Explore the amazing hills and valleys of beautiful unspoiled Romagna the best way - on foot.
See the glorious atmospheric castles, enjoy the superb local food and wine, revel in hearty hospitality, experience stunning views and amazing colorful history - go back in time!
As an Extension to the Best of Romagna 9 day tour or as a stand-alone small group event
Included Highlights
Day 1 - Transfer to Santarcangelo di Romagna dinner & overnight
Perched on a hilltop (called Mons Jovis – Mount of Jove) Santarcangelo has a valid claim to be both the heart of Romagna and the source of the Sangiovese grape. As a Slow City with a number of fine restaurants it is certainly the area’s culinary capital. With Etruscan origins, Santarcangelo is riddled with grottoes which are now mainly used to store superb local wines. Walking the city with its lovely buildings, squares and palaces is a relaxing delight.
Day 2 - Walk from Santarcangelo to Verucchio dinner & overnight (12 km)
Morning post-breakfast stroll in Santarcangelo, followed by the walk through fields to the stunning and historic hilltop town of Verucchio. It is from here that the Malatesta clan came to dominate Romagna for hundreds of years, provide the raw material for stories in Dante’s Divine Comedy and create literally hundreds of castles. Apart from the soaring Malatesta castle, the town also boasts a substantial Villanovan/Etruscan museum.
Day 3 - Walk from Verucchio to San Leo dinner & overnight (17 km)
We are now in the Marecchia Valley within sight of the many atmospheric hilltop castles in the area. Today we will walk from one castle to the other on an ancient path. Naturally we will take a stop for a picnic lunch of seasonal local produce to rest on our journey and admire the views. By late this afternoon we will have climbed to soaring San Leo with its cathedral and Martini Tower, once a pilgrimage site and later famous for imprisoning the alchemist Calliostro after whom an international festival ‘Alchemia’ is held.
Day 4 - Walks around San Leo dinner & overnight
A day of resting and rambling in the byways around lovely San Leo. There will also be time to explore the many places of interest in the town and around including the splendid 12th century cathedral which replaces the Roman temple of Jupiter previously on the site. A visit can also be made to the important fortress and equally important town square outdoor café!
Day 5 - Walk San Leo to Sant’Agata Feltria dinner & overnight (21 km)
The longest walk of the week takes us along the scenic Marecchia valley with sensational views, lots more castles and a lovely picnic lunch to the picture-perfect hilltop castle-town of Sant’Agata Feltria. The lovely town is famous for its yearly truffle festival, its Christmas celebrations, its main square with a pretty wooden theatre and its soaring castle now full of European fairytales.
Day 6 - Walk Sant’Agata Feltria to Pennabilli dinner & overnight (11 km)
After breakfast, we’ll take a stroll around the town before embarking on our lovely walk via the tiny castle of Petrella Guidi and the Marecchia valley to our second cathedral town - Pennabilli. This lovely hilltop was the retirement choice of famous Romagnolo poet, scriptwriter and artist Tonino Guerra who had much to do in making the town a great place to enjoy. Noted visitors included the Dalai Lama who inaugurated many of the small meditation parks, there is an orchard of forgotten fruits, a museum of calculus, and truly fabulous walks.
Day 7 - Walks around Pennabilli dinner & overnight
We’ll have a full day to explore Pennabilli and the area including local rambles and a visit to the natural park of Sasso Simone.
Day 8 - Transfer to Bologna
Today we’ll leave Pennabilli for Bologna. A stop will be made to the superb internationally-rated organic Zuffa Vineyard and take a wine tasting in the open air, between vines prior to arriving at Bologna.
Walking the castles of Romagna (8 days 7 nights) minimum 4 people includes experienced walking guide, transfer of baggage from accommodation to accommodation 7 nights dinner bed and breakfast accommodation (meals with local wine/soft drinks), picnics on full day walks, return transfers from central Bologna or as an extension to the 8 day Romagna tour. Cost $2500 per person Single Room supplement $300
PLEASE NOTE THESE GROUP ARRANGEMENTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH TRAVEL AGENTS OR GROUP ORGANISERS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION EMAIL TravelAgents@BestofRomagna.com
OR VISIT BestofRomagna.com
See the glorious atmospheric castles, enjoy the superb local food and wine, revel in hearty hospitality, experience stunning views and amazing colorful history - go back in time!
As an Extension to the Best of Romagna 9 day tour or as a stand-alone small group event
Included Highlights
- Visits to some of the most romantic castles and castle-towns in Italy;
- Walks along the enchanting Marecchia Valley with a qualified walking guide;
- Local produce-style deli-picnics on certain days;
- Superb dinners every day with wine;
- Comfortable accommodation in local hostelries;
- Visits to many unexplored gems of Italian culture and history;
- Congenial walks in good company – not too strenuous;
- All designed as a natural life-enhancing experience, bags transported.
Day 1 - Transfer to Santarcangelo di Romagna dinner & overnight
Perched on a hilltop (called Mons Jovis – Mount of Jove) Santarcangelo has a valid claim to be both the heart of Romagna and the source of the Sangiovese grape. As a Slow City with a number of fine restaurants it is certainly the area’s culinary capital. With Etruscan origins, Santarcangelo is riddled with grottoes which are now mainly used to store superb local wines. Walking the city with its lovely buildings, squares and palaces is a relaxing delight.
Day 2 - Walk from Santarcangelo to Verucchio dinner & overnight (12 km)
Morning post-breakfast stroll in Santarcangelo, followed by the walk through fields to the stunning and historic hilltop town of Verucchio. It is from here that the Malatesta clan came to dominate Romagna for hundreds of years, provide the raw material for stories in Dante’s Divine Comedy and create literally hundreds of castles. Apart from the soaring Malatesta castle, the town also boasts a substantial Villanovan/Etruscan museum.
Day 3 - Walk from Verucchio to San Leo dinner & overnight (17 km)
We are now in the Marecchia Valley within sight of the many atmospheric hilltop castles in the area. Today we will walk from one castle to the other on an ancient path. Naturally we will take a stop for a picnic lunch of seasonal local produce to rest on our journey and admire the views. By late this afternoon we will have climbed to soaring San Leo with its cathedral and Martini Tower, once a pilgrimage site and later famous for imprisoning the alchemist Calliostro after whom an international festival ‘Alchemia’ is held.
Day 4 - Walks around San Leo dinner & overnight
A day of resting and rambling in the byways around lovely San Leo. There will also be time to explore the many places of interest in the town and around including the splendid 12th century cathedral which replaces the Roman temple of Jupiter previously on the site. A visit can also be made to the important fortress and equally important town square outdoor café!
Day 5 - Walk San Leo to Sant’Agata Feltria dinner & overnight (21 km)
The longest walk of the week takes us along the scenic Marecchia valley with sensational views, lots more castles and a lovely picnic lunch to the picture-perfect hilltop castle-town of Sant’Agata Feltria. The lovely town is famous for its yearly truffle festival, its Christmas celebrations, its main square with a pretty wooden theatre and its soaring castle now full of European fairytales.
Day 6 - Walk Sant’Agata Feltria to Pennabilli dinner & overnight (11 km)
After breakfast, we’ll take a stroll around the town before embarking on our lovely walk via the tiny castle of Petrella Guidi and the Marecchia valley to our second cathedral town - Pennabilli. This lovely hilltop was the retirement choice of famous Romagnolo poet, scriptwriter and artist Tonino Guerra who had much to do in making the town a great place to enjoy. Noted visitors included the Dalai Lama who inaugurated many of the small meditation parks, there is an orchard of forgotten fruits, a museum of calculus, and truly fabulous walks.
Day 7 - Walks around Pennabilli dinner & overnight
We’ll have a full day to explore Pennabilli and the area including local rambles and a visit to the natural park of Sasso Simone.
Day 8 - Transfer to Bologna
Today we’ll leave Pennabilli for Bologna. A stop will be made to the superb internationally-rated organic Zuffa Vineyard and take a wine tasting in the open air, between vines prior to arriving at Bologna.
Walking the castles of Romagna (8 days 7 nights) minimum 4 people includes experienced walking guide, transfer of baggage from accommodation to accommodation 7 nights dinner bed and breakfast accommodation (meals with local wine/soft drinks), picnics on full day walks, return transfers from central Bologna or as an extension to the 8 day Romagna tour. Cost $2500 per person Single Room supplement $300
PLEASE NOTE THESE GROUP ARRANGEMENTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH TRAVEL AGENTS OR GROUP ORGANISERS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION EMAIL TravelAgents@BestofRomagna.com
OR VISIT BestofRomagna.com
