Northern Tuscany and Ravenna
The Mugello, Medieval Villages and Mosaics
Tour Dates
16 – 23 October 2025
Tour Cost
€3,195 per person
Single supplement: €385
This 7 night itinerary starts and finishes in Bologna, the culinary capital of Emilia-Romagna. We drop down to the northern part of Tuscany to explore the unknown territory of the Mugello: a wide, green valley criss-crossed by the Sieve river, shaping a landscape filled with vines, chestnut woods and beech forests. Our hikes take us over lands which inspired great Renaissance artists and poets and we follow sections of the Gothic Line, the last major German defensive line in the Italian campaign of World War II. We travel towards the Adriatic coast to finish in the unrivalled city of Ravenna, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, but still home to some of the world’s most dazzling Byzantine mosaics.
This tour starts and finishes in Bologna, and our pick-up and drop-off hotel is opposite the station. We can also drop guests at Bologna airport at the end of the tour. People might choose to extend their walking holiday in Italy by spending more time there or by visiting Milan, Parma, Florence or Rome. For more ideas on where to go visit our City Guide page.
What’s Included?
- 7 nights beautiful accommodation in three lovely hotels
- Two experienced and knowledgeable guides to look after your every need and bring this stunning area to life
- All meals including wine
- Gourmet meals in a variety of superb local restaurants
- Support vehicle, enabling you to walk as little or as much of the trail as you please
- Transport to/from the start and end of the holiday
- Comprehensive pre-trip information.
- Luggage transported for you so all you need to carry is a small backpack with water etc.
- Museum visits, food/wine tastings as per the itinerary
Our tours are genuinely all-inclusive – learn more about what we offer.
Tour Highlights
- Private guided tour of UNESCO World Heritage sites of Ravenna
- Fabulous tastings at wine and olive-oil estates, and the October chestnut festival
- Outstanding hiking in lesser-known part of Tuscany
Walking/Terrain
There are 6 days of walking on the trip. We usually walk on strade bianche (gravel roads), woodland tracks and quiet tarmac roads. The Mugello region is part of the Apennine mountain chain and we hike between altitudes of 400m and 1000m. The terrain is relatively hilly, with some significant ups and downs, but not mountainous. There are some extended descents on rocky terrain.
Shortest/Longest day: 5.2km/3.2 miles and 17km/10.7 miles
We have graded this hike a Level 3, but it is our most challenging Level 3. Some of our tours are more challenging than others, so see how we grade our hikes to make sure you choose the right one for you. If you are interested in this tour, then you might also like to take a look at Parma Tuscany and the Ligurian Sea or Lucca, Volterra and Elba.
Accommodation
Villa Campestri: Family-owned, olive oil resort with pool and excellent restaurant. Views of rolling countryside
Locanda Senio: Albergo diffuso, scattered hotel in beautiful Mugello village on the Senio river
Palazzo Bezzi: Very comfortable 4-star hotel close to the historic centre of Ravenna
Itinerary
LEAVE BLANK
Day 1
We meet in Bologna at 9.00 am at the Star Hotel in front of the Central Train Station and drive to the Futa Pass at 900 metres. Our hike touches on the Roman Via Flaminia and also the Gothic line of defence from World War II. After a picnic lunch, we visit the pretty village of Scarperia, known for its beautiful handmade knives. We visit the old forge to see how the knives used to be crafted. A short drive takes us to our beautiful hotel at Villa Campestri, surrounded by woods and olive groves. Dinner in the hotel this evening.
(5.2km/3.2 miles)
Day 2
We drive to the start of our hike at a small village. We start out walking along an old mule track before climbing on a woodland trail to reach a ridge with wonderful views. After a picnic lunch, we visit the historic Castello Pomino, part of the estates of the noble Frescobaldi family. We visit the estate and family chapel and taste the wonderful Pomino DOC wines. Dinner this evening in a local restaurant.
(7km/4.4 miles)
Day 3
Today we hike from the hotel. In the morning we climb up 600m through beautiful chestnut and beech woods to the highest point in the region – Monte Giove at 992m altitude. From the summit we can see Pomino castle, the vineyards of Chianti Rufina and, on a clear day, the towers of Florence. We descend to a small mountain restaurant where we have lunch. In the afternoon we continue descending through the woods, passing a small church, before reaching Villa Campestri. Dinner in the hotel this evening.
(17km/10.5 miles).
Day 4
Depart Villa Campestri after breakfast and a scenic drive takes us to the start of our walk just below 1000 metres. A short climb through beech woods takes us onto a ridge with magnificent open views across the Apennines. En route we pass a remote church, once the heart of a now abandoned hamlet, and soon after we descend to a quiet valley for our picnic lunch. A short drive takes us to Palazzuolo sul Senio where we check into Locanda Senio, a charming, small hotel with characteristic rooms dotted around the village. Later in the day we have time to experience the annual chestnut festival before dinner in a local restaurant.
(10km/6.3 miles)
Day 5
We drive to the start of our walk. Today is a beautiful hike in an area that time forgot. Legend says that the landscape inspired Dante when writing his Inferno and hence the valley is named Valle d’Inferno. We descend through the woods beside the pristine river and have our picnic near an old mill. In the afternoon we continue hiking through ancient chestnut and beech woods to arrive at the 11th century Vallombrosan Abbey of Moscheta where our hike ends. We return to the hotel by van. We visit the interesting local museum before dinner in the hotel restaurant.
(14km/8.6 miles)
Day 6
We leave Tuscany this morning and enter the region of Romagna. A short hike explores a fascinating rock formation – formed of gypsum – at the edge of the Apennine ridge. The trail leads us to the charming village of Brisighella with its castle, church and medieval streets. After lunch we explore the village before continuing to Ravenna. The city was the seat of the Roman Empire in the 5th century and then of Byzantine Italy until the 8th century. It has a unique collection of early Christian mosaics and monuments which are part of UNESCO’s World Heritage listing. We visit the magnificent church of Sant’Apollinare in Classe before arriving at our hotel in the centre of town. Dinner in a local restaurant.
(10km/6.3 miles)
Day 7
This morning we have a private tour with a local guide which takes us to the principal early Christian buildings of Ravenna. Light lunch in a local café before a free afternoon to explore the shops and sights of the city. Final dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 8
Return to Bologna airport for 11 am and Bologna central station for 11.30 am.
