Etruscan Ways

A HISTORIC JOURNEY THROUGH TUSCANY, LAZIO AND UMBRIA

This absolutely delightful 9-day trip covers a small part of three of Italy’s historically rich and beautiful central regions: Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria. It is a journey on foot, as well as back in time, as we explore an unspoilt area that was the heart of the fascinating Etruscan civilisation. The Etruscans predated the Romans and inhabited an area known as Etruria, which was a region of central Italy delimited by the rivers Arno and Tiber, an area that covered what is now most of Tuscany, northern Lazio, and north-western Umbria. 

The Etruscans appeared on the scene around 800 BC and developed a unique culture, until they were assimilated into the Roman Republic in the 1^st century BC (some say much earlier). One of the main Etruscan features that we will encounter during the trip are the passageways through the rock known as Vie Cave. These extraordinary deep roads are carved (over 2,500 years ago!) like narrow canyons into the tufa, and have an eerily fascinating atmosphere. Debate still rages as to whether these were drovers’ routes or whether their function was cultic: roadways of the dead, linking the necropolis (we will have the chance to some of the remarkable monumental Etruscan tombs!)  with its living city, along which Vanth, winged goddess of the Underworld, and psychopompos (guide of spirits), would escort the deceased from life to the world beyond. 

Over the course of the trip we also have the opportunity to explore several outstanding medieval towns, such as Sovana, Pitigliano, Sorano, Bolsena, Oriveto and Civita di Bagnoregio, all of which were Etruscan in origin. Each one of these towns is set amongst great natural beauty, much of which seems to conceal still today many mysteries and secrets from the past, as well as providing truly pleasant environments in which to walk.

The walks we do take us across gently rolling hills, rich arable farmland and fertile plateaux, up and down volcanic outcrops and the rounded rims of an ancient craters, through narrow ravines and luxuriant gorges, wide secluded valleys, evocative woods, lovely vineyards and olive groves and along the sandy shores of Lake Bolsena. We also walk along the via Cassia, an ancient Roman road, which, like many others of its kind, incorporated pre-existing Etruscan roads. The stretch of the Cassia we walk along also happens to be a stage of the Via Francigena, the most important historic pilgrimage route in Italy to Rome.

This is a point-to-point walk, but with a couple of brief transfers and additional walks beyond the continuous route that enable us to avoid changing hotels every night. In fact, we stay in just 3 hotels: the first 3 nights in a 13th century fortress, the following 2 nights in a hotel overlooking Lake Bolsena Lake Bolsena and the last 3 nights in a splendid wine resort in the countryside just outside of Orvieto, which produces its own organic wine and olive oil. 

For a detailed itinerary and/or further information, please contact us at walkawaytrips@gmail.com

KEY INFORMATION

The fitness level for all trips is classified according to the average distance and elevation gain of the walks offered, with fitness levels ranging from 1-5, see here for more details.