlements dating back to the pre-Etruscan era (approx. 2700 years ago). It is now part of the Selva del Lamone regional park, due to its natural beauty and importance as a habitat for native and migratory birds.
Today's excursion will take you through the beautiful countryside, and up into the wooded hills which surround Onano. Here, the horses have the opportunity to canter along a wonderful natural passage surrounded by trees. At the top of the plateau, you have the chance to take in the dazzling scenery, before carrying on past local farms into ancient chestnut woodlands and then the lowland plains open up ahead of you. Here, if desired, you can canter up the old tracks, before reaching the marshlands and vineyards which surround lake Mezzano itself.
In a fantastic position on top of a hill overlooking the lake is the small agriturismo where you will find a restaurant and your lunch stop for today. During the warmer months, you can also swim in the Mezzano's crystal clear waters if you wish to.
In the afternoon, you will ride back following the old Brigands trail and take in a few historical sights on the way.
Day 5 - Ship Farm & Proceno Castle
Riding: 2 hours
After breakfast this morning you will enjoy a more relaxed 2 hours trail ride through the farmland surrounding the Castle. You will ride towards the hills which frame the property on the western plateau, upon which the castle is situated.
After lunch, you will be picked up by your driver and taken to visit the beautiful Proceno Castle. You can enjoy wandering the site at your leisure through the afternoon.
Day 6 - Orvieto & Civita di Bagnoregio
Riding: No riding.
There is no riding scheduled for today, instead, you will enjoy a full day of sightseeing and visit two distinct and uniquely iconic destinations; Orvieto and Civita di Bagnoregio!
Sites to visit in Orvieto include; the Duomo, St. Patrick's Qell, and underground tours into the cave network below Orvieto itself - these are available from the Tourist office in the centre of the town.
After a busy morning, you will have lunch at a beautiful restaurant in the centre of Orvieto before heading on to Civita di Bagnoregio.
The incredible morphology of this ancient and famous dying village has been caused by erosion and landslides over many thousands of years. This territory is made up of two different types of rocks, different in chronology and in the constitution. The most ancient formation is that of clay; it comes from the sea and forms the base layer which is particularly subject to erosion. As a result, Civita di Bagnoregio now sits upon a solitary outcrop of harder rock and is reachable only by a reinforced concrete pedestrian bridge.
Return to the castle in the late afternoon for dinner.
Day 7 - Vitozza; the rock settlement
Riding: 4 - 5 hours
Today you will enjoy another full-day ride to discover the amazing ancient settlement of Vitozza. Considered one of the most interesting and extensive rock and cave settlements in central Italy, Vitozza remained inhabited continuously between the 12th and 17th centuries. Hidden by encroaching verdant woodlands, you will find nearly two hundred cave dwellings, along with crumbling castles and churches amongst the remains of this once bustling medieval village.
Take a relaxed picnic lunch, before riding back to the castle in the afternoon. On your arrival back, there will be time to enjoy a welcome massage to help ease out those aches from the week of riding.
Day 8 - Saturday - Departure
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast this morning it will be time to say goodbye to your hosts and new-found friends. A transfer will be organised back to Rome's Fiumicino or Ciampino airports.
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.