Walking in Tuscany : 43 walks including Val d'Orcia, San Gimignano and the Isle of Elba

From the environs of Florence and the Chianti vineyards to the wild Alpi Apuane, the Val d'Orcia, and the island of Elba, the region offers an extraordinary variety of walking landscapes across its nine distinct areas. This trusted Cicerone guidebook by expert author Gillian Price describes 43 mostly easy day walks ranging from 3 to 18km (2 to 11 miles), completable in 2 to 7 hours and graded 1 to 3. The walks are organised across nine areas, from the hills around Florence and Fiesole and the high Apennines to the Chianti vineyards, the UNESCO World Heritage scenery of the Val d'Orcia and San Gimignano, the island of Elba, and the Maremma coast. Many routes follow historical pathways once used by traders, pilgrims, and armies, threading through medieval hamlets, past Medici villas, and Renaissance towns, adding rich cultural depth to every walk. Every route is illustrated with 1:50,000 maps and supported by detailed planning information on accommodation and public transport, making this a fully self-contained guide for independent explorers. Rich background sections cover Tuscany's plants, flowers, and wildlife alongside notes on food and wine and local history. With a mild climate that makes it a genuine year-round destination, Tuscany rewards walkers in spring and autumn at lower altitudes, while summer brings the higher Apennine and Alpi Apuane routes into their own.