Sport and culture

Day trips

Rome
Make a trip through history! Arrival in Rome approx. 10.30 am at the Piazza del Popolo. In the morning you visit the town centre with its world famous sightseeings: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon. Lunch in a typical Roman restaurant (facultative). In the afternoon guided tour through the town (Villa Borghese, Via Veneto, Forum Romanum, Piazza Venezia, etc.) with a break for photo shooting at the Colosseum and Gianicolo (fantastic view!) and visit of the Vatican. Return approx. 5 pm.

Elba
Embarkation in Piombino at 9 am, arrival in Portoferraio at approx. 10 am. Visit of the Villa Napoleon in the „capital“ Portoferraio, afterwards you get a first impression of the island during a panorama round trip. Arrival in Porto Azzurro and lunch in a restaurant with view on the sea. After lunch you have time for an unhurried walk at the harbour. Afterwards visit of a mine and if there is still enough time, stop at an Elban wine cellar, where you can taste the local wine.

Florence
Embarcation in Piombino at 9 am, arrival in Portoferraio at approx. 10 am. Visit of the Villa Napoleon in the „capital“ Portoferraio, afterwards you get a first impression of the island during a panorama round trip. Arrival in Porto Azzurro and lunch in a restaurant with view on the sea. After lunch you have time for an unhurried walk at the harbour. Afterwards visit of a mine and if there is still enough time, stop at an Elban wine cellar, where you can taste the local wine. Florence Discover the town of Art and History! After your arrival in Florence (approx. 10 am) during a guided trip through the town you admire the sightseeings: Santa Croce, Cathedral and baptistery, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Signoria and many more. Lunch in a Florentine restaurant (facultative). In the afternoon you have time for shopping or individual sightseeing. On the way back short stop at the popular Piazzale Michelangelo, where you have a wonderful view on the town.

Montalcino (half day trip)
Trip through the hilly landscape of Siena to the area of the famous wine Brunello. You visit the historic centre of the small town Montalcino and have a break in a wine cellar where you taste the wines and have a snack (cheese, Tuscan sausages, etc.). .

Siena - San Gimignano
Siena is always worth a visit! The atmosphere in this town is characterised by it being a mix of dozy small town, university base and busy shops and offices. The ancient alleyways of the historic centre are lined by luxury boutiques without, however, affecting the historic dignity of Siena. You visit the Piazza del campo with its impressively marvellous cathedral, probably the most beautiful square in Tuscany, where twice a year the famous historic horse race (Palio) takes place. San Gimignano, only a few miles away, is also called the Manhattan of Tuscany due to the silhouette of the high lordship towers. There were more than 70 once, 13 are still standing. In the ancient alleyways there are numerous shops with handicrafts made of alabaster.

Siena - Chianti
Follow the road of Gallo nero to the world famous area of the Chianti and taste the fantastic wines in a typical Cantina (wine cellar) where you will also be having a snack. Afterwards visit of Siena.

Pitigliano – Sovana - Saturnia
Visit this unique Etruscan settlement built on tuff stone, characterised not only by the ancient town gate Porta della Cittadella, the castle of the Orsini and the Jewish district with its synagogue, but also by the wine that is produced there: Il Bianco di Pitigliano. Afterwards on to Saturnia, where you can wonderfully relax in a sinter bath tub with solfour water of a temperature of 37degrees Celsuis.

Pupillo
During a guided tour through the wine cellar Il Pupillo you get the possibility to know more about the region and its people. Afterwards you enjoy a small snack and taste the local wines. (Trip with own car).

Oil mill
Guided tour through an olive oil press plant followed by degustation of pane ed olio (Tuscan bread with olive oil). Trip with own car.
 

  

Lago dell’ Accesa
Turn to the left to the ancient Via Aurelia and follow it until you reach Potassa; approx. 300 m after the ACI car workshop you turn to the left (crossing the railway level crossing), after approx. 2 km turn left again in direction of Massa Marittima. At LA PESTA you can follow the yellow direction signs to the Etruscan excavations, there you have a lovely view on the lake. For your way back we recommend the same route, as on the alternative road via Valpiana there is too much traffic. Approx. 18 km per direction – slightly ascending slopes.

Cala Martina und Cala Violina
Turn to the left to the Via Aurelia and continue right after the railway level crossing in direction of Bagno di Gavorrano. In the village at the traffic lights you can enter the country road that leads to the coast to Puntone. At the end of the road turn to the left and immediately at the next crossing turn to the right. Follow this small coast road until you reach the barrier at the restaurant Il Cantuccio. With the bike you can easily pass the barrier and enjoy a ride far off the car traffic through the forest along the cliff line. In case you have taken lunch provisions you can have a picnic in the bay Cala Martina or the Cala Violina (lunch packages are available in our restaurant against reservation), in the summer we recommend to take bathing costumes and equipment with you as you will have the possibility to take a refreshing bath in the sea. If you ride a mountain bike, on your way back you can turn to the left at the Cala Violina up the hill (rather steep) and after a few miles leave this route and turn left again back to the road in direction of Puntone. (approx. 26 km per direction – slightly ascending slopes – with the mentioned exception).

Castiglione della Pescaia
For this tour we recommend you take the whole day. Follow the Via Aurelia southbound until Grilli; turn to the right and follow the direction signs to Castiglione della Pescaia. Explore the lovely fishing village, take bathing equipment with you as the area has got lovely beaches. Furthermore you find a wide range of inviting seafood restaurants (unfortunately rather pricy!) and street cafes, ideal for a longer break, afterwards you are fit again for your way back via the country road in direction of Follonica. At Puntone you turn to the right in direction of Gavorrano. (Round trip approx. 65 km – way to Castiglione slightly ascending slopes – way back medium to intensely ascending slopes).

Find further suggestions and detailed maps in the Mountainbike Guide Alta Maremma, available at the reception for approx. € 6.71.

General note: although in Italy cycling (also races) is very popular, here in the surroundings there are no bike lanes (neither in town nore in the country), therefore we kindly ask you to be very careful along the suggested routes and not to imitate the Italians who tend to drive side by side.

 

 


Tennis at Il Pelagone

From now on Il Pelagone can offer its guests the opportunity to book tennis courses and lessons SERGIO FUNES TENNIS ACADEMY.

Sergio Funes (37 yrs old)
As an active player in the ATP world ratings, he can look back on a very successful career. For roughly 10 years, the 5 times Argentinean champion came, via Switzerland, to Italy to play in the top class event, the Italian A series.
Since that time he has ended his career as a player and concentrates now on his activities for the Italian Tennis Association, that is, working with the junior tennis players, preparing them for professional performance tennis.
As a trainer and captain of the Series A players from TC Grosseto he passes on his valuable experience which he gained on the international tennis circuit.

Some of his best results as the Italian national trainer for the junior team are:

Sergio Funes is not only one of the most successful tennis trainer and coach in top performance tennis - but also loves teaching tennis as a hobby, children too, so they benefit from learning playfully the basics of tennis. Helping hand of Sergio is Alberto Sarubbi, trainer of the A-team Grosseto.

Two trainers who put their heart and soul into helping others to enjoy the game same as themselves. A little tip from a pro can save you a lot of frustration. Take the opportunity to improve your tennis during your holiday and profit from the help of real professionals.

Private lesson
Individual Training depending on the ability and goals set by the player. From beginners to competition players.

Family lesson
(max. 3 persons) The lesson for the whole family, depends on how well they play, can be with each other or one after another, individual training for parents and children.

Beginners course
(min. 3 / max. 5 players, 3 x 2 hours) Co-ordination exercises, explanation of various volleys and lobs, techniques and rules, exercises and practice, practice, practice, small final competition.

Course for leisure players
(min. 3 / max. 4 players, 4 x 2 hours) Practice the basic techniques, leg work, tactics and various manoeuvres and strokes, final competition.

Intensive training week
(2-3 players, 5 x 2 hours, 1 hour athletics) Training all strokes, leg work, match simulation and analysis with a suited training partner. Match tactics and strategy. Specially designed individual fitness and running programme for the player. Final competition.

Children’s course
(min. 4 / max. 6 players, 3 x 1,5 hours) Children are taught playfully the basic technique of tennis. Final competition.