Travel Story: On Foot Through Picturesque Tuscany

The city of art, the cradle of the Renaissance, and the heart of Tuscany. To spend time here is to breathe pure history while soaking in the vibrant life between magnificent palaces and golden sunsets over the Arno. We knew beforehand that we had to plan a few extra days both before and after, to truly dive into the dolce vita and explore my favorite city. I love jogging across the Ponte Vecchio in the early morning, just as the city begins to wake and the light bathes the river in warm, golden tones.

Then, it’s time for a cappuccino at a small café to people-watch and simply settle in. Between visiting the imposing Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral and shopping in the Santo Spirito district, a stop at one of the famous wine holes—the buchette del vino—is a must. You ring the bell, and an arm reaches out of a tiny window with a glass of red wine; it’s the kind of experience you can only find in Florence.

Leaving the small villages behind, we started our hike toward San Gimignano, full of anticipation for this iconic city and symbol of Tuscan history. After a bus ride into the sleepy Val d’Elsa, we climbed the steep cobblestone streets from the lower square up into the old town. Early in the morning, the streets were empty; the silence and the crisp morning air were a true delight and left us with so many wonderful impressions. Once we left the town, we hiked mostly on paved roads and small meadow paths. Admittedly, this stretch isn't particularly spectacular, but it was made all the more enjoyable by the company of so many wonderful Eurohike guests. We spent most of this stage walking together, deep in conversation, including a lovely stop at a hidden "pilgrim café" tucked away in the woods.

A portion of today's route even follows the famous Via Francigena, a historic pilgrimage and trade route—though in our case, we weren't heading toward Rome with the rest of the pilgrims, but rather in the opposite direction. From afar, we caught our first glimpse of the town's famous and exceptionally well-preserved medieval towers. These "tower houses" once reflected the wealth and power of rival families and still give the city its unique, iconic skyline today. Since the day with our new hiking friends had been so pleasant, we decided—after a short rest at the hotel—to head out together to taste "the best gelato in the world" and round off the evening with a magnificent meal and excellent red wine.

On a clear day, you can spot the shimmering blue of the horizon right from Volterra. From there, we took the bus to the terminal in Cecina and continued on to the Marina district. A peaceful stroll along the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea followed, until we could see the dense pine forests appearing in the distance. The sun was shining, and even for early autumn, it was significantly warmer than expected—which made us appreciate the soothing shade of the trees even more as we walked barefoot over the soft carpet of pine needles.

Since the town is nearly deserted in early October, we had the sandy beach all to ourselves. We spent time looking at the heavy pieces of driftwood that serve as a natural building kit for visitors of all ages; this stretch of beach is dotted with everything from simple structures to impressive works of art created by both nature and human hands. To top off our seven-day hiking adventure, a dip in the refreshing water was an absolute must. It was the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable journey.