How would you fancy a day in the enchanting tuscan countryside riding a horse, with the interval of a swim in a lake used by the etruscans for holy ceremonies, and remained so far unspoiled?
Or in Autumn when from the hills surrounding the castle, the colors of chestnut and oak woods change into different shades of yellow and are the background of a view reaching the sea 40 Km away?
To go horseriding at s.Cristina you do not need to be an expert, but just need to regain confidence with riding a horse after a long time. You will be asked when you rode last and according to your answers and requests you will have assigned a horse. At S.Cristina we have the right horses to make people feel at ease. They are selected and trained with that purpose: make people enjoy horse-riding.
This doesn’t mean that the skilled riders can’t have fun.
Anyway every excursion is led by an expert guide that most of the time is the owner of the castle himself. Riding on Ancient tracks dating back before the Romans is his passion.
The castle is the perfect location for horseriding excursions, once you are on the saddle the countryside is yours.
The landscape is breath taking starting from Mt Amiata with its 1800 mt on one side and descending through wooded hills into the clear waters of lake Bolsena.
We have selected 6 beautiful excursions out of many more available, you can have an idea of the places where you are going to be if you decide to ride with us.
Here is your choice:
1) THREE WATERS:
Time about 2 hr 30 min.
With this minitrekking we will easily reach the hills framing at west the plateau on which the castle is situated. A fantastic spot for a breathtaking view of the area, going from the beautiful crater of Lake Bolsena on one side to the hills surrounding the little lake Mezzano on the other side. Provided a sufficiently clear day the sea can be seen at 40 km in the distance like a glowing mirror.
Starting from the castle, after 1 Km. we will reach a large track winding through the beautiful hills and small woods on a steady and soft ground good to let the horses gallop if wanted.
At the end of the track we will enter a big wood named Selva di Onano.
This will lead us to the panoramic site at the top of the hills where the horses can rest and the riders enjoy the view.
From there on another track unwinding through a long and narrow valley at the bottom of the hills we will again reach the castle.
2) NOCCHIETO AND THE OUTLAWS TRACK
Time aprox 2 hr,
This excursion follows north part of the old outlaws track initially along the hills and later with a zig zag into the bushes and valleys hidden between the woods of oak. This track was used by famous outlaws of the last century to escape from the guards chasing them from the plains of Maremma. Soon we will reach the old farm named Nocchieto, ruined but still facinating in its architecture leaning against the tufo rock.
The road changes from rock into soft ground and the horses can now be pushed into gallop until the old fountain, where they can stop for a rest. Here turning on the right we will enter a hidden and narrow line of gorges used by the sheperds. At the end we will reach the top of a hill with a beutiful view of Mount
Amiata.
With a few ups and downs following a new comfortable track, we will reach the farm of S.Martino from where through a road carved into the rock we will reach S.Cristina again.
3) TO THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH OF S.MARIA DELLE COLONNE
Time aprox. 2 hr 15 min.
From the castle we will climb up on the hill right in front through the old road carved into
the rock. Beyond the hill we will find a comfortable track that after passing by the old farmhouse of S.Prospero will turn on the left.
Descending then through the cultivated fields until the countryroad climbs again into the chestnut woods where the horses can be pushed into gallop giving the riders the thrill of a nice run through woods alternated with panoramic openings.
At a point the road starts going downhill and it is carved into the tufo rock as the roads were in the old times.
At the bottom of the slope we find a fountain and a small medieval church, S.Maria delle Colonne. From there with a wide tour we will reach again the chestnut woods were the same old track used for coming, will take us home.
4) TO THE WOODS OF ONANO
Time aprox. 2 hr 30 min
Following the communal bridleway, we will reach the woods of Onano. From there with a small track we will reach the top of the hills overlooking lake Bolsena and the Tuscia area.
From there we will continue along the hills’s cliff at a certain point we turn right with a road cutting down into the woods.
5) DAY TRIP TO LAKE MEZZANO
From the castle a track will take us for 4 Km to the farm house of S.Luigi from where we can admire Lake Bolsena. Further up on the hills pass we will see the other side with lake Mezzano on the right and the sea straight ahead 45 km from us.
Once on the other side a windy country lane will lead the riders in a gorge that ends in to the lake plain. From there we will follow the track along the fields of wheat or potatoes until a small restaurant overlooking lake Mezzano. Where a beautiful lunch under the shade of the trees overlooking the lake awaits the tired riders. From June to September who wants can have a refreshing swim in the lake if the season allows it.
In the afternoon the group will take the horses going back on the same way to the castle.
6) TO S.LUIGI
Time aprox. 2hr.
From the castle we cross the hill overlooking the castle with a fantastic landscape framing the background. Mount Amiata, the Radicofani fortress, the castle of Torre Alfina are part of this wonderful picture. After the hill we join a trak crossing hills and valleys. The road turns on the left and after a while the horses can be pushed at a gallop on the soft but steady ground between the chest nut woods.
After a few kilometres the woods give ground to the pastures full of sheep, there we reach S.Luigi a dairy farm where fabulous "ricotta" cheese is produced.
From there the old estate track will take us back to the castle along the hills.
