Itineraries: a morning, a day, a weekend

A morning: the abbey and the Chapel of the Fish

Easy. About 2.5 km on foot.

1. 10:15 Guided tour of the abbey in English (10:00 in Italian). Book ahead.
2. After the tour walk the last leg of trail 460 in reverse: from the car park follow the red-and-white waymarks towards Greve for about a kilometre, to the signed detour for the Cappella dei Pesci. The chapel was built in 1510 beside the spring where, the story goes, two pike appeared in time for a pope’s dinner. Return the same way.
3. 13:00 Lunch in the village. Where to eat.

A full day on foot: the Guardingo loop

Easy to moderate. 6.6 km, 265 m of climb, 2 h 30 of walking.

1. 9:30 Leave the car park on trail 460, down Via Poggio al Vento. Look back after a few minutes for the best view of the abbey.
2. Cross the Rimaggio stream, pass the Maggiociondolo rest area and climb through the wood to Via di Rignana. Poggio al Sole is 250 m off the trail here: book a tasting in advance if you want to stop.
3. Carry on past the ruined farmhouse of Podere Monte and San Cresci, then down past Casa Pugliano, birthplace of the painter Il Passignano, and the Cappella dei Pesci.
4. 13:00 Lunch in the village. Where to eat.
5. 15:15 Guided tour of the abbey in English (15:00 in Italian).

A weekend: two walks and the abbey

For anyone staying a night or two. Where to sleep.

Saturday

1. Arrive for lunch.
2. Afternoon Trail 458, the Maggiociondolo loop: 6.6 km up to the fortified hamlet of Poggio al Vento, with the Val di Pesa laid out below. The laburnum that gives the trail its name flowers in late spring.
3. Evening Dinner. Tables at the better-known places go early: book before you travel.

Sunday

1. Morning Trail 462, a 7.4 km loop that starts down by the Pesa river, a short drive from the abbey, and climbs to the rock marks the legend calls the Devil’s Footprints.
2. Lunch in the hills, at La Cantinetta di Rignana or the Locanda di Poggio al Sole.
3. 15:15 The Sunday tour of the abbey in English, before you leave.

A wine day, without walking boots

By car. Decide who drives, or stay the night.

1. 10:15 Guided tour of the abbey.
2. Late morning The Antinori cellars under the abbey, by reservation.
3. Lunch in the village.
4. Afternoon A tasting at one of the family estates: Fattoria di Rignana, Poggio al Sole or Torcilacqua. All three ask you to book.

Before you set off

• Heat. From June to August walk early: start by 8:30 and be at lunch by noon.
• Water. There is a drinking fountain in the village. There is none on the trails.
• Shoes. The trails are gravel roads and woodland paths, some of them eroded. Trainers with a grip are enough in dry weather.
• Navigation. The trails are waymarked in red and white. Each trail page has a GPX file for your phone.