Top 10 Riding Spots in Italy
Italy packs more landscape variety into one country than almost anywhere in Europe: Alpine peaks above 3,000 m, the rolling vineyard hills of Tuscany, the granite coast of Sardinia, and the volcanic flanks of Sicily. Layered over that geography is a deep horse heritage — the Maremma cattle-herding butteri, Sicily's centuries-old Palio races, hardy regional breeds like the Maremmano and the Bardigiano, and a dense network of agriturismi (working farm-stays) that put riding within reach of ordinary travellers. The result is a riding map that reaches far beyond the postcard vineyards. All the centres below are on the map.
1. Maremma, Southern Tuscany
The coastal plain of southern Tuscany, between Grosseto and the Monte Argentario promontory, is the country of the butteri — Italy's working cattle herdsmen, who still ride out to move long-horned Maremmana cattle across the marshes. This is one of the very few places in Europe where an authentic cattle-droving tradition survives and can be experienced on a weekend stay. Several agriturismi here — among them La Maremma — offer rides through umbrella-pine forest, coastal macchia scrub, and the wetland pastures of the Parco Regionale della Maremma. The nearest airports are Rome Fiumicino and Pisa, both roughly a two-hour drive. Best from April to November; high summer is hot and the marshes can be buggy, so spring and early autumn are kindest.
2. Chianti and Val d'Orcia
The vineyard country of central Tuscany is one of Europe's most photogenic riding landscapes — cypress-lined ridges, hill towns, and the UNESCO-listed Val d'Orcia around Pienza and Montalcino. Several agriturismi-cum-riding-centres operate in the triangle between Siena, Pienza, and Montalcino, and rides pair naturally with tastings of Brunello and Chianti Classico. Pisa and Florence airports are the usual gateways, both under two hours by road. Rideable year-round, but spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are ideal: the summer light is harsh and midday heat real, while the autumn vendemmia (grape harvest) brings the hills alive.
3. Dolomites
In the far north, Alpine pasture rides at roughly 1,500–2,000 m thread through the Dolomites — the pale limestone peaks that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site — especially around Cortina d'Ampezzo, Val Pusteria, and Val Gardena. Multi-day pack trips link mountain rifugi, where riders overnight in simple hut comfort. This is a short, sharp season: snow lingers into early summer and returns by autumn, so reliable riding runs June to September. Venice and Innsbruck are the practical air gateways. The terrain is steep and the air thin, so a steady mountain-bred horse and some saddle fitness matter more here than anywhere else on this list.
4. Sardinia — Costa Verde and Gallura
Sardinia offers two faces of Mediterranean riding: long beach gallops on the dune-backed Costa Verde of the west coast, and granite-and-cork-oak mountain riding inland in the Gallura of the northeast. The island's distinctive breed is the Anglo-Arabo Sardo, a refined, tough crossbreed developed locally. Olbia, Cagliari, and Alghero airports serve the different corners of the island. The season runs April to October; midsummer beaches are crowded, so May–June and September give the best mix of warm sea and open sand. The combination of empty coast and genuine wilderness makes this one of Europe's more unusual rides.
5. Sicily — Etna and the Madonie
Sicily delivers some of Italy's most dramatic riding. The lower flanks of Etna — at around 3,300 m, the largest active volcano in Europe — give black-lava trails and chestnut woods, while the Madonie and Nebrodi ranges inland offer high beech forest and long ridge tracks. Several operators are based around the hill town of Castelbuono. Catania and Palermo airports are the gateways. Lower elevations ride year-round; the higher Etna trails are best April to October once the winter snow has cleared. Riding across lava fields on a working active volcano is an experience few riders ever have.
6. Puglia — Murge and Valle d'Itria
In the heel of Italy, the limestone Murge plateau and the trulli country of the Valle d'Itria offer rides through silver olive groves and fields hemmed by dry-stone walls. The conical stone trulli houses around Alberobello give the landscape a look found nowhere else. Several masserie — fortified farm estates, many now agriturismi — run riding here, often on the dark, curly-coated Murgese horse native to the region. Bari and Brindisi are the airports. Rideable year-round thanks to the mild southern climate, with spring (April–May) ideal before the deep summer heat sets in.
7. Umbria
The hill country of Umbria — around Assisi, Spoleto, and the Monti Sibillini on the regional border — is some of Italy's quietest and loveliest riding terrain. It is in effect a calmer Tuscany: the same oak woods, olive groves, and medieval hill towns, but far less tourist pressure. Several long-established centres operate here, often as part of agriturismi. Rome and Perugia airports are the gateways, Rome about two hours by road. Rideable year-round, with spring and autumn the most comfortable. The Sibillini high meadows add a genuine mountain dimension for those wanting more than gentle hills.
8. Abruzzo High Apennines
The Gran Sasso massif and the Maiella in Abruzzo offer high-Apennine pack rides through some of the wildest country in mainland Europe — protected within national parks that still hold Apennine wolves and the rare Marsican brown bear. This is remote, demanding riding: long days, big climbs, and few villages. Rome is the nearest major airport, roughly two hours to the park edges. The season is short — June to October — as the high plateaux such as Campo Imperatore (around 1,800 m) hold snow well into spring. Riders come here for the silence and the wildness, not for comfort.
9. Piemonte — Langhe and Monferrato
The wine-growing hills of the Langhe and Monferrato in Piemonte — another UNESCO-listed landscape — offer rides through vineyards and hazelnut woods that double as a tour of one of the world's great food regions: Barolo, Barbaresco, white truffles, and the slow-food town of Bra. For riders who want to pair the saddle with the table, this is one of Europe's top choices. Turin and Milan airports are the gateways. Rideable year-round, though autumn — truffle and harvest season — is the standout, with the vines turning gold across the hills.
10. Lake Garda Hinterland
The hills behind Lake Garda, particularly around Salò and the Valpolicella wine country toward Verona, combine lake views with vineyard terrain. Several agriturismi run riding here, and the area's great advantage is access: it sits on the main road and rail corridor south from the Alps, making it easy to fold into a driving trip from northern Europe. Verona and Bergamo are the nearest airports. The season runs April to October, with spring and early autumn the most pleasant before and after the busy lakeside summer.
The Maremmano and Italian breeds
The Maremmano is the working horse of the Tuscan butteri — sturdy, calm, and surefooted, traditionally ridden in the scafarda saddle with its high pommel and cantle, built for long days driving cattle. Italy's other regional breeds are worth knowing: the Murgese, the dark, near-black horse of Puglia; the Bardigiano, a hardy bay mountain pony from the Apennines above Parma, ideal for trekking; and the Sardinian Anglo-Arab. For sport, the Sella Italiano (Italian Saddle Horse) is the principal modern competition breed. Knowing which horse you will ride tells you a lot about the terrain a centre works in.
Agriturismi as bases
The agriturismo system is the backbone of riding holidays in Italy — working farms licensed to offer rooms, meals, and often horses, frequently serving their own wine, oil, and produce at the table. Standards vary enormously, from simple family farms with a few rooms to polished estates with pools and spas, so it pays to read carefully before booking. They can be reserved directly or through national agriturismo associations. For riders, the appeal is obvious: you stay where the horses live, eat what the region grows, and ride straight from the yard.
Booking and season
Italian riding holidays run year-round across the central and southern regions, while Alpine programmes in the Dolomites and Abruzzo are confined to roughly June–September. The sweet spots almost everywhere are spring (April–June) and autumn (September–November): comfortable temperatures, green or golden landscapes, and fewer crowds than the hot, busy midsummer. Book agriturismi well ahead for the July–August peak, as many smaller farms have only a handful of rooms and fill quickly. Confirm rider weight limits, ability requirements, and whether helmets are provided before you travel.
Where will you go first?
Pull up the map, find the places from this guide, and see which one fits your next free weekend.