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5 Day Long Weekend Horse Riding Holiday in Latium at the borders of Tuscany and Umbria
Santa Cristina Castle, Grotte di Castro 01025, Viterbo, Latium, Italy
Horseback Riding Vacations Italy
This listing has one of the 10 most popular offers available in Italy
The castle offers a perfect location for an authentic country holiday in the south of Tuscany, where you can explore the neighboring historic towns of Orvieto, Sorano, Pitigliano, and Bolsena. Santa Cristina Castle offers traditional Italian cuisine and fantastic cooking courses in their home-style restaurant.
The castle is also an ideal place for a horse riding or cycling holiday. Excursions travel as far as Proceno Castle, Lake Bolsena, and to the beautiful natural reserve of Selva Del Lamone. There is a new wellness center onsite providing a range of holistic and Ayurvedic treatments with a qualified physiotherapist.
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 100 kilograms / 220 pounds
- Tack Type: English tack
- Horse Breed: Mix of thoroughbred and warmblood crosses, Anglo-Arabian, ponies
Meet the instructors
Antonio Mancini & Gintare
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Highlights
- 4 horse riding days
- Guided tour of the castle
- Approximate daily riding time: 2 to 5 hours
- For beginners: 10 hours of lessons or easy treks
- Moderate riding pace with trot and canter
- 4 nights accommodation
- Half or full board meals
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
4 days with instruction
Group size: Maximum of 6 participants
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
14:00
Check-out Time:
10:30
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Tennis court
- Dining area
- Kitchen
- Terrace
You will be accommodated in a double room or twin room in the restored farmhouse. Just below the castle stands a handsome 18th-century farmhouse, the original center of the estate’s farming activities. The farmhouse has been skillfully converted with careful attention to conserving authenticity together with comfort and privacy, in a pleasant combination with communal living.
The large farm now contains eight charming apartments and 14 bedrooms furnished with original pieces. The ground floor of the farm house opens onto the main terrace, which overlooks the swimming pool. On the ground floor, there is a large “taverna” with brick vaulted ceilings. Space is divided into three main areas: dining room, billiard room, ping-pong room, plus a large kitchen available for all the guests and equipped for cooking courses.
Program
Day 1
After check-in and a welcome drink, you'll meet the guides for an introduction and program briefing and take a guided tour of the castle.
Day 2:- Half-day ride - 18 kilometers
Ride towards the hills framing the west plateau on which the castle is situated. A fantastic spot for a breathtaking view of the area; from the beautiful crater of Lake Bolsena to the hills surrounding Lake Mezzano.
Day 3: Lake Mezzano - Full day - 32 kilometers
Ride through farmland on the Brigands Path into the wooded hills which surround Onano, glimpse stone pine trees atop an ancient Etruscan site and arrive on the flat plain of the Mezzano crater. Stop at the Fra Viaco farm restaurant and meet for lunch. You can take a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters of the lake. After a delicious meal, ascend through ancient chestnut woods to arrive back at the castle.
Day 4: Half day
Head out along "The Brigands Trail" towards the picturesque Lake Bolsena. This is a fantastic spot with breathtaking views of the area stretching from the beautiful 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 kilometers away, shimmering like a mirror. As you head back along this ancient ‘outlaws highway’ you will pass through mature oak woodlands dotted with original farm dwellings built in the traditional tufo rock.
Day 5: Departure
Having had many amazing experiences and exhilarating adventures, you will prepare for your onward journey taking with you many happy memories. Check-out is usually between 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., although a late check-out can be arranged subject to availability.
Instructors
Antonio Mancini Caterini
Antonio Mancini Caterini (Antonello for friends) is an ENGEA equestrian guide as well as the owner of the estate. Horses are parts of the family history and he decided some 12 years ago to make it a permanent attraction for the guests. He has several years of experience, riding, training, and keeping horses in the countryside. He believes that the new methods of training such as Monty Roberts' and Pat Parelli have improved enormously to the relation between humans and horses and our horses are benefiting from that.
Location
On the border of Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, in a strategic location, halfway between Rome and Siena, you will find a fascinating region that has beautiful natural surroundings, is rich in history and mystery. The Castle of Santa Cristina will offer a natural base for exploring this beautiful land in many ways.
Ways to explore our area include horse riding, renting the electric or manual mountain bikes or renting a boat to explore the beautiful Lake Bolsena. If sport is not for you, then just hop in your car and drive through this incredible territory. Tuscia, as it is called, is a land of nature and wonderful art, but it is still unknown and untouched.
You can explore the territory in a very relaxing way and definitely without feeling like a typical tourist. A definite destination is a visit to Civita: the dying town. Just like an island connected to the mainland by a long bridge Civita is holding on to a hill of volcanic rock that is slowly collapsing through erosion.
This incredible town has remained frozen in time since the middle ages with its churches and buildings. Next stop is, of course, Orvieto and its famous Duomo only a few kilometers away. Within 40 kilometers, you will discover archaeological sites of the Etruscan culture (pre-Roman), admire the wonderful palaces of the Italian Renaissance that Farnese family left in each town of the area, visit castles, or decide to relax in nearby thermal baths.
Distances
- Acquapendente - 30 minutes
- Capalbio Beach - 45 minutes
- Bomarzo - 1 hour
- Civita di Bagnoreggio - 30 minutes
- Firenze - 2.30 hours
- Lake Bolsena - 30 minutes
- Orvieto - 30 minutes
- Pitigliano - 30 minutes
- Rome - 1.45 hours
- Saturnia Spa - 1 hour
- Siena - 1.5 hours
- Sorano - 30 minutes
- Sovana - 30 minutes
- Tarquinia - 1 hour
- Tuscania - 30 minutes
- Vico Lake - 1 hour
- Viterbo - 1 hour
Features
Activities
- Cooking classes
- Cycling
- Horse riding
- Massage
- Swimming
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Tennis court
General
- Dining area
- Kitchen
- Terrace
Services
- Wedding
Food
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
Activities at the castle
- Cycling
- Cooking classes
- Massage
- Playing tennis
- Swimming
Activities close to the castle
- Guided treks
- Boat rental
- Wine tasting in Tuscany
- Thermae and spa
- Archaeology at Grotte di Castro
What's included
- 4 nights from Wednesday till Sunday with breakfast
- Welcome drink and guided tour of the 17th century Castle
- 3 riding days: 2 hacks + 1 full day lunch included
- Riding equipment
- Daily room cleaning and towels
- Swimming pool and tennis court entrance
- Free wi-fi
What's not included
- Insurance (it is mandatory)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
CIA
Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport
116 km
Transfer not provided
FCO
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport
102 km
Transfer not provided
Driving direction from Rome and Florence
- Go the motorway A1, exit Orvieto.
- Follow the signs for Lago di Bolsena - Castel Giorgio - S. Lorenzo Nuovo - Grotte di Castro.
- Exit towards Gradoli / Valentano.
- Take the first street on your right where there is a sign that points toward Castello di Santa Cristina.
- Continue for 3.5 kilometers.
Driving direction from Siena
- Go from SS 2 Cassia to S. Lorenzo Nuovo.
- Turn right to Grotte di Castro.
- Exit towards Gradoli / Valentano.
- Take the first right street where there is a sign that points you toward Castello di Santa Cristina.
- Continue for 3.5 kilometers.
Driving direction from Rome’s airport
- Go through motorway A12 until the end.
- Then, go north on SS 1 Aurelia.
- Take the exit at Montalto di Castro.
- Turn right to Canino - Valentano towards Grotte di Castro, right before entering Grotte di Castro.
- There is a street on your left with a sign that points towards Castello di Santa Cristina.
- Continue for 3.5 kilometers.
Driving direction from Rome (via Cassia)
- Go from SS 2 Cassia to Bolsena.
- Turn left to Grotte di Castro.
- Take the exit towards Gradoli / Valentano.
- Take the first right street where there is a sign that points you toward Castello di Santa Cristina.
- Continue for 3.5 kilometers.
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Leonardo da Vinci - Fiumicino Airport (FCO) or Ciampino - G. B. Pastine International Airport (CIA).
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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