Tania

Hoping you can help me here....<BR><BR>I've often thought of how wonderful it would be to go horseback riding in Tuscany! As it turns out, I'll be spending August in Italy, with 10 days in Florence. My question is...do you know of any towns that I can go to as a day trip from Florence (by bus or train, as I do not drive) that has horseback riding available? <BR><BR>If you know of a place, my trip will be complete.<BR><BR>thanks in advance,<BR>tania<BR>

Alice Twain

You have two different options: you can spend a couple of days in Chianti, lloking for an agritourism which also has horseriding (check on the telephone before you book your rooms and rides) or travel to Parco dell'Uccellina, where great rides in the park are organized.<BR>http://www.agriturismo.regione.toscana.it/<BR>http://www.parks.it/parco.maremma/Eindex.html<BR>http://www.alicetwain.supereva.it/photobook/maremma.html?p<BR>http://www.alicetwain.supereva.it/ph...toindex.html?p

Tania

Alice,<BR><BR>Thanks for the reply. I followed the links you included, and at one of them, there was a map of Tuscany, indicating the location of Parco dell'Uccellina. It looks gorgeous! However, it also looks a bit too far from Florence for a day trip. (maybe about 3 hours each way by bus?)<BR><BR>tania

Dayle

Hi Tania,<BR><BR>If you really like to ride & enjoy beautiful scenery, try this web site.<BR><BR>www.equitours.com<BR><BR>I've been on two of their trips & they have been some of my best ever vacations. Excellent horses, nice people, good food, amazing scenery. Their Tuscany rides may very well change your ideas on vacation interary.<BR><BR>Highly, highly recommend them!

Tania

Dayle,<BR><BR>Both you and the last poster have offered links that have made me salivate! If I were starting from square one, the "equitour" would be a perfect trip. But as it stands, I've already booked 10 nights at my hotel in Florence, so I'm limited to day trips only. (maybe next year?)<BR><BR>tania

susan

Tania,<BR><BR>This is a possibility, but not sure if it will work for you. A few years ago we stayed at a place called Villa San Luigi. It is near Sienna, actually even closer to Monteriggioni. They had a number of activities for guests, including horseback riding.<BR><BR>I mention it because it is close enough for a day trip from Florence. Sorry I don't have any contact numbers, but it might be worth looking into?<BR><BR>Good luck and enjoy your trip. Susan

freda

Try www.bassettobackpack.com

Tania

Susan- tried a google search for Villa San Luigi, but couldn't find anything directly pointing me to horseback riding on the sites I linked to.<BR><BR>Freda-emailed bassettobackpack about riding availability for non-guests, and am awaiting a reply.<BR><BR>

Dayle

Hi again Tania,<BR><BR>You don't say if you have visited Italy before. If you have, I assume you have some important reason for staying in Florence for 10 nights.<BR><BR>If not, I would recommend changing your reservations for a max of 4 nights. I liked Florence, but it is crowded & extremely noisy. I would think that after 3 or 4 days, you would be ready to get out to the countryside & do your day trips from there!<BR><BR>Tuscany is much more enjoyable when you are staying overnight in the hilltowns!

Tania

Hi Dayle,<BR><BR>This will be my first trip to Italy, and I'll be there throughout the month of August (Venice-6 nights, Florence-10 nights, Sorrento-9 nights, Rome-1 night). I've only chosen 3 "home bases", as it affords me way more flexibility in terms of the things I do on a day to day basis, and each of those starting points are close enough to smaller places that will allow me to make it up as I go along. For instance, while in Venice, I'd also like to see Murano, Burano and Verona. But hey! Once IN Venice, I may just decide to spend all my days wandering the canals and getting lost. <BR><BR>I chose 10 days in Florence because art is my passion, so I'd really need at least 4 days to see the things I want to see. My stay in Florence will also be coinciding with the Palio in Sienna, so I need to make time for the day of the race as well. So that leaves me with about 3 days to pick and choose between various small towns in which to hike, horseback ride, stroll aimlessly or sit in cafe's and draw or write.<BR><BR>If there's any particular town that upon visiting for the day, I'm totally drawn to, then I can see myself staying there on an extended basis next summer. But as you probably know, every small town or village has a specific and personal vibe to it, and it takes being there before you know its right. I think this is probably especially true of Tuscany.<BR><BR>With the exception of the three home bases, everything else will be "taste testing" for next time. <BR><BR>tania

flygirl

Tania, you are doing it just right! have a great time. seeing more places is not always 'more' - it's nice to stay put and get in the rhythm of a place. it makes it feel like home away from home - you'll have many fond memories...

Alice Twain

Actually I would suggest you not to do your ride on a daytrip. Florence is still a medium sized city with more smaller cities that surround it. In order to find any place worth horseridind and that allow horseriding you will have to get off Florence anyhow, and this means travelling for at least a couple of hours or at least half an hour by car (some places require further travelling after you have reached the nearest trin station).<BR>http://www.agriitalia.it/toscana/firenze.htm

vivanotte

Tania,

if you come visit Florence and you want horseback riding in Tuscany I recommend Fun in Tuscany:

http://www.funintuscany.com/

They leave from Florence and ride the Chianti region... I did check the company in person with some friends that visited me from Boston: 5 stars! Also they have very good reputation on tripadvisor, hostelworld etc...

Hope this can help you and other travelers in the future!