INTONACASELLE← Back to the house🇮🇹
The Movement door · Valdichiana

The journey
starts here

A bike ride on gravel roads, a walk through villages and hills, or a day beside the water. From Intonacaselle, there are many ways to set off.

Between Siena, Arezzo and Lake Trasimeno

Explore at your own pace

The house is in the countryside near Sinalunga. The Via Lauretana and Via Clanis pass through the town; for other routes, travel to a suitable starting point and choose how far to walk or cycle. Here are some routes worth exploring, with links to maps and current information.

By bike

Flat paths and gravel roads

Sentiero della Bonifica

Bike or walk · 62 km · easy

From San Leo, just outside Arezzo, to Chiusi, this mostly flat country path follows the Canale Maestro della Chiana. It crosses the valley past locks, bridges and farmhouses, reaching the Lake Montepulciano nature reserve and Lake Chiusi. A good choice if you prefer cycling without climbs.

Landmarks along the route
  1. San Leo (Arezzo) and Chiusa dei Monaci: the start.
  2. The Canale Maestro and the Valdichiana countryside: sections you can also explore separately.
  3. Lake Montepulciano nature reserve and Lake Chiusi.
  4. Chiusi: the finish, with a possible return by train.

These are landmarks, not official stages with fixed distances. The route is exposed to the sun, so take water and consider the season.

Map and route on Visit Tuscany ↗

The Via Lauretana by bike

Gravel · Siena–Cortona · about 116 km

The cycling route between Siena and Cortona alternates tarmac and gravel roads through the Crete Senesi, Rapolano, Sinalunga, Torrita and Montepulciano. Some sections require fitness as the flat valley gives way to hills.

Official three day itinerary
  1. Siena → Serre di Rapolano · 34 km.
  2. Serre di Rapolano → Montepulciano · 46 km.
  3. Montepulciano → Cortona · 36 km.
Cycle route and stages on Visit Tuscany ↗

Il Gigante Bianco

Gravel or MTB · 280 km loop

A long loop dedicated to the Chianina cattle breed, passing villages, farms and historic land reclamation works. Sinalunga is one suggested starting point; you can ride one section for the day without tackling all 280 kilometres. It also connects with the Sentiero della Bonifica.

Loop and GPX track on Visit Tuscany ↗

On foot

Trails, villages, encounters

The Via Clanis

Loop walk · about 200 km · 8 stages

A loop around Valdichiana, between the provinces of Siena and Arezzo and the shores of Lake Trasimeno. It connects existing paths and hill villages along the course of the ancient Clanis river. It passes through Sinalunga, with a stage leading to Lucignano.

The eight suggested stages
  1. Arezzo → Castiglion Fiorentino, via La Sassaia.
  2. Castiglion Fiorentino → Cortona, via Le Celle.
  3. Cortona → Castiglione del Lago.
  4. Castiglione del Lago → Montepulciano.
  5. San Biagio (Montepulciano) → Sinalunga.
  6. Sinalunga → Lucignano.
  7. Lucignano → Gargonza → Monte San Savino.
  8. Monte San Savino → Civitella → Arezzo.
Via Clanis stages and tracks ↗

The Via Lauretana on foot

Walking trail · 114.3 km · 5 stages

This historic pilgrimage route links Siena and Cortona through the Crete Senesi and Valdichiana. The third stage reaches Sinalunga from Serre di Rapolano via Scrofiano; the next continues from Sinalunga towards Torrita di Siena and Valiano.

The five official stages
  1. Siena → Vescona · 19.6 km.
  2. Vescona → Serre di Rapolano · 23.1 km.
  3. Serre di Rapolano → Sinalunga · 19.3 km.
  4. Sinalunga → Valiano · 28 km.
  5. Valiano → Cortona · 24.5 km.
Descriptions, map and tracks on Visit Tuscany ↗

In the footsteps of Francis

Walking trail · Anghiari–Cortona section

The Via di Francesco in Tuscany crosses the Arezzo side of Valdichiana: from Anghiari through Arezzo and Castiglion Fiorentino to Cortona and the Le Celle hermitage. This demanding walking section covers about 69.9 km in three stages; you can also choose a single day.

Places along the section near the valley

Anghiari → Arezzo → Castiglion Fiorentino → Cortona and the Le Celle hermitage. Check the official map for exact stages and connections.

Via di Francesco in Tuscany ↗
Official website for the Franciscan Ways in Umbria ↗
Before you set off

Choose your route with care

The linked pages have maps, tracks and details for each route. Check current conditions and accessibility, especially after heavy rain: the ground in the Crete Senesi and some gravel paths can change considerably with the weather.

A home to return to

Whether you walk for an hour or ride all day, Intonacaselle is a place to come back to.

Back to Intonacaselle ↗