CYCLING AND WALKING

There are many walks and cycle rides in Tuscany that you can do on your own, but having a professional guide take you off the beaten track to see sights you would not normally discover and explain about the history and traditions of the area that you are visiting is extremely worthwhile. Also many of the walks in Tuscany are badly signed so it can be useful to have a guide with you that knows where to go. There are a variety of individual and group tours for every level and which can include visits to wine cantinas, cheese and olive oil producers and even gelaterias!

e-bike Tuscany (link)
Provide a good service for biking tours, bike rentals as well as Nordic walking tours (from October).

Walk About Tuscany (link)
A small company providing a personalised service.

TENNIS

• Tennis Club Sinalunga (link)
• Tennis Club La Fantina, Montepulciano (link)
  

HANG GLIDING

Aero Club Serristori (link)

HOT AIR Ballooning in Tuscany

Balooning in Tuscany(link)
Enjoy a unique experience that will provide lasting memories by seeing Tuscany from above! Take off from an enchanted valley surrounded by woods, pastures and a truffle reserve. Rise up out of the valley and soar over the Crete Senesi and Siena, west to the canyons and steep valleys of the calanche, south to Pienza and the Val d’Orcia, or east over the 1000 ft wooded hills and into the Val di Chiana. A champagne breakfast awaits you to celebrate this incredible trip. Launch sites in Montisi, Cortona, just outside Siena and in Rome.

HORSE RIDING

Villa Il Poggio (link)
Friendly horse riding school with 20 horses; internal ring as well as external area for individual and group lessons. They run camps for children during the school holidays.

Club Ippico Benefizio (link)

GOLF

Golf Club Sinalunga (link)
9-hole course; 20 minutes’ drive.

Castiglion del Bosco Golf Club (link)
Stunning 18-hole private course; 45 minutes’ drive away.

EATING IN PIENZA

Latte di Luna (link)
Latte di Luna was reportedly the favourite restaurant of the cast and crew of The English Patient which was mainly filmed in Pienza. A charming homely trattoria serving decent local cuisine at a fair price, it is always packed and we recommend making a reser- vation even out of season. Typical primi of assorted crostini (boar pâté, mushrooms, truffles and other toppings) is followed by deli- cious pasta or other delicacies such as wild boar stew and finished off with great deserts… try the semifreddo alla nocciola (hazelnut ice-cream). Closed Tuesday.

Ristorante Dal Falco (link)
Listed in the Slow Food guide to Italy and set off the road just out- side the old town, Dal Falco’s customers are mostly local Italians who travel from surrounding towns. The menu of delicious and reasonably priced Tuscan specialties is always a delight and includes pici (fat, hand rolled pasta that originated in Siena) with ragu, tagliata (grilled sliced steak), faraone (guinea fowl) and cing- hiale (wild boar). The owner, Silvana knows her wines and is always at hand to help with recommendations.

Gelataria Toscana (link)
Amazing does not begin to describe the delicious, home-made ice-creams available here. With a wide variety of flavours includ- ing fennel seeds, ricotta fig, rice, beer, whiskey cream and Vin Santo, this extraordinary gelataria also provides dairy free options and gluten free options! The owner is delightful and will happily package boxes for you to take home and savour after dinner.

La Terraza del Chiostro (link)
Located in a 15th century ex-convent, this restaurant is set in beautiful terraced gardens with stunning panoramic views across the Val d’Orcia valley and hills. Maurizio, the maitre d’ and his team provide a friendly dining service. Elegant cuisine; a bit pricey but definitely worth an evening out!

La Bucca Della Fate (link)
A firm favourite with the locals, Trattoria La Bucca della Fate offers good, authentic Tuscan food at reasonable prices. They make their own pici pasta and offer a gluten-free variety too.