Travel in Italy and World

The Val d’Orcia is an area of Tuscany, well known for the beauty of
hills, located on the southern province of
Siena.
It takes its name dall’Orcia a small river tributary dell’Ombrone Grossetano.
The territory of Val d’Orcia includes the entire surface of five
municipalities, in alphabetical order Castiglione d’Orcia, Montalcino, Pienza,
Radicofani, San Quirico d’Orcia, for a total of over 660
square km. At the northern limit of Val d’Orcia are municipalities
the Crete Senesi, the area bordering with the greatest similarity of landscapes.
To the east instead is the Val di Chiana, south reliefs covered with forests
Monte Amiata and west where the High Maremma all’asprezza landscape
is accompanied by the brightness the horizon that reaches the coastal zone
the province of Grosseto.

In July 2004 the territory of the five municipalities of Val d’Orcia is
been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The inclusion is motivated dall’unicità the countryside that you can
admire, a wonderful example of secular work that has shaped
the territory in harmony with nature. Un’armonia that led these
lands to inspire painters of the School Senese between the Middle Ages and
Renaissance.

The landscape of Val d’Orcia, “so much appreciated to represent
the image of Tuscany on the covers of books, calendars and
photographs accompanying articles in periodicals domestic and foreign,
is characterized by gentle slopes, often intended to grow
cereals. A contour of cereal fields that offer a spectacular view
with different colors in each month of are rows of cypresses and
winding roads that cross the white farms leading to ancient farmhouses
campaign usually placed on top of the hills.

Tourists seeking hospitality in a farm or choose the hiring of a
apartment in Val d’Orcia faces many opportunities for
spend the holiday. Who is interested in will go trekking paths that follow the route of the Via Francigena
or will venture into lush forests of Mount Amiata destination in
summer and autumn of seekers of mushrooms. The passionate wine not
that has an embarrassment of choice as this is a land with very high
vocation wine, just remember that here are the areas production
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG,
Rosso di Montalcino DOC, DOC Sant’Antimo, Orcia DOC and DOCG
Chianti. The first three designations are limited to the territory of municipal
Montalcino. The excellent wine from the Val d’Orcia is not only
in wines with a designation of origin in fact no shortage of wines of great honour
falling in IGT Toscana. Allargando its outreach
just outside the Val d’Orcia you can visit the cellars of
producers of Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG and promising DOC
Montecucco.

A peculiarity of this corner of Tuscany in remote ere was concerned
from two volcanoes, Mount Amiata and the volcano of Radicofani,
the abundance of hot springs. The charming village of Bagno Vignoni in
town of San Quirico d’Orcia and Heads St. Philip in the town of Castiglione
d’Orcia are among the most popular spas throughout Tuscany. Not
afar, in neighbouring Val di Chiana, the baths of San Casciano dei Bagni
offer further opportunities for those seeking a holiday dedicated to
relaxation and well-being.

Finally remember the artistic richness and the great atmosphere centres
historians, among the most precious in the province of Siena. In addition to the above-mentioned
village of Bagno Vignoni with the extraordinary square entirely
occupied by an ancient bath in which confluisce
water from a spring recommend a visit to Rocca d’Orcia,
small hamlet in the town of Castiglione d’Orcia, where the imposing
Rocca di Tentennano, privileged observation point across the Valley
d’Orcia. Pienza, jewel urban renaissance, founded by the will of
Pope Pius II and humanist Montalcino, Siena ancient stronghold, have not
need presentations, while it is worthwhile to point out the less well-known centre
historical San Quirico d’Orcia, which overlooks the Via Cassia. A
walk through the beautiful streets of this country will discover
small treasures such as the Collegiate Church of San Quirico and elegance of the garden
all’italiana of Horti Leonini.
Anyone wishing to take advantage of a stay in Val d’Orcia to visit cittübr> Siena should not face a long journey: along the road Cassia
from Torrenieri are sufficient for approximately 45 minutes by car.