Bagno Vignoni to Sant' Antimo

0.0km – Your walk begins in front of the wooden Albergo Le Terme sign, the same place that you finished your walk yesterday. With your back to the sign walk STRAIGHT ON down the same main road that you walked up yesterday for 500m.

0.5km – TURN SHARP RIGHT down gravel track which becomes narrower (see a metal waymark sign on your right). Ignore any trails off to the left and right as you walk. You will also see the occasional red and white painted signs on posts, etc. You will be descending, then walking along the valley with the houses on the hill top to the left of you. Continue on the same main track for just over a kilometre.

1.6km – When you see a large yellow empty building on your left continue STRAIGHT ON. About 100m further on pass a stone tower on your left and ignore the trail on the left descending (hiding behind 2 stone barriers).  Continue descending down the gravel trail and 200m later ignore the track off to the left and continue STRAIGHT ON up the rockier trail for 100m.

2.0km – At the top of the rise with the red and white wooden signs on your left, take the trail STRAIGHT ON down the narrower trail, ignoring the one off to the right and following the way to Sant ‘Antimo, etc. The trail now becomes wooded and shady and a dirt/rocky combination.

2.3km – Come out of the woods to a large field. TURN LEFT and keep following the small dirt trail along the field’s left hand side. Once through the field head back into the woods on the same trail, following it as it winds.

2.8km – Come out of the woods again to a field on your right, then almost immediately go back into the woods again continuing STRAIGHT ON. Here see wooden red and white signs to your right. Follow the way to Ripa d’Orcia, Sant ‘Antimo, etc. 100m later at the T-Junction and with the red and white signs on your left TURN RIGHT again following the directional to Ripa d’Orcia and Sant ‘Antimo. Almost immediately cross a river bed before the trail begins to ascend quite steeply. Ignore any other trails off to the left and right and continue on the same trail for almost 2km.

4.5km – Coming out of the woods there is a vineyard and olive grove on your right, go STRAIGHT ON, ignoring the trail going sharp left. As you walk the vines are to your right and you can see red and wooden signs in front of you in the distance. One you have reached the signs TURN LEFT, following red and white sign for Sant ‘Antimo. Continue down the same road for 700m.

5.2km – As you reach a junction with a no through road sign in front of you TURN RIGHT following the red and white wooden sign to Sant ‘Antimo. The trail descends. Please ignore any trails/tracks off to the left and right and stay on the main trail at all times. All along the way you can spot intermittent red and white painted signs.

5.8km – At the fork with the house in front of you BEAR RIGHT with the house on your left as you walk. Keep on the main trail ignoring any trails off to the left and right.

6.3km – At the junction of pathways and with the red and white wooden sign to Sant ‘Antimo in front of you BEAR LEFT, ignoring another trail that bears left into an olive grove. Continue on the main trail ignoring any other trails off to the left and right and seeing intermittent red and white painted signs or arrows reassuring you that you are on the right path.

7.3km – When you come to an open space and a junction TURN LEFT following the wooden red and white sign to Sant ‘Antimo, ignoring any other trails off to the left and right.

7.4km – At the junction go STRAIGHT ON and walk towards the stone house which is on your left. Also spot another red and white wooden sign on your left. Continue on the same trail for a further 700m.

8.1km – At the house which is on your left (don’t be frightened of the loud barking dogs (if they are there) as they are behind a fence and cannot escape), continue STRAIGHT ON for a further 200m. Then at the fork BEAR RIGHT, following the red and white wooden sign to Sant ‘Antimo and ignoring the trail bearing left into a vineyard.

8.5km – At the fork BEAR LEFT. The red and white wooden sign is misleading here as it looks like it is telling you to bear right, but definitely bear left. 

** If there has been no heavy rain it is ok to bear left above as you will be crossing a riverbed that it dry and negotiable. However in case there has been heavy rains you will in fact have to bear right here and do what the sign says heading towards Sant' Antimo. This trail will take you an alternate way, so avoiding the river crossing. Continue to descend after bearing right and then bear left at a fork where a house comes into view. Climb the bank to the railway line and then turn left to cross the railway bridge. Hop over the fence on the right side of the railway lines and follow the faint track that parallels the railway line. But be sure to go above it as it enters the tunnel. Continue in the same direction to a t-junction with the official route on a ridge. Here the railway line is visible once more as it exits the tunnel on the other side of the ridge. Turn right at the t-junction as it hooks up with your trail at around 9.5km.

8.9km – If you gave beared left at the previous directional continue on until you come out to an open area. Here go STRAIGHT ON through the field (the trail maybe indistinct). You can see more wooden signs ahead in front of you, so simply walk towards them. Once at the signs, continue STRAIGHT ON towards Sant ‘Antimo. After 150m cross the river bed on the stepping stones and continue on the same trail. (You may have to remove our shoes to walk over the riverbed if the water is a little high)

9.2km – At the junction of pathways TURN RIGHT up the trail ascending and ignoring the first trail off to the right. Stay on the main trail/road for a few kilometres, ignoring any other roads, tracks, trails to the left and right and seeing intermittent red and white painted signs for reassurance. You will be winding your way up passing vineyards and wineries as you go. There are great views over the valley to your left and eventually to your right too.

12.3km – At the stone posts with the house on your left, continue STRAIGHT ON down the same gravel road. (You can see the red and white wooden sign to Sant ’Antimo, only 2 kms to go!) The road you are walking now becomes a bit busier so please take care of traffic.

13.6km – When you reach the village of Castelnuovo dell’ Abate and the stop sign at the junction, cross the street, ignoring the first right and TURN RIGHT down the 2nd turning which is signposted to Sant ‘Antimo. (If you wish to visit the medieval part of Castelnuovo walk straight on at the stop sign and then return to this point to resume your walk to the abbey). Follow the road down to the abbey as it winds first right and then left and then goes straight.

14.5km  - Your walk finishes at the car park to the abbey, where your driver will pick you up at the designated time. Feel free to spend time looking at the abbey, time-permitting.