Quercia Rossa

Activities

• Explore the estate which stretches to 10 hectares of farmland, mature olive groves, oak and cypress trees and a small lake (where you may spot porcupines, deer, badgers or a wild boar)
  
  
• For keen walkers, there is instant access to farm tracks, footpaths and dirt roads, which ramble through woods and across fields to nearby towns (Manciano, Montemerano) or to the banks of the River Albegno. The hotel will provide routes and directions
  
  
• Don’t miss a dunk in the steamy thermal waters of Saturnia (14km), which gushes out of underground springs at a comfortable 37ºC. Soak in the Cascate del Gorello (a natural, open-air cascade pool) for free, or pay for treatments at the Terme de Saturnia (a posh thermal spa and golf resort, to which Quercia Rossa can provide discounted preferential tickets)
  
  
• Spend a day on the beaches of the Tuscan coast (Feniglia on the Argentario Peninsula, Ansedonia, near Capalbio, or Talamone on the Uccellina Parco Naturale), all within a 30-40 minute drive
  
  
• The extraordinary Tarot Garden (Il Giardino del Tarocchi), a fantasy-land of Gaudi-like mosaic sculptures, by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, is in Garavicchio, only 30 minutes away
  
  
• Visit Maremma’s fascinating towns and villages: Picture-postcard Pitigliano and Sorano (carved from hilltop outcrops of tufa rock) or Scansano (for the region’s best wines). Or take a day-trip to Orvieto (70km) or Siena (105km)
  
  
• History buffs will find the place awash with ancient archaeological sites - inlcuding Roman remains at Cosa and Saturnia, and Etruscan tombs at Sovana (a tiny medieval village dominated by the vast Duomo of Saint Peter and Paul)
  
  
• Hire a bike (or bring your own). On or off the road, this is great cycling country
  
  
• Go horse-riding: Quercia Rossa can book you in with a real buttero (Maremma’s answer to the cowboy) for a ride across the Tenuta Corsini (a large estate, 15-minutes away). The less experienced can ask for a lesson with a teacher. Pre-booked sessions cost €18 - 22/hour.
  
  
• Take a Maremman cooking class - a 4-hour extravaganza involving the preparation of 7 dishes and ng with a slap up lunch; available for individuals or groups on Tuesdays
  
  
• Learn Italian in Manciano