Discovering the three gems of Val d’Orcia in Southern Tuscany

Discovering the three gems of Val d’Orcia in Southern Tuscany

After spending several days in Florence, a day or two in the countryside is a perfect choice to keep enjoying your trip while having someone take care of you so you can experience the colors, flavors and culture of everyday life. Countryside tours are full day.

Some tours are wine oriented, others are architecture and archeology oriented and some are an “intense” combination of both!

Each tour is structured in order to spend a full day rich in views, details, stories along with technical knowledge about wine, olive oil, cheese making, arts and crafts as well as history.

Monticchiello is a tiny medieval hamlet situated on top of one of the many hills of Tuscany. The history of this place dates back to centuries, but nothing seems to have changed here with the advent of modernity. Of course, technology did reach Monticchiello, but only inside the ancient houses of its inhabitants. This is why, to the eye of the tourist, Monticchiello still seems like a place that somehow escaped the changes of time

Perched on a hill, Montepulciano overlooks the beautiful Chiana valley and the Trasimeno lake. Strolling along its winding streets, you can be nicely overwhelmed by the many 1500’s palaces, the churches and its glorious Etruscan past. Its heart is the Piazza Grande, on the peak of the hill, former acropolis now framed by the most significant and remarkable monuments, such as the impressive Cathedral.

A great red wine is aged in the many cellars in town, the outstanding Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, whose origins date back to the 14th century.

Pienza a jewel in Val d’Orcia , ideal Renaissance city planned in the 1400’s by the Pope Pius II, today well known also for the pecorino cheese (sheep’s milk cheese) that can be tasted in one of the shops along the main street. From here our walk follows a panoramic road, dotted with cypress trees, the sentinels of the Val d’Orcia.

Val d’Orcia – Medieval castles, sunny rolling hills, isolated hilltop towns, charming farmhouses and isolated rural homes, avenues of cypresses, rows of vineyards, olive groves, and golden wheat fields are just some of the elements of the fantastic and harmonious landscapes of Valdorcia!

Crossed by the Orcia river, from which the valley derives its name, this wonderful region in southern Tuscany stretches alongthe provinces of Siena and Grosseto. The area is now protected as a natural and cultural park, and it has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2004. Beautiful nature is the actual absolute protagonist in Valdorcia, with many different colors according to the season.

Val d’Orcia is famed for its beautiful countryside and quintessential medieval towns, it comes as no surprise that it has been used as the backdrop for many movies, both Italian and international, from the Technicolor movies of the fifties to the more recent films such as The English Patient, The Gladiator and Life is Beautiful that have received international acclaim…

The medieval town of Montalcinois a real paradise for connoisseurs and wine lovers. Famous above all for its wine, the exclusive Brunello di Montalcino, the town is a popular tourist attraction in Val d’Orcia. But also the charming old town, which is situated on a hill of about 500 meters high, is absolutely worth seeing. Here you can expect a lot of historical charm and wonderful alleys with countless wine taverns and restaurants that provide culinary highlights. Also worth seeing is the fortress of Montalcino from 1361 with a fantastic view of the old town, but above all do not miss the Abbey of Sant’Antimo a few kilometers from the village.

I will be glad to personalize and tailor your excursion to accomplish your wishes with specific requests, as tour is private.