Province of SIENA: book your holiday now >
The province of Siena is one of the richest and most heterogeneous in Tuscany: the “crete”(land formation typical of the area around Siena), dotted with isolated cypress trees and antique rural stone houses, the valleys of the Farma, Merse and Orcia rivers rich in flora and fauna, the vineyards which stretch from the Chianti to Montalcino, the vast expanses of cultivated fields which, from spring to the end of summer turn yellow with sunflowers and gold with corn and which in winter appear almost austere.
The Parco della Val d’Orcia (Val d’Orcia Park) embraces Monte Amiata which is a much sought after destination for tourists in the summer and for ski enthusiasts in winter. While the Val di Chiana is famous for its spa resorts, and rich in Etruscan archaeological sites.
ART
Siena: Civic Museum, Museum of Metropolitan Works, the Cathedral, “Piazza del Campo”, Santa Maria della Scala church, the picture gallery, the Chigiana academy, the Centre for Contemporary Art, the Papesse Palace and the other historical palaces, homes of noble families, to be found inside the walls – these are only some of the sights to visit to visit in the city.
Monticchiello: medieval village.
Monteoliveto: with its majestic Benedicine Abbey.
Montalcino: with its imposing fortress, home of the prestigious Brunello wine, then down to the Abbey of Sant’Antimo founded, according to legend, by Charlemagne and today famous for its Gregorian chants.
San Galgano and the romanesque Church of Montesiepi near Chiusdino.
Bagno Vignoni: spa town.
Pienza: designed by Bernardo Rossellini for Enea Silvio Piccolomini.
San Quirico d’Orcia: beautiful collegiate church (Collegiata).
San Gimignano: “Citta dalle belle torri” (city of the beautiful towers).
Chiusi: one of the capitals of Etruscan civilisation.
Montepulciano: Renaissance city, birthplace of Angelo Poliziano.
EXCURSIONS
The “Treno natura” (nature train), to cross the Val D’Orcia; horse riding or biking along the Via Francigena, and in Val di Farma; along the wine road, in stages, to visit wine cellars and taste important wines; the pathways of Monte Amiata; the unmetalled roads which pass between cultivated fields among century old olive groves and noble vineyards. The woodland paths among millenary springs and ancient oak trees.
GASTRONOMY AND WINE
An area which presents such a variety of cultivation cannot but offer typical local dishes based on rural tradition: la ribollita (bread and vegetable soup), i pici (homemade wide spagetti), salumi di cinta senese (Sienese cured meats), pecorino (sheep’s milk cheese) from the “ crete ” (clay-lands), recipes for wild game “Porcino” mushrooms and truffles, extra virgin olive oil, honey, famous Sienese sweets such as panforte (cake made with dried fruit, candied peel and almonds), cavallucci (aniseed flavoured hard cakes) and ricciarelli (little cakes made with almond paste).
Wines: D.O.C.G., Brunello di Montalcino, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Vin Nobile di Montepulciano, Bianco Vergine della Valdichiana, Bianco della Val d’Arbia and, last but not least, the prestigious Vin Santo and the grappas obtained from the marc of these great wines.
FOLKLORE
Who has never heard of the “Palio di Siena”, bareback horse race run in the Piazza del Campo (2nd July and 16th August).
Montalcino: Sagra del Tordo (gastronomic festival dedicated to the thrush) (last Sunday in October).
San Giovanni d’Asso: Truffle show (middle of November).
Chiusi: Grape festival (last Sunday in August).
Campiglia d’Orcia: Chestnut festival.
Gaiole in Chianti: “Settembre gaiolese” (second Sunday in September).
Vivo d’Orcia: Mushroom festival (last Sunday in October).
Montepulciano: the “Bravio delle Botti” (August).
