Val d’Orcia
The Orcia Valley lies in the southern part of Tuscany. With
its picturesque and rolling agricultural landscapes, this
region offers the hill top villages of Pienza, Montelpulciano
and Montalcino. Rich with their histories the area affords
one the opportunity to closely explore wines and foods
produced here. The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the
Brunello di Montalcino wines hail from this region and
are not to be missed. The countryside, with its views,
farmhouses, cypress trees, olive groves and abbeys, takes
one back to ancient times. In the distance one can see
Monte Amiata, an extinct volcano and the highest point
in Tuscany.
Thermal springs abound in this area of Tuscany and there
are many spas offering all sorts of treatments along with
the thermal mineral rich baths. The village of Bagno Vignoni
was a spa developed in the Middle Ages whose main piazza
was and still is an enormous pool of steaming hot water.
Surrounded by old houses the ancient walled basin is still
the center of this tiny village; it’s surrounded by
a walkway on three sides and a covered loggia on the fourth
side.
While this area is not overrun with tourists, it is close
enough to make easy day trips to Siena, Florence and the
Chianti wine region. |