Montalto's guests often divide their time between excursions to visit the beautiful towns in the area and relaxing around the pool or the fireplace, depending on the season; but there is no dearth of things to do for those who would like a more active vacation.

Aside from activities available at Montalto itself (see What to do at Montalto), outdoor enthusiasts will find many opportunities for fun:

• Right on the border of the Montalto estate is a very good horseback riding center where lessons in English mount and jumping are available and interesting guided tours through the countryside are organized daily.
• The hilly countryside with little traffic provides challenging and rewarding roads for bicycle touring. A limited number of bicycles can be borrowed at Montalto, and more serious racing bikes and mountain bikes can be rented in Siena and in Montevarchi, where there are several bicycle clubs. Maps, itineraries and guides are available. Some guided tours offer also lunch or special stops at wineries or other poits of interest.
• There are two excellent golf courses at about an hour’s drive from the Castle and two nine-hole courses just half an hour away.
• A polo club, less than ten minutes from Montalto, has regular matches.
• Sailing is possible on Lake Trasimeno.
• Children might like an occasional day on the Acquapark waterslides, near Monte San Savino.
• Sport fishing is offered near Bucine, and Montalto has a creek and a pond of its own with catfish and carp and the occasional trout.
• Hunting for pheasant, deer and wild boar is possible in season but must be arranged in advance.
• In winter there is an ice rink in Siena, open day and night.

Spas: For those interested in hot springs, in Rapolano just 12 km from Montalto there are thermal spas, where you can swim in naturally heated pools (particularly nice in the cooler season) and indulge in a mud bath or massage. Discounted prices for the treatments are available to our guests.

Parks and nature reserves: Tuscany is known for its beautiful landscapes. The Val d’Ambra is largely unspoiled and the Val d’Orcia has been designated a Unesco World Heritage site. There is another natural reserve near Cavriglia, just across the Arno river.

Winery tours: Montalto is in the Chianti district and there are several excellent DOC and DOCG wineries in the immediate vicinity. Less than an hour’s drive will bring you to other top wine zones, where you can taste the Brunello of Montalcino, the Vino Nobile of Montepulciano, the white Vernaccia of San Gimignano. Unlike some parts of the world, here local vintners do not normally have an open tasting room. They will uncork their best reserves in advance of your visit to ensure that you enjoy them at their best, and they will often provide bread and cheese and an explanatory tour of their operations; therefore a reservation is necessary and there is often a small fee. We can furnish you with advice and a map, make you a reservation, or engage a guide for a half or full-day tour including a castle or abbey and lunch in a fattoria.

The list doesn’t end here. What about a balloon ride at dawn, followed by a champagne breakfast in the field where you land? Just for a start....