Tuscany - Sunflower Books

This edition of Tuscany has been thoroughly revised just prior to publication.
All the maps have also been redrawn using OpenStreetMap source material with GPS tracking. The printed maps show waypoints, and free downloadable GPS tracks are available for all the walks. Colour coding on the Contents page enables you to see at a glance the grading of various walks. A wealth of ‘feature’ panels bring to life the history, customs and culture of the region.

This book is designed for visitors walking in Tuscany and touring Tuscany by car. While the region’s historic towns and architectural highlights are often the focal points for these excursions, the role of the Tuscan peasant in creating this glorious landscape is stressed throughout — especially in the wealth of background information about Tuscany’s customs and cuisine, flora, fauna and history — all of them illustrated.

The book should be particularly suitable for those who wish to combine a visit to Florence with seeing the Italian countryside (you’ll need a good city guide for Florence, while this ‘Landscapes’ guide will show you the best of the rural scene.)

Area covered: from the Carrera marble quarries in the northwest down to southern Tuscany, with a particular emphasis on the area round Florence and in the Chianti.

The best months for walking in Tuscany are from September to June.

TOURING
1 The foothills of the Apennines – the Mugello
2 Hilltop villages and gentle hills of the Chianti
3 Marble mountains of the Alpi Apuane, and the Garfagnana
4 The cool hills and forests of the Pratomagno, and the valley of the Casentino
5 Hilltop fortress towns west of Siena
6 The dramatic landscape of the Sienese Crete
7 Around Monte Amiata – volcanic landscape, hot springs and skiing
8 Southern Tuscany, forgotten since the Etruscans


WALKS NORTH OF FLORENCE
Around Florence
1 From Bivigliano to Fiesole
2 Circuit from Fiesole via Settignano and Vincigliata
3 Circuit from Cercina via Monte Morello

The Mugello
4 Circuits around San Piero a Sieve and Trebbio
5 Circuit from Sant’Agata via the Apennine ridge

In the Alpi Apuane
6 Along Michelangelo’s road, from Seravezza towards Monte Altissimo
7 Circuit below Monte Procinto via the Alta Matanna refuge
8 Circuit from Fociomboli via Favilla and the Foce di Mosceta

In the Garfagnana
9 Bagni di Lucca circuit

The Alpe di San Benedetto
10 Monte Falco, Monte Falterona and the source of the Arno

WALKS BETWEEN FLORENCE AND SIENA
In the Pratomagno
11 Circuit from the abbey at Vallombrosa via Monte Secchieta
12 Circuit from Caspri via Monte Cocollo and Poggio Montrago

The Chianti
13 Circuit from the Badia a Passignano
14 Circuit round Mugnana, La Panca and Sezzate
15 Circuit from Gaiole via the Castello di Meleto and Barbischio
16 Circuit from Monte San Michele via Volpaia
17 Circuit from Radda via Volpaia

Around Volterra
18 Circuit from San Donato (near San Gimignano)
19 Circuit from the walls of Volterra

WALKS SOUTH OF SIENA
In the Crete
20 Circuit from Monte Oliveto via San Giovanni d’Asso

The Val d’Orcia
21 From Montalcino to the abbey of Sant’Antimo
22 Circuit round Bagno Vignoni
23 Circuit of three castles, from Castiglione d’Orcia
24 Circuit from Vivo d’Orcia on the slopes of Monte Amiata

WALKS IN SOUTHERN TUSCANY
25 From Pitigliano to Sovana
26 Circuit from Saturnia