Some reason to visit the south of Tuscany
Nature, food, wine, art history

Società agricola La Sovana Snc
Territorio

Spending a week in the south of Tuscany is the perfect way to discover ancient cities and unique settlements with their churches, museums, and historic sites, but also, a more intimate part of the country, characterised by an authentic, simpler lifestyle.
Romantic, beautiful and inspiring, this part of Tuscany is an amazing destination. During the last ten years, the region started a completely new trend in tourism, focusing on the promotion of its food and wine production, in close contact with nature, and placing value on the territory and its ancient traditions.
What can you visit in this part of Tuscany? Well soooo many things.
Let’s find out together!

Four Cozy Small Towns in the area

While most people’s definition of “cozy” will vary based on personal preferences and life experiences, few would argue against the fact that this adjective perfectly describes many of the best places to visit in this part of Tuscany. This is especially true of the state’s small communities, each of which oozes that sense of warmth, comfort, and safety that makes them such charming and yes, cozy, destinations to explore.

Sarteano, our amazing little town
Sarteano lies in the very centre of Italy, halfway between Florence and Rome. With its pure, clean air, peace, quiet, archaeological riches and biodiversity, this Tuscan town is one of the region’s true gems. Castello delle Moiane – a fortified settlement dating to the 12th century – bears witness to its medieval past. It’s a few miles from Sarteano, in an area of woodland, this complex is, in part, preserved in good condition. La Fortezza – the Fortress – looms over the town, a square keep surrounded by a double wall, with a round tower on each side. There are countless historic palazzi and period churches to be visited, offering a delightful flavour of times past.
Many words should be used to describe the treasure of Sarteano: The tomb of Infernal Chariot
In October 2003, the annual excavations of the Museo Civico Archeologico of Sarteano in the Etruscan necropolis of Pianacce uncovered a tomb with an extraordinary pictorial cycle in excellent condition, datable to the 2nd half of the 4th cent. BC. It constitutes one of the most important archaeological discoveries made in Italy in the last decades.


SARTEANO SARTEANO ingresso

Bagno Vignoni
It is no exaggeration to claim that the piazza in Bagno Vignoni is one of the most beautiful in all the world. What other town or city can boast a main square that is filled with spring water that bubbles up at 52°C? The water collects in a great basin around which the village was built, and around which it has grown. Enjoy an unforgettable experience, immersing your feet and hands in the streams of hot water that run, from the piazza, around the entire of the village. Once upon a time these little channels fed Bagno Vignoni’s mills (which were recently restored, and can be visited). Now they provide the perfect chance to relax and unwind following a long day exploring the hills and towns near Siena.

Bagno Vignoni Vignoni Alto

Montepulciano
Montepulciano is the archetypal Tuscan town: entering via the main gate you embark on a journey through time, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, arriving at last at the highest point of the city, Piazza Grande. Each of the four sides features a variety of beautiful palazzo: the 14th-century Palazzo Comunale, Palazzo Contucci, Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi, the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, which overlooks the elegant forms of the historic “well of the griffins and lions”. Visitors to the cathedral can admire Taddeo di Bartolo’s Assumption triptych, and the Virgin and Child painted by Sano di Pietro. Walking through the square, you will pass streets crammed with aristocratic residences and countless little shops selling the area’s famous wine and other local specialities.

Montepulciano Piazza Grande

Pienza
Pienza was created at the request of Pope Pius II, who entrusted Leon Battista Alberti with the task of transforming the little medieval town of Corsignano into the ideal Renaissance city. As with many of the towns near Siena, it is crossed by a single main street (Corso Rossellino) which leads to a large piazza. This is Piazza Pio II, which has a distinctive trapezoidal shape and herringbone pavement. The Cathedral, the Palazzo Piccolomini and the Palazzo Comunale – the town hall – surround a well, just a few metres apart. Take care not to lose yourself among the many little shops along Corso Rossellino, which offer unmissable treats such as Pecorino di Pienza, the famous local sheep’s cheese.

Pienza panorama Pienza alto

not only Cozy towns, Tuscany IS nature!
When we think about Tuscany, what immediately springs to mind is the typical hilly landscape, with cypress trees and hay bales, and the most iconic is definitely Val d’Orcia. Constantly atmospheric, it is greeny in springtime, golden and ochre during summer and foggy in Autumn, it will always enchant you.

I Cipressi of San Quirico d’Orcia
Possibly the most photographed bunch of trees in the world, it’s about a cypress grove located on a hilltop and it was created by hunters to attract birds. You can easily find this beauty proceeding along road SR3, about 6km before arriving at San Quirico d’Orcia coming from Siena. On your left and right there is a lay-by where you can stop and enjoy the iconic frame of Tuscany.
And close to the cypress there is the Vitaleta chapel...don’t miss it!

Cipressi San Quirico /public/Files/con001000/24/cipressi-san-quirico.jpg Cipressi

The Elysian Fields
I’m pretty sure you have seen this spot already! These are the Elysian Fields where Maximus is seen wondering in the final scene of the movie Gladiator, starring by Russel Crowe. This location is right under Pienza, you can park your car in front of Pieve di Corsignano Which is another lovely church that is also worth a visit. Afterwards, keep on walking along the dirt road and after 5 minutes you will really feel immersed in the Elysian Fields, the heaven of the heroes.

Winding road lined by cypress trees
You shouldn’t miss this highly Instagrammable spot made famous by many car advertising campaigns, it is just at the foot of Monticchiello a tiny medieval village.
Coming from Pienza proceeding along road SP88 just one hundred meters before arriving at Monticchiello, pay attention to your right and you will see a narrow road, from there you can take a memorable shot. There is also another zigzagging road very similar to this one and not too far, visible from villa “La Foce”.

The giant oak “Quercia delle Checche”
The centenary oak "Quercia delle Checche" is located in the Municipality of Pienza,. A real attraction for tourists and photographers, it is at least 370 years old, 22 meters high, has a trunk of 4.5 meters perimeter and in summer it boasts a splendid foliage that can reach a diameter of 34 meters!
On August 15, 2014, she was seriously injured by a shameful act of vandalism, losing one of the largest branches, equal to one third of the volume of the giant plant following a wild session of Tree Climbing.
From that moment on, a long bureaucratic process began to protect the Oak, which in less than three years led the Ministry of Cultural Heritage to recognize it as a real estate to be protected. It was classified as a monumental tree because it is "of particular public interest" and in June 2017 it became the first Green Monument in Italy.


Quercia delle checche

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