Val d’Orcia, the Tuscany of Your Dreams
“The Tuscan countryside was built like a work of art by a refined people, the same people who commissioned paintings and frescoes in the 15th century: this is the attribute, the main feature that has developed over the centuries in the design of the fields, in the architecture of Tuscan houses. It is extraordinary how these people have built their rural landscapes as if they had no other concern than beauty”.
Henri Desplanques
An experience of Val d’Orcia is unique and unforgettable! Its landscape, crossed by the Orcia River from which it takes its name, begins on the slopes of Monte Amiata and extends to the Lands of Siena. The naturehere, still uncontaminated and beautiful, is the absolute protagonist with an everchanging palette of colors based on the season: green woods and golden wheat fields in summer, the warm and enveloping colors of brown, orange, ochre, and vermilion in autumn, the pure white snow of Monte Amiata in winter, and the freshness of the blooms that blanket the hills in spring with a kaleidoscope of colors and aromas. The landscape of the Val d’Orcia, a protected park that has been recognized since 2004 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, inspired many Renaissance painters for its natural beauties, its cypress-lined avenues, the expanses of vineyards and olive groves, the soft-rolling hills dotted with farmhouses and isolated hamlets; itsancient boroughs, medieval castles, abbeys, and small villages, each with its own history. Pienza, San Quirico d’Orcia, Radicofani, Montalcino, Castiglione d’Orcia “dwell” in this splendid valley that every year attracts thousands of tourists and sweethearts who choose it to crown their love dream, from a romantic trip to the celebration of an anniversary or a wedding.
Pienza, known as the “Ideal City”, is a true Renaissance jewel designed by Pope Pius II, and is also famous for the splendid Palazzo Piccolomini. San Quirico d’Orcia, a borough of Etruscan origins, rises along the ancient Francigena Route with its seductive medieval atmosphere, the picturesque views of parish churches and cobbled streets, and its ancient 15th-century walls. Radicofani stands on a hill overlooking the valley and is one of the most spectacular Tuscan fortresses, as well as what was for centuries one of the most important strongholds in Italy. Montalcino, an enchanting medieval borough that almost seems to come right out of a fairytale, is surrounded by bastions and is dominated by an ancient castle of genuine architectural perfection from which you can enjoy a true spectacle of nature: a continuous succession of hills colored here and there with red and yellow flowers, ancient oaks, mighty olive trees, and country roads that wind through harmonious rows of vines and cypresses. Castiglion d’Orcia, perched on a hill offering breathtaking views, is not only hypnotic because of its beautiful landscape, but also for the numerous works of artistic interest found in the heart of town. To the east of Pienza is Montepulciano, a Renaissance city not to be missed, even if it is not in the Val d’Orcia.
Time still passes slowly here in an atmosphere that is almost surreal and suspended in time. There are very few places capable of enchanting the visitor so profoundly. It is a land that gave birth to the most precious and appreciated of Italian wines: Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso Orcia, and other renowned labels with the DOCG appellation. Not to mention a few of the other products that are typical of this area like the pecorino cheese from Pienza, the Cinta Senese pork… Equally well-known are the thermal baths present in the villages of Bagno Vignoni and Bagni San Filippo whose thermal waters, which are abundant in Southern Tuscany, owe their presence to Monte Amiata, an ancient volcano that still today provides its heat to the surrounding lands. In summer, the valley and the mountains are perfect for long walks in the woods and on trails, while in autumn the area is alive with traditional festivals and celebrations dedicated to local products like chestnuts, grapes, and olives. These are days that are rich with events and foods to taste.
