CHIANTI HIKING
As one of the first in this region Poderi Val Verde offers its own private hiking + biking center
Contact usHIKING + BIKING
are still one of the best ways to get to know a country and its people...
Contact usCHIANTI HIKING: ABOUT US
Hiking and biking – are still one of the best ways to get to know a country and its people. As one of the first in this region Poderi Val Verde offers its own private hiking + biking center “Chianti Hiking”.
The top, absolutely peaceful position of the small hamlet Poderi Val Verde situated in the middle of the ex-natural preserve area of the Chianti , but also easily to be reached by local roads, is the perfect starting point for trekking and biking tours.
Our network of more then 70 km offers 7 well marked hiking trails of various difficulty levels and a duration of 1/2 hrs. to 7 hrs.! By foot, start directly at the doorstep of your vacation rental. All trails may be experienced hiking or mountain biking.
There are also neighboring hiking trails which are part of our trails or run parallel to them, such as the orange marked, major mountain bike trail.
Trail 1 + 2 lead you along freshwater creeks with their small ponds and romantic waterfalls, through an uncontaminated nature with rare flowers such as Christmas roses, wild broom and many types of orchids, an incredible variety of birds (its a birds watchers paradise) and naturally wild game such as wild boars, deer, pheasants, porcupines etc.
Nature and animal lovers will certainly get their full share.
The more demanding trails 3,4,5, 6 + 7 are following the famous “white roads” which connect the many wineries of the region for centuries.
These ancient wagon trails, some dating back to Roman times, lead through the breathtaking countryside of the Chianti Classico passing along olive groves and vineyards, macchia, rough bushes and woods.
Some parts are even a bit adventurous since nature has reclaimed the original trail.
On the way one passes ruins of ancient chapels as well as old farmhouse type monasteries and hamlets that have been given to the church as dowry by rich families for their daughters or widows intended to become nuns. You can easily recognize them by their name of saints “San” – like San Stefano, San Sivestro, San Quirico.
Some wineries along the way offer wine tastings as well as some regional specialties. Cozy restaurants invite you to taste delicious local food.
20 min by car, the famous “Cammino to Rome” the Via Francigena ("Franconia Way") has one of its access trails. You may hike or bike it. Its well-marked and leads on the left side through the Elsa valley. Discover this stunning heritage trail which dates back to the Middle Ages.
One of the many connecting pilgrim trails to the Franconian Way the “Via Romea", leading in day trips from San Donato to Siena through the Chianti hills , also passes by our property.
If that’s not enough one may hike the trails of the neighboring towns such as Panzano, Radda, Greve or Gaiole. They are marked on hiking maps.
Naturally we know many more interesting tours in the closer vicinity, but we can’t mark them all. But if interested we can point them out to you. Not all of them are roundtrip tours or part directly at our property. For some you will need a car to get to and from.
All of these trails may also be used by experienced mountain or e-bikers. But please remember, these cross country trails are demanding and require quite a good physical condition. If you just want to do some easy biking this you may do in the valley between Florence and Siena around Poggibonsi for example, but not up in the Chianti hills.
Come visit us – we are here 365 days a year – Tuscany and its heart land the Chianti Classico is especially beautiful in spring and late autumn, when tourist season is over or has not began, when the smell of young wine, of burning fireplaces and grilled meat is in the air and in the autumn everybody is out to pick olives.
And the small towns prepare to hibernate or slowly wake up! That’s when the real Tuscan life style of peace and tranquility comes back. Try it out!
