Walking, Language & Libretto – Escorted
There is no language more beautiful than Italian! The enjoyment in learning a language lies in being able to immediately use what has been learned whilst gaining insights into Italian culture and way of life: immersion! Divided into groups according to knowledge of Italian, whether ‘none’, ‘a few words’ or ‘conversational’ – you will soon be speaking Italian!
Based at Pieve a Castello, ATG's 8th Century, historic monument set in unspoilt landscape in central Tuscany, a landscape characterised by medieval hilltop villages and scattered cypress trees, undulating vineyards and olive groves. Its gently rolling hills are disarmingly familiar as the classical backdrop of Renaissance art and its charm is a changelessness, which merges medieval and modern worlds.
Afternoons include walks and sightseeing including a visit to Siena, the best-preserved great medieval city in Europe.
Duration: 8 days
Trip dates:
21 - 28 Jul 2026 - no longer available
Itinerary
After arrival at Pieve a Castello and time to relax, a tour of the 8th century buildings is followed by a presentation of what to expect from the week.
Pieve a Castello is built around the courtyard of a subsequently demolished castle and is today flanked by a basilica-style proto-Romanesque church, an octagonal baptistery, a three storey casa colonica and some single-storey buildings. These were used in medieval times for accommodating travellers from the nearby Via Francigena (the medieval road to Rome), as accommodation for monks, and, later, as living quarters for farm workers.
View of the pool at Pieve a Castello
Morning Italian lessons. After lunch at Pieve a Castello, an optional afternoon walk explores the surrounding countryside (2 hours), before returning for afternoon tea. Time to relax before dinner.
Aerial view of Pieve a Castello
Morning Italian lessons. After lunch we visit the nearby iconic, hilltop village of Monteriggioni, with an optional walk (3.5 hours) back to Pieve a Castello.
A beautifully sited and perfectly preserved village encased within 13th century walls, complete with watchtowers. In the main square is a small Romanesque church with a pretty façade.
One of the bedrooms
Morning visit to Siena, visiting the astonishing 15th century frescoes in the Santa Maria della Scala hospital, followed by a guided tour (in Italian!) of the Duomo (cathedral) crypt. After lunch, enjoy a free afternoon in Siena, or an optional walk, following the route of the early medieval Via Francigena (3 hours), back to Pieve a Castello.
Radiating from the magnificent Piazza del Campo, Siena is famous as one of the most perfectly preserved and beautiful medieval cities in Europe, an impressive cityscape combining Gothic and Romanesque styles. Visit the stunning Duomo (cathedral) incorporating the Libreria Piccolomini. Opposite lies Santa Maria della Scala - an ex-medieval hospital with frescoes and half a dozen small museums that stretch through tunnels inside it.
View of the courtyard at Pieve a Castello
Morning Italian lessons. Afternoon walk and visit to San Gimignano , the 'medieval Manhattan', with its famous towers. We later enjoy a private concert in the Pieve a Castello church before dinner.
The ‘city of the towers’ is irresistibly charming and perfectly preserved. Highlights include the Collegiata (former cathedral) with wonderful frescoes, the Museum of Modern Art, Museo Civico (Civic Museum, which includes a chance to climb the Torre Grossa, the city’s tallest tower) and Museum of Torture.
Dinner in the Baptistry at Pieve a Castello
Morning Italian lessons. Late morning visit to Colle di Val d’Elsa, and exploration of the ancient town’s fascinating, medieval tunnel streets, returning to Pieve a Castello for lunch. Afternoon free, with optional walk (1-2 hours). Before dinner we enjoy a wine tasting, sampling a range of interesting local wines.
Less crowded than the likes of San Gimignano and Siena, ‘Colle’ holds true to itself as a working town with an innovative people. The wool, paper and flour industries previously thrived here while today it is crystal and fine glass. Colle Alta, the quaint, upper part of the old town, perches on a narrow ridge and presents an impressive silhouette from below.
Picnic on the terrace at Pieve a Castello
Morning Italian lessons. In the afternoon, time to relax and enjoy Pieve a Castello. Optional walk. In the evening we enjoy a farewell gala dinner.
The courtyard at Pieve a Castello at night
Morning transfer to Pisa or Florence airport.
Trip Planner
Walking & Terrain
Easy walking. This is an 8-day trip, with walks of 1-3.5 hours plus sightseeing. Hours of walking, which may vary from group to group, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing or rests.
The escorted walking is gentle, along established paths across the Tuscan hills, dirt roads and woodland tracks. Some of our walks are weather sensitive. If it is not possible to do a walk due to inclement weather, an alternative will be organised. Any such decision is at the discretion of the Tour Leader.
Our support vehicles allow you the flexibility to walk 'as much or as little as you like', with drop-offs and pick-ups appropriate to the given day's itinerary. The Tour Leader will tell you each evening about the following day's walking options.
For keener walkers, the gentle guided walks in the itinerary may freely be supplemented with self-guided walks at Pieve a Castello, where a wide selection of routes, with ATG ‘Footloose’-style walking directions (complete with measurements, maps, GPS coordinates and a wealth of other information) are available for anyone to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Escorted trips are accompanied by two of ATG’s fully trained Tour Consultants, from the moment they welcome you at the airport, through to the end-of trip airport transfer. The Tour Manager looks after the practical side of the trip – luggage transport, hotels, food and drink. The Tour Leader will lead each day’s walk, and after dinner each evening will tell you about the following day’s itinerary. Both Tour Consultants will explain their role, and how the trip will run, on the first evening at dinner.
Please let us know about any dietary restrictions or allergies in advance so that our Tour Consultants can ensure that you are catered for during your holiday. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our trips and the Tour Manager can discuss your requirements in more detail with you at the start of your trip.
The walks are graded according to difficulty but you can walk as much or as little as you like.
Easy: walking along well-established paths and tracks with some short ascents/descents. These trips are suitable for most people who enjoy occasional exercise.
Easy to Moderate: walking along well-established paths and tracks. Occasional loose (gravel) surfaces. Ascents/descents up to 1 hour. These trips are suitable for most people who have a reasonable level of fitness.
Moderate: walking along a variety of paths and tracks. Occasional uneven areas. Ascents/descents 1-2 hours. These trips are suitable for those who have a reasonable to good level of fitness.
Moderate to Challenging: walking along varied paths and surfaces, occasionally challenging, with ascents/descents of 2-3 hours. These trips are suitable for more experienced walkers who have a good level of fitness.
Single travellers will be booked into a double room which will carry a single occupancy supplement.
Flights are not included in the price of your ATG holiday and should be booked independently. We will advise you of the group meeting time at the destination airport and return transfer time to the airport at the end of your trip to enable you to book compatible flights.
Yes. All of our escorted trips can be booked privately, you can book a set departure or a date to suit you (subject to availability). In most instances if the group is 13-16 clients we will offer the trip at the published price. For 12 or fewer clients we would provide a bespoke costing.
On escorted trips everything is included (per the published itinerary) apart from items of a personal nature and snacks or drinks outside of the set meals.
We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension hotel booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.
ATG does not provide any form of insurance cover. However, it is a condition of booking that you have fully comprehensive insurance cover, including:
Cancellation/curtailment up to the cost of the holiday (preferably including flights)
Medical emergencies and repatriation
Travel delay / missed departure
Lost or stolen personal belongings
Personal liability
Legal expenses
Natural Disasters
Although most credit card companies offer travel insurance as something that is included when paying the balance with the card, it may be advisable to check that the cover offered is what you expect it to be. Very few companies include cancellation and curtailment or medical expenses. Whatever the insurance policy you have taken out, please read the documentation carefully. Please ensure also that you take it with you on your trip and refer to it in the case of any claim or emergency.
Yes, please click here for what to bring. A packing checklist is also included with your booking confirmation.
Sustainability
ATG was founded on principles of conservation and sustainable development. It was the first company to win the tourism industry’s two top awards: Tourism for Tomorrow (UK) and the World Legacy Award (National Geographic and Conservation International USA) and also the first to have an accredited Environmental Management System.
Everyone who walks with ATG contributes to the ATG Trust, which funds projects that benefit local communities in the regions visited. By supporting these initiatives, ATG promotes sustainable tourism. Past projects have included heritage restoration projects, environmental conservation and educational projects.
Your Tour Leader will be able to tell you about the ATG Trust project at Monteriggioni, a tiny medieval village near Pieve a Castello, involving the restoration of the Porta Romea. This restoration formed part of a much larger project to restore the walls around the village of Monteriggioni. The Porta Romea is the gateway facing Rome through which many ATG clients will have walked.
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