Day One
Start with an afternoon arrival at the picturesque castle in Tuscany. You will be staying in the converted buildings in the castle grounds, taking breakfast each morning in the castle itself. After checking in you will be served with a welcome drink and then receive a briefing from your guide/instructor who will be looking after you throughout the week.
Day Two
This morning you will be walking down to the stables which are located in the grounds of the castle. Here, the instructor will allocate you a horse and you will begin your riding. Novice riders may choose to take a lesson whilst more experienced riders will be enjoying an introductory hack around the castle grounds, an ideal opportunity to start to get to know the local area. Beginner riders who are not able to manage the trail rides will have a programme of lessons arranged for the stay.
Day Three
Today you will be exploring this stunning area on horseback, visiting picturesque hamlets, passing through vineyards, olive groves, beautiful woods and forests. Keep an eye out for wildlife – you may be lucky enough to see deer, wild boar with their piglets, foxes and if you are lucky, porcupines! The horses and ponies are suitable for both experienced and less experienced riders with experienced riders able to enjoy long canters alongside the fields of sunflowers, wheat or maize. The castle is located on the famous Brigands Trail; this route was formally used by outlaws fleeing from the authorities and now offers a myriad of hacking opportunities along forest pathways and sandy tracks.
Day Four
Today you will be riding towards the picturesque Lake Bolsena. This is a fabulous spot with breathtaking views of the area stretching from the impressive crater of Lake Bolsena on one side, to the hills surrounding Lake Mezzano on the other side. On a clear day you can see the sea 40 km away, shimmering like a mirror. As you head back to the castle along this ancient ‘outlaws highway’ you will pass through mature oak woodlands dotted with original farm dwellings built in the traditional tufo rock.
Day Five
Today is a rest day from riding and we have arranged for you to have two massages during your visit, this maybe the perfect day to just chill and relax and have some pampering. The owners offer a number of local excursions including a trip to an ancient Etruscan settlement in his four by four or an olive oil tasting visit. Alternatively, mountain biking is offered for the more energetic amongst us!
Day Six
Today ride out along the famous Brigands Trail once more; this route was formally used by outlaws fleeing from the authorities and now offers a myriad of hacking opportunities along forest pathways and sandy tracks. Breath taking views of the local area will accompany our excursion all the way. Scattered throughout the countryside, archaeological sites with Etruscan tombs will serve to remind us of how ancient this beautiful land really is.
Day Seven
Today we have arranged a wine tour you will be taking a trip to the local vineyards and wine cellars where you can taste the local wines (not to be missed!) transport costs are not included. If you want to ride this afternoon this can be arranged but will cost extra.
Day Eight
Sadly today it is time to bid farewell to your castle home and this spectacular region, but if you can’t bear to go home just yet we can organise an additional night or two for you in Rome.
Prices
£1,695pp low season
£1,850pp high season
There is a single room supplement charge of £225
High Season: 16 June - 14 September 2025 and Easter week
Transfers
Airport transfers - Transfers from both Rome airports (Fiumicino & Ciampino) are available on request between 10am-7pm. You will be met by your driver in arrivals, they will have a sign with your name on. The cost is from €360 - €400 return.
Train station transfers - Return transfers from Orvieto train station are available on request. There are good train connections from Rome to Orvieto which take approximately 1.5 hours. The cost is from €150 return.
The wine tasting transfer is approximately 60€.
All transfers are payable directly to the castle upon arrival. Transfer prices are subject to change depending on demand and the time of year. A price will be provided to you at the time of booking.
Although the above transfers are offered by the castle we highly recommend hiring a car for this holiday.
Equestrian Escapes are happy to reserve your transfers for you however, as payment for this service is made directly to the transfer provider this service does not form part of our contract with you. As such, we are unable to accept responsibility for any delays, missed transfers etc.
Horses
The horses are a mixture of mix of thoroughbred and warm blood crosses, anglo-arabian and ponies. The tack is English tack. There are two outdoor arenas and lessons are available for all ages and levels in both dressage and jumping. The maximum weight allowed is 100kg
and the numbers of riders on each excursion are between 1 and 5. Riding helmets are mandatory - no helmets = no riding. The castle has a variety of helmets but it is always advisable to bring your own.
Additional Info
Optional activities at the castle include:
• Swimming pool (01st June - 30th September)
• Tennis court (€15 per hour)
• Mountain bikes (€20 per person per day)
• Mini football Pitch
• Volleyball
• Ping pong
• Billiards
ATTENTION: The excursions can be changed according to weather, horses and riders conditions by the riding management of the castle.
Note:
During high season the riding will be 5 x 1/2 day rides instead of 1 x full day and 3 x 1/2 days as temperatures are high.
The price above includes clean towels once a week and bathroom soaps and shampoos are provided. There is no daily cleaning of your room or room service with change of linen on this package. Extra clean towels will be provided on request at a price of €15 per set of 3 pieces.
Breakfast will include cereals, fruit, yoghurts, bread, toast, butter, jam as well as a selection of croissants and cakes.
Customer Feedback:
"The horses were super – well schooled, sensible without being plods and a joy to ride. The staff were so friendly we felt we were saying goodbye to family when we left!! All in all a really lovely holiday in gorgeous surroundings and we wish we were still there!!"
To read Equestrian Escapes reviews click on the link
The learn to ride horse riding holiday in Italy is perfect for you if you would like to learn to ride or alternatively, mix lessons in the arena with trail riding in the beautiful Tuscany countryside. For more choices please click riding holidays Italy.
We inspect all the horses in our horse riding holidays to ensure the best quality holiday for you.
The riding stables has a wide selection of horses and ponies for all abilities.
We inspect all the horses in our horse riding holidays to ensure the best quality holiday for you.
For tips regarding your holiday such as what to wear and riding ability, please visit the Travel Tips page.
We work hard to ensure that each customer has a great time on their holiday. Please see some riding holiday reviews here.
We have a large range of holidays to suit a range of riding abilities. Please see here for more information.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.