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This ride leads through parts of
Tuscany and Lazio – an area that shows rich culture
and historic background - the settlement area of the
first Etruscan population and the border area of the
former Vatican state. Coincidence?? You
overnight in three different farmhouses. They are
called Agriturismo – a combination of
agricultural tourism business. The Italian
government helps the farmers so they can survive and
the countryside retains its traditional character.
 IT-ITETF
Rates include accommodations,
all meals with gourmet dinners with table wine,
6 riding days.
8 days/ 7
nights $ 2,495 Single: + $180
--
based on € 1750 / € 125
2008 Dates:
06/15-06/22 06/22-06/29
06/29-07/06
09/28-10/05 10/05-10/12
10/12-10/19
availability & reservation
Meeting: Proceno
Airport: Rome
Train Station:
Orvieto
Transfer: from Orvieto train station
included at ~4 PM
Level:
Intermediate
Tack:
English
Horses:
Locally-bred
Anglo-Arabs
and Maremma mix.
Pace : Moderate with trots
& canters
Min/Max Riders: 5-8
Note: good train connections from Rome to
Orvieto approx
1.5 hours
Accommodations
The first accommodation –
Agrigurismo Franciola in Proceno - is the oldest
business of this kind in the area. They keep many
different animals for their own production and
prepare meals with home-grown products. Next is the
Agrigtursmo Fra Viaco – a five family business (but
all from the same roots) – spaced directly on the
Lake Vico. This little lake was once a volcano and
they say its in some spots 500 yards deep. The third
accommodation is the Agriturismo Pietrafitta, a very
elegant country property organised since generations
by the same old noble family.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arriving in
Orvieto and shared transfer for the group from
Orvieto station to Proceno and settlement in
Agritursmo Franciola. Dinner in the local
restaurant – the only independent restaurant in
town. A local lady cooks in the traditional
style and creates new, very tasty filled pasta –
called Tortelli. The deserts are very special
and always fresh prepared.
Day 2: We ride
in the area of the medieval town Proceno,
through clay hills down into the valley of the
river Palia - with marvellous view on the
mountains of Amiata and Cetona. Picnic close to
the former border places from the Vatican state
to Italy – called Dogana – on the banks of the
river. The way back leads uphill in the
afternoon sun with views over soft rolling wheat
fields or pastures for sheep herds. For dinner
today you stay in your accommodation and will
experience how a real Italian mama cooks.
Day 3: Travel on
horseback from Proceno to Lago di Mezzano.
The
area changes completely – after you have passed
the private forest property of Montorio with its
small streams, you ride over huge plateau fields
with various agricultural business built on tuff
(a volcanic soft stone) ground. Farmers settled
here with their sheep a long time ago and
produce a good traditional cheese. Lunch stop is
in an archaeological park area with cave
settlement in San Quirico. Thanks to the Tuff
rocks on the ground the terrain remain always
well drained and ready for nice trots and
canters. In the afternoon you arrive with a long
distance view over greens hills in the direction
of the seaside. You enjoy tasty home produced
starters and barbecued meet outside in the green
or inside the cosy restaurant
Day 4: Travel from Lago
di Mezzano to Castro.
You start your day with a fantastic view of the
medieval town Valentano, built safely on the
borders between a plateau and a deep gully.
Enter the unique national park of Selva di
Lamone. This is an indescribable forest area,
created from the now cold volcano in the Lago di
Bolsena. Stones all over like crumbs on a cake.
The leaves and the trees create shade and light
in a fantastic, unreal mix on the inhospitable
ground beside the dirt road. Lunch stop in the
middle of the forest in a picnic area. Out of
the Selva in the afternoon you pass the ancient
ruins of the city of Castro – destroyed by the
will of one man – a Roman emperor.
Day 5: Day ride from
Castro to Vulci and back.
Today you ride through
one of the last nearly untouched areas of
Tuscany and Lazio – you get an idea of the way
the animals were kept in the past – huge herds
of cattle can be found half wild on large
private properties. Here you find also several
horses – not always fenced in. For lunch
you arrive in Vulci – once one of the biggest
Etruscan cities in Italy. The way back in the
afternoon leads through private woods from the
still noble land owners.
Day 6: Travel from Castro
to Lago di Mezzano.
Through canyon and over plateau, passing sheep
herds, little fields and small old barns – in
the past people just kept barns in the
countryside and lived in the villages because
the area was full of bandits - you arrive close
to the old town Iscia where you stop for lunch.
From here you pass the flat in front of
Valentano and can smell the water full of
sulphur just running on the ground. You return
back to the Agriturismo Fra Viaco.
Day 7: Travel back
from Lago di Mezzano to Proceno
You start the
ride through a volcanic wide canyon in the
direction of Onano on sandy roads – good for a
quicker ride. In the national park of the Selva
di Onano we find a perfect place for our lunch
picnic. The afternoon brings us slowly back to
the Proceno area and to the lodgings of
Franciola. We enjoy a last farewell dinner in
the local medieval castle.
Day 8: Transfer
in the morning from Proceno to Orvieto station.
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