Undoubtedly, Tuscany has a magical countryside, everything is evidence of the culture and the sense of harmony that without a doubt is so natural for those who belong to this place, in some cases, they are not conscious of it. Not by chance, Tuscany had a strong presence in the two historical periods that marked our western culture.
The Territory
A suggestive journey between Val di Chiana and Val d'Orcia
The Etruscan time and Renaissance. Then we have the nature that reveals its beauty sometimes with little panoramas and in other cases in endless expanses that leave us breathless. When you feel tired, if you need to find yourself, or just to relax, there’s no better place than Tuscany.
Montepulciano
Walking along Via di San Bartolomeo from Villa Trecci, you see on the horizon the imposing profile of San Biagio Temple, a must-see for those visiting our area. Slightly further away, the Pearl of the Sixteenth century, Montepulciano.
Starting from Piazza Grande, of the town you can easily reach the main attractions on foot, including the Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) which reminds the style of the Palazzo Della Signoria in Florence, the Duomo, where the triptych of the Assumption by Taddeo di Bartolo is kept as well as the Madonna and Child by Sano di Pietro. Palazzo Contucci, which construction began in 1519 by Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio and was concluded by Baldassarre Peruzzi, and the Nobili-Tarugi Palace, covered with travertine.
Along Via Ricci, you will find the Civic Museum and the Pinacoteca Crociani, housed in the Gothic style Neri-Orselli Palace.
In Via di Gracciano Nel Corso, one of the main streets of the historic center, immediately after passing Porta al Prato entrance to the town, you will find two restaurants owned by our Group: the Osteria Porta di Bacco inside the walls of Antonio Sangallo il Vecchio and the Bottega del Nobile built in the ancient cellars of Palazzo Avignonesi.
In these two places, you will find the best of Tuscan cuisine. Both restaurants have important collections of fine wines, each of them is distinguished by its peculiarities.
Pienza
In an itinerary dedicated exclusively to the most important destinations in Tuscany, you cannot miss visiting Pienza, the Ideal Renaissance City.
This town, commissioned by Pope Pius II, is a few kilometres far from Villa Trecci. It is a sublime example of how artistic genius can be expressed in the architecture of palaces and churches.
Starting from Piazza Pio II, where the Duomo, Palazzo Piccolomini, the Church of S. Maria Assunta and the Bishop’s Palace stand, we also recommend to visit the Palazzo Comunale and the Romitorio dating back to the 14th century and located close to the old town.
Pienza, declared World Heritage by UNESCO, is also a destination known for a gastronomic speciality; the Pecorino sheep cheese and its several varieties determined by the seasoning of this fabulous cheese.
San Quirico d'Orcia
Continuing our excursion through the wonders of the Val d’Orcia, we arrive at San Quirico d’Orcia, a destination with some of the most poetic sights in Tuscany.
In particular, it is known for the charming chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta, located in a rural location outside the centre of the village, immortalized in numerous photographs that have become the symbol of the Val d’Orcia.
For those who love the gardens of Villa Trecci the advice is to take a walk in the Horti Leonini, an Italian garden designed in the sixteenth century, whose sacredness is represented by the composition of the hedges and the arrangement of the sculptures.
Montalcino
At the end of the Val d’Orcia, we will reach the village of Montalcino, lying on a hill north-west of Mount Amiata.
Montalcino is universally known for Brunello, a DOCG red wine produced only in this area, exclusively from Sangiovese grapes.
In this village that still preserves the fortified walls with 13 towers and 6 gates to the city, we suggest to visit the Rocca di Montalcino, which also houses a wine shop and several shows during the year; the Palazzo dei Priori, decorated with the coats of arms of the podestà who ruled Montalcino; the Cathedral dating back to the 19th century, an example of neoclassical architecture; the Civic and Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art, which has an extensive collection of sculptures, frescoes, paintings and with miniatures adorned manuscripts.
From Montalcino, we reach Castelnuovo dell’Abate with the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, a former Benedictine monastery.
Bagno Vignoni
Bagno Vignoni is a hamlet of San Quirico D’Orcia in the province of Siena, located in the Orcia Valley. Bagno Vignoni sits on a hill above the Val d’Orcia just south of San Quirico. The fascinating tiny village is clustered around a large pool closed on three sides by the town walls and in the centre of the village, you will find the “Piazza delle Sorgenti”, a large and rectangular shape tub, which dates back to the sixteenth century. It contains a natural spring of hot and steamy thermal water, that streams out from underground water of volcanic origin.
Since the Etruscan and the Roman age, as proved by the several finds, the thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni were very well known. The water that comes out from the thermal tub, goes towards the sheer cliff in the natural park of the Mills. Here we can find four medieval Mills dug in the rocks, they were very important for the local economy, because the thermal spring, granted the functioning of these mills even in summertime, when the mills of the area were stopped because of the rivers were dry.