Ride & Relax in Chianti

Introduction
Tuscany Italy
The farmstead, which was built at the end of the nineteenth century and home of the Chianti riding centre and farm, is situated in the serene Chianti region in the center of the Siena, Florence, and Arezzo triangle. Surrounded by meadows and woods with a view to a medieval castle, the farm is in the rare position to offer its guests the silence of nature, the sound of birdsong, the neighing of horses and rushing of the river flowing. Here you are welcomed to spend a week in rural Chianti country surrounded by horses, good company and some of the most famous vineyards in Italy.

A wine tasting of the famous Brunello in Montalcino is only 40 minutes away. If culture and history call you, the medieval town of Sienca is only a 20 minute drive from the riding center - go explore and take in the ancient atmosphere of the Duomo and the plaza. If you time it right, you can even be part of the Palio horse race in Siena - what a spectacle! Excellent instruction is available to you by Donatella Zambon, who is an accomplished equestrian and has taught hundreds of riders from both beginners and advanced. She chooses and prepares her horses personally. Once trained they are never sold! You can opt to learnt op ride, improve riding, specialize in eventing instruction, or explore the beautiful landscape on horseback!

The location of the farm makes it an ideal base for cycling and hiking, and for those who wish to mix cultural tourism with outdoor pursuits.
 

Accomodation


Accommodations
This is a stationary ride, so all nights are spent at the same location.

Description
The farmstead of Santa Margherita was built at the end of the 19th century and is now the home of a riding centre and farm. It is situated in the Senese Chianti at the centre of the Siena, Florence, and Arezzo triangle. Surrounded by meadows and woods with a view over an ancient medieval castle, it offers a quality to its guests of nature’s silence (by our choice the rooms do not have television), the twitter of the birds, the neighing of the horses, and the flow of the rivers.

The buildings have recently been renovated without altering their original form. The farm house is divided into apartments so that guests will be able to enjoy the complete privacy during their stay at the riding centre. All apartments have their own private space outside with a table and chairs.



Division of apartments:
-Alloro Apt: Alloro bedroom + sitting room with sofa bed  - can accommodate 2+ 2 guests - 48 sq. m
-Grande Noce Apt : 3/4 bedrooms (Suite, Rosa Chinae bedroom )  with adjacent sitting room and kitchen - 180 sq. m
-Cottage: two floors with view of our pasture + Castello for 2/3 guests - 50 sq. m
Our desire was to create a harmonious setting in 6000 square feet, for a limited number of guests who are looking to stay in a friendly, but at the same time discreet environment. We are also a certified organic farm and we try to respect the environment in the way we run our farm holiday accommodation. Castelnuovo Berardenga town council organizes cultural and social activities in the area and there are two well-known spa swimming pools ten minutes away.

We love animals and have a lot, so we are unable to accept dogs or other pets, but if you are looking for such accommodation there are two neighboring farms which offer two apartments where it is possible to take animals.

Room Occupancy
The single supplement fee is mandatory for every solo traveler. 



Meals
If you choose the full board option, all meals are included.
If you choose the option with no meals included, you can decide to purchase meals locally for an extra fee.

Meals can be purchased at the farm: breakfast €10 pp, lunch €30 pp, dinner €45 pp or guests are welcome to explore the restaurants in the surrounding villages.

We cook traditional Italian food. Our food is prepared with as many organic ingredients from the gardens as possible. The farm has been certified as an organic property since 2000.

Breakfasts typically consist of bread with butter, jam and juice complete with yogurt and cakes prepared by us, using many local products.
Dinners are typical Tuscan gourmet dishes that will satisfy the most demanding pallets.

Dietary Restrictions
We can cater to dietary restrictions if given prior notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding


This week is generally proposed from Saturday to Saturday. Remember that Monday is the rest day for the horses.

Riding Center
Sadio and Donatella personally guide and receive their guests and riders. They speak French and English and have been running the Horse Riding Centre since 1992. The Riding Centre is affiliated with the Italian Federation of Equestrian Sports.
The riding center has a covered riding arena, which allows us to give lessons all year whatever the climatic conditions.
Lessons are in small groups with riders of a similar riding level. Every rider whatever his/her level is carefully looked after.

Horses
We currently have 20 horses. Once horses join the center they are never sold and periodically they are trained and worked by our instructors. They work both in the school and in the countryside, and spend some hours every day in the fields to relax and play. We like our horses to be happy!
We choose our horses not according to their breed but by looking at their attitude to work in the flat and in the countryside. For this reason in our stables you will find many different breeds: Anglo-Arab, Thoroughbred, Warmblood, Murgesi, Arab, Holsteiner etc. We make sure that our horses have good mental balance so they can change riders easily. Our horses are friendly and easy to handle.

Tack & Equipment
Saddles are Kieffer or Appaloosa Prestige.
There are many short chaps and helmets available at the Riding Center.

Itinerary

This week is a combination of horseback riding and free time to visit this beautiful corner of Tuscany. The program includes 10 hours of riding total, including lessons, trail rides or a combination of both.
Once at the riding center, you will be able to discuss the program you want to take. The program usually takes place from Saturday to Saturday, with Monday being the rest day for our horses.

See some program examples below:



Beginner Program: 10 hours included, extra riding or lessons available at additional cost
This is for riders who want to see tangible results at the end of the week. The program starts with 2 lessons a day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) and groups have a maximum of 3 students per group of the same level. The instructor teach with a gradual personalized system that has been tested by years of experience, allowing the student to progress.
Normally after the first 3 days of lessons the students go out for his/her first trail ride and in the following days the program alternates lessons and trail rides.



Intermediate Program: 6 lessons + 3 half-day hacks of approx. 2.5 hours each
For those with riding experience who want to take their riding skills to the next level. Often the art of learning to ride can leave large gaps. We believe that we have the power to bridge these gaps, by explaining and making you train with serenity and competence.



Trail Ride Program: 6 half-day hacks OR 1 full-day hack with picnic + 2 half-day hacks + 2 lessons
For those who already have experience and want to visit those angles of Tuscany that are only visible on horseback. Thanks to the big network of routes and country roads, we can arrange a variety of routes for the rider to discover the story, culture, and architecture of Chianti while being immersed in nature and far from the noise of the asphalt roads. The routes are always accompanied by a licensed guide. Our horses are experienced trail horses and are used to alternate their work in the riding school with rides in the countryside. For this reason, our horses are not frightened by a wild boar in the wood and can give you the pleasant sensation of enjoying a peaceful trail.

We specialize in working with riders on the flat; but we can also offer some small technical jumping combinations to help with the balance of the horse and the riders.



Things to see around the Riding Center
Non-riding companions are welcome to join this trip. It is best to have a car in order to do some sightseeing while the rest of the group explores on horseback.
You can walk the streets and lanes of medieval Siena, or taste a glass of Chianti at the Brolio Castle, or Brunello at Montalcino, visit the Cistercian abbey of Mont Oliveto, enter into the heart of Chianti through the Volpaia village, or visit the famous cities of Florence, Cortona, San Gimignano or Arezzo. These attractions are all located less than 1 hour drive from our riding centre.

Rates and Dates for Ride & Relax in Chianti

Dates Note: Possible to add more dates on request

Other Info
Meeting: Castelnuovo
Airport: Florence / Pisa
Transfer: Montevarchi or Siena train station

Climate:
                                                Florence area