Scenic drives in Tuscany

Old Apr 23rd, 2013, 05:53 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Scenic drives in Tuscany

My wife & I just returned from 3 weeks in Italy. We spent 2 of those weeks in the Val d'Orcia - our favorite spot in Italy. I've updated my 23 page Italy itinerary (that I've sent to over 1,000 people on Fodors) with new and revised info about the Val d'Orcia area, and some other places in Southern Tuscany. If anyone wants the entire itinerary, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach a copy to the reply e-mail.

I'll start with Orvieto (I know - it's not in Tuscany)


Hop on the A1 going north.

Visit the perched town of Orvieto** This is one of our favorite towns in Italy. It also has excellent pottery shopping and is a great town for wandering. Park your car at the large lot at the base of town (but after you drive up into the main perched portion of town), or park in the lot next to the S. Domenico (see Michelin Red guide), which is closer to the main sites. The area of Orvieto marked "Quartiere Vecchio" west of the Duomo is more interesting than the area east of the Duomo. Explore this west area thoroughly. Have a gelato at the shop just to the left of the Duomo (as you face the Duomo from the square) – you will see it. Remember, many stores will close from 1:00 until 4:00 or so, except the touristy shops which are actually quite nice around the Duomo. The view of Orvieto from outside of the town is very interesting. Orvieto sits up on a huge rock outcropping. The cliffs are crumbling, and you can see where they are trying to shore things up. Southeast of Orvieto there is a road with a lot of hairpin turns that heads southeast off the road that circles the perched town. Try to find it on the map and then take this road up until you can’t see Orvieto any more. Turn the car around & retrace your drive downhill to get some excellent views of Orvieto with the Duomo rising above the town. Orvieto with a sit-down lunch is a four hour visit.

Your hotel in Tuscany near Pienza is about a 1 hr 30 min drive away from Orvieto (Freeway most of the way). Get back on the A1 and head north towards Florence.

Take the Chiusi/Chiancino exit off the A1 & take the N146 to Montepulciano. Leave Montepulciano toward Pienza. Your hotel, La Saracina, is about half way between Montepulciano & Pienza. The hotel has a small sign on the left (south) side of the road just after another sign that says you are leaving Montepulciano. The hotel is to the left & about 100 yds up a cypress-lined dirt road.

Hotel La Saracina, just east of Pienza. This is one of our 2 favorite “hotels” in Europe - just 5 rooms in this old restored farmhouse with fabulous views. The property has vineyards, olive trees, swimming pool, tennis court, & a very nice breakfast room. Each room has a separate living room /bedroom, with a huge bath area . The bathroom has a shower, spa, & huge sinks. We had the “Malvasia” room which was the best. On another visit we stayed at the “Trebiano” room next to Malvaisa, which was also fabulous.
Phone 0578 748 022 fax 0578 748 018 http://www.lasaracina.it

La Saracina is out in the countryside. If you want to stay in a town and experience Italian village life & walk to restaurants, a good choice would be the Palazzo del Capitano in San Quirico. The 2 suites are fantastic and there is a very lovely & large garden with chaise lounges for relaxing after a day of touring the countryside, taking hikes, and visiting the hilltop villages. e-mail [email protected] www.palazzodelcapitano.com/index_eng.htm

If you have a week or more to spend in Tuscany and can accommodate a Saturday to Saturday stay, I strongly recommend staying where we stayed for 2 weeks on our April '13 trip to San Quirico/Tuscany. This is a 3 bedroom/2 bath apartment directly on the main pedestrian street in San Quirico. The living room, bedroom, and kitchen are all quite large for an apartment. The kitchen is a level up from the pedestrian street and has a double window that you can open and watch the Passeggiata below. Bedrooms are in the back of the building, so they are quiet. This is a great apartment in a perfect location. http://www.house-in-tuscany.com/

Note on restaurants in the area

My wife and I are major foodies. We dine in restaurants in Europe about 30-40 times a year. We live near San Francisco and dine in "The City" about once a week when we are not traveling. Tuscan cooking is not one of our favorites, and there are few (if any) "destination" restaurants in the Val d'Orcia. The following are our favorites - based on the "quality" of the food/cooking/menu selection only:
Taverna da Ciacco in San Quirico
La Grotta in Montepulciano (has outside seating)
Boccon DiVino in Montalcino (has outside seating)
If ambience is to be considered, I would add La Terrazza Chiostro in Pienza. My rabbit there was overcooked. (has outside seating)

Except for the above restaurants, we found that most of the restaurant menus were pretty much the same. Nothing outstanding, by typical Tuscan fare. Don't expect any gourmet treats or many seafood selections on the menus. Probably the best thing to do if the weather is nice is to opt for simple outside dining. The following is a list of restaurants we have tried (most, several times) that have outside tables.
Trattoria al Vecchio Forno in San Quirico
Latte de Luna in Pienza
Locanda La Costa in Montefollonica (many seafood choices - best of this bunch, IMO)
La Porta in Monticchiello
La Locanda de Fonte in San Quirico
All of these are in the '13 Michelin Red Guide except Latta de Luna and Locanda de Fonte.

We've dined at La Chiusa in Montefollonica three times. It's is a very elegant restaurant. At one time, it was a Michelin 1 star restaurant - the only 1 star in the region. Then it lost its star, and is now not even listed in the Michelin Red guide. It is still there, but we have not had dinner at La Chiusa since '96.

Dinner tonight. If you are staying close to Montepulciano at the east end of the Val d'Orcia, dine at La Grotta which is next to the big church you see below Montepulciano on the west side of the city. If you drive toward Montepulciano from Pienza, you can’t miss the church – it is quite a sight. (picture taking).

If you are staying closer to Montalcino at the west end of the Val d'Orcia, dine at Boccon DiVino just outside of Montalcino. The restaurant has an outside dining area with a great views of the hillsides.

Day 13
Tuscany – Val d’Orcia
My wife & I first visited the Val d’Orcia (around Pienza) in the late ‘80s when we were doing the typical “once over lightly” tour of Italy. On an old map I used at the time, I had scribbled the comment “pretty” on the road running between San Quirico d’Orcia and Montepulciano. We passed though this area again on several subsequent visits – usually staying 1 or 2 days each time. In September ’94, we stayed 4 days at the 5-room Hotel La Saracina near Pienza, and explored the area a little more (using up a lot of film) and then moved on to the Chianti area for 3 days, San Gimignano for 2, Lucca for 2, etc. In September ’96 we met 3 other couples (old college friends celebrating our 25th anniversaries together) for a 4 day stay in La Saracina. One of the couples liked the area so much that they booked a 3 week stay at La Saracina the next year, and then bought a 2nd home in the town of San Quirico the year after that (after exploring Chianti & Umbria to make sure they were buying in the area they liked the most). In ’99 when we retired early so we could travel more, we stayed in their apartment for 3 weeks - taking day trips to other areas in Tuscany & Umbria, exploring the Val d’Orcia, and enjoying Italian village life in San Quirico. That same year we had spent a considerable amount of time in Provence (7 weeks), and when we arrived in the Val d’Orcia, we both commented that this area was the prettiest countryside we had seen anywhere in Europe. I have various books & posters showing the Val d’Orcia in early spring when everything is green. It looks quite different in these spring pictures than it does in September when we had always been there. In March of ‘04 when the airfares were low and our friends were living in their apartment in San Quirico for 5 months, we visited the Val d’Orcia again. We thought that in September the countryside looked remarkable with the fields freshly plowed, exposing the soil with colors ranging from dark rust to light tan, with the cypress trees dancing up hills or running along the crest of a ridge, farmhouses tucked here & there, medieval villages everywhere, castles, vineyards, olive groves, and virtually no ugly commerce to spoil the scene (like elsewhere in Tuscany). Well, March is even prettier. The winter wheat that is planted almost everywhere is bright green and when it catches the late day sun, it is really spectacular with all the rolling hills, cypresses, farmhouses, etc. We returned to the Val d'Orcia for 2 weeks in late March/early April in 2013 when we owned a digital camera and my wife could take as many pictures as she wanted (took 2,500). We did not have a digital camera in '04. Since our 3 week stay in ’99, we have visited Vermont during leaf season, Provence several more times (including poppy, lavender & sunflower seasons), the Dordogne, Alsace, Pays Basque, Scotland, Bavaria, the Cotswolds, and many places in between – but we both feel that the Val d’Orcia is the prettiest open countryside we have seen anywhere. When we were there in March '04, we took several day trips to other sections of Tuscany, and when we returned “home” we always commented “why do we travel anywhere else in Italy – there’s nothing prettier than where we are staying”. So, for the remainder of our 2 week trips in '04 and '13, we didn’t travel anywhere else – we spent all our time finding more nooks & crannies in the Val d’Orcia.

The following is a 1-day driving itinerary through this area, with stops at various villages and sites. If you have more time to spend in this vicinity, by all means drive down some of the dirt roads and even take some walks.

The best times of day to see this area are in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky. When the shadows are long, the cypress trees & umbrella pines look more pronounced as they “dance up the hill” (my wife’s term). The farmhouses sprinkled throughout the landscape take on a special look in the early morning and at sunset. The Val d’Orcia can get some morning fog. If so, spend the morning in a village & start your drive when the fog lifts.

In my opinion, the countryside is the “star” in this part of Tuscany. You “must see” Pienza and there are other interesting villages too, but don’t shortchange the drive through the countryside. If you are behind schedule, skip some villages – not the countryside. You might think that this itinerary seems out of order in places & I’m often taking you down roads that you have already driven. Sometimes, I’m considering the position of the sun when you drive on a road, and other times I’m just trying to extend the time to enjoy the countryside.

You will need the Touring Club Italiano map of Tuscany to follow this route. Also, obtain the Michelin Green Guide to Tuscany. If anyone wants to take walks in this area, get the Carta Turistica e Stradale – Val di Chiana, Val d’Orcia map. They have it at the bookstore in Pienza.

If you are doing this tour as a day trip from Siena, leave Siena going south on the N2 (marked SS2 also). It’s actually a pretty drive. Just past the second turnoff to Montalcino and past the bridge, look for a beautiful grove of cypress trees to your right. At San Quirico, take the N146 east to Montepulciano. This is an easy drive. If you leave Siena by 7:00 you should get to Montepulcano by 8:30 or earlier.

Do not visit Montepulciano at this time, unless it is foggy in which case you should wait until the fog lifts before proceeding on this drive. Take the N146 west to Pienza. The sun will be at your back. When you pass the large domed church of San Biagio (on your right/north) just after leaving Montepulciano, look back towards Montepulciano & you will be rewarded with a spectacular site – the Church of San Biagio in the foreground with Montepulciano cascading down the hillside behind it. This is one of the most photographed sites in Tuscany. Before I retired, I had a giant poster of this view in my office – reminding me why I wanted to retire & spend more time traveling. Don’t take a picture just yet – you will be back over this route later in the day and the sun will be in a better position to shine on the church and the perched village behind it.

Continue on the N146 to Pienza. This road has some wonderful scenery. You should get to Pienza by 9:00.

As you approach the “old” part of Pienza and the N146 turns right towards San Quirico, make a sharp left turn and you will find some parking spaces. If these parking spots are filled, continue down this road & look for the blue parking (P) to your left. During tourist season, you have to pay to park in this lot. You can also park south of Pienza below the village, but you will have a slight climb uphill to the center of town.

Explore Pienza by entering through the Porta al Murello, at the west end of Pienza. Just as you enter Pienza, there is a nice pottery/gift shop on your left (in the large square) which has had a significant impact on my wallet. Most stores open at 9:30 & close for a 1 ½ to 3 hr lunch at 1:00 (typical in Italy). You can obtain a self guided 1 hour audio tour of the town (in English) by renting a headset from the tourist office (closed at lunch time, but open on Sunday). If you want to have a picnic lunch at Sant’ Antimo abbey, pick up some lunch provisions while in Pienza. There is a pizza shop just outside of the Porta al Murello (next to the book store/news stand) where you can pick up a slice of pizza. There is a walking path next to the town walls on the south side of Pienza – don’t miss this. It’s a great place to just sit in the sun & admire the views. Plan on spending 1 ½ hrs in Pienza if you take the audio tour or you’re a big shopper, 1 hr if not. It’s one of the few villages in Tuscany where most stores are open on Sunday, & Monday mornings.

Leave Pienza on the N146 toward San Quirico. This is another stretch of road with fantastic views – perhaps our favorite. Just 2K from San Quirico, there is a splendid view to the south of a very small church and another building with cypress trees & umbrella pines surrounding these buildings. This site is on the crest of a hill. If you have been in Tuscany for any length of time, you will have seen this view on many postcards & calendars. You will pass this church again later in this drive when the late afternoon sun makes this scene perfect for picture taking. As you approach San Quirico, drive into the parking lot behind the Taverna del Barbarossa restaurant (which is associated with the Casanova hotel). The parking lot is at the south end of the complex. Park the car, get out & you will see another of the most photographed sites in Tuscany. In fact, the very first picture that appears in my ’95 Michelin Green Guide to Tuscany, is a photograph of this scene – a farmhouse sitting on top of a hill, surrounded by cypress trees. A “coffee table” book I own has photographs of this site at different times of the year – it’s quite remarkable. This site is even on the cover of that book. I also have a poster (yes, it was hanging in my office too).

You should get to San Quirico by 11:00 if you stopped for some picture taking along the way. Don’t visit San Quirico now – do so later in the itinerary if you have time (it’s worth a visit).

Follow the signs at San Quirico and get on the SR2/N2 (same road) toward Siena (north). Just after you leave San Quirico on the N2, you will cross a bridge. If you look back, there is a striking view of the village of San Quirico from the bridge. Unfortunately, I have never been brave enough to get out of the car & take a picture from this bridge. Further along the N2 there is a pretty grove of cypress trees on your left (west). This grove can be seen better traveling south, however. On your right, you will see several cypress trees and umbrella pines dotting the ridge of a hill. You might recognize this site from postcards & calendars you have seen. Turn off the N2 & go to Montalcino.

As you approach Montalcino, you will get some good views of this perched village. The road will turn a few times & will take you to the south entrance of town, which will be marked with a large “Montalcino” painted on a white background on the stone wall of town, and a “centro” sign will be pointing into town . Do not enter through this entrance - instead turn a very sharp left when you see this town sign and follow the road uphill. Very shortly you will see a round-about. Exit to the right off the round-about to find a place to park. There is a rather large car parking lot near the old fortress (Rocca). Note – When you arrive into Montalcino and encounter this round-about, note the sign to Sant’ Antimo Abbey (marked “S. Antimo”), where you will go next on this itinerary (it’s marked on the round-about). The road to this abbey is a very sharp left (almost a full circle around the round-about). We've taken the "wrong" road from this round-about several times. Look for the sign that says "S. Antimo".

Visit Montalcino. You should get there by 11:00. Many shops will close by 1:00. You can visit the fortress, but I found it only OK. Budget about 1 hour or less in Montalcino. It has some nice outdoor lunch spots if you want a sit-down lunch (I’m pushing the picnic at Sant’ Antimo). See my later comments about Montalcino if you want to spend a morning & lunch there.

Follow the signs (and your map) to Sant’ Antimo Abbey. The Abbey is quite lovely, but what I like best about it, is the setting – we’ve used up a lot of film there. It’s located in a valley surrounded by hills, cypress trees dancing up these hills, and a lawn around of the Abbey (where you can picnic). It’s also a good place for a little snooze in the sun. There are Gregorian chants inside the church at various times of the day (posted on the entrance to the church – one chant is at 12:45). See http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/tuscany/sant_antimo.htm for a full chant schedule and a description of Sant Antimo.

Continue on your drive through the countryside. You should leave Sant’ Antimo about 1:30. Take the road south-east of the abbey, toward Monte Amiata on your Touring Club map and "signed" Castiglione d' Orcia on the road sign. Pass through Monte Amiata, and at Ost. Ansidonia, turn left (north-east) to Castiglione d ' Orcia. This is pretty countryside. Pass through/beside Castiglione (great views from the road to this perched village as you leave town) and get on the N2 & head north toward San Quirico. You should get to San Quirico about 2:00 or so.

Continue past San Quirico toward Siena. You will have another chance to see the cypress grove to your left, and the cypresses & umbrella pines running along the ridge to your right. Get off the N2 at Torrenieri. There is a road that runs from Torrenieri to San Quirico, just east of the N2. Find it on the Touring Club map. You want to head south on this road from Torrenieri to the “phantom” village of Bellaria on the map (there really isn’t any village there). When driving through Torrenieri just after leaving the N2, you need to turn right at the first stop sign (in front of a small church) and you will immediately cross a railroad track. As you approach Bellaria, look to your right and you will see more umbrella pines & cypress trees dotting the top of a ridge. These are the same trees you saw from the N2 on your drive to Montalcino and to Torrenieri. When you get to Bellaria, turn left (east) to Cosona (it’s marked at the turn). You will be on a dirt road. It is one of our favorite drives in this area. Continue & go slowly on this dirt road. Lots of pretty sites here. This dirt road will kind of dead-end onto another road (see it on your map). Turn right toward Pienza. When you get to the N146, turn west (right) toward San Quirico. You should get here around 3:00.

About half way to San Quirico, there is a dirt road that heads south of the N146 – find it on the map (it’s the only road on the map between Pienza & San Quirico). Watch for a road sign of a "leaping deer" and a "3K" (on the deer sign). There is also a "standard" road sign indicating an upcoming left turn. Prior to '13 there was a sign to the “Agriturismo il Rigo” (famous Agrit/cooking school http://www.agriturismoilrigo.com/_en/home.html ). Turn south/left onto this dirt road (there is actually a "Y" entrance on this road). Very soon after turning onto this dirt road, there's a sign for the Agriturismo Cretaiole. Il Rigo is at the "other" end of the road - you'll want to take pictures of il Rigo. We have often driven down this road, parked the car, & started on a hike from here. We've probably taken more pictures along this road (per mile/K) than any other road in the area. Continue on this road until it connects with the N2.

Continue south on the N2, and after about 2K, head east on the paved road (marked yellow on the touring club map) toward Chianciano & Pienza (well marked). This road passes through another “phantom” town called Spedaletto – find it on the map to make sure you turned at the right place off the N2. This road goes trough the heart of the Val d’Orcia and is quite picturesque. Continue on this road toward Chianciano Terme. You will have a nice view of Pienza perched on top of a ridge, off in the distance to the left (north). There is an “interchange” on this road – pay attention & keep heading to Chianciano Terme. Just before La Foce, you will see a lovely double set of cypress trees to the north, dancing (again) up the hill (another much photographed site). Continue on this road, and shortly you will see a parking lot opposite the Restaurant Oasi la Foce. Pull into this lot & you will get another view of this double set of cypress trees. Continue toward Chianciano, and about 1/2K after the parking lot, take the first left (north) on a dirt road toward Montepulciano (well marked). This will be a dirt road and will pass around a lovely castle. When the dirt road becomes a paved road, turn left towards Monticchiello (well marked). As you approach Monticciello, this road becomes particularly scenic.

Monticchiello is a very cute village – it’s where my father-in-law says he wants to live. Park the car in the lot outside this village near the refreshment stand (do you need any) & wander around. It’s a 30 min wander. There is a nice restaurant in town called La Porta.

Look at Monticchiello on the Touring Club map. You will see lots of roads radiating from this small village like spokes on a bicycle wheel. All these roads have fantastic views of the countryside – in my opinion, they offer the prettiest drives in the Val d’Orcia. If you have time to spare, by all means drive down all these roads. We’ve done this quite often at various times of the day when the sun casts different shadow patterns on the rolling hills and from the cypress trees. My favorite drive is the one branching out at 8:00 from Monticchiello. It connects to the road heading directly north to Pienza. Drive down this "8:00" road and then turn right towards Pienza & you will get a fantastic view of Pienza. Just a little south of Pienza, there is a dirt road that heads south-west. Take this road and it will connect with the Chianciano road running east/west. From here you can retrace the drive east towards La Foce where you will head to Montepulciano (by-passing the turn to Monticchiello). When this road hits the N146, turn left to Montepulciano.

If you don’t have extra time available for this side trip, after visiting Monticchiello head back down hill from the parking lot. Immediately after leaving the lot, go straight at the "fork" (just after the first house on the right) and don't follow the "Tutte le Direzioni" sign - instead angle left/straightish past a "marked" parking area. This will lead to Montepulciano on a paved road that shortly becomes a dirt road and later paved again. There is a nice view of Montepulciano from this road. When this road dead-ends at the N146, turn left towards Pienza, or right to Montepulciano if you want to visit this town (one of my favorites).

Visit Montpulciano, if you like (1 1/2 hr visit). Use the Michelin Green Guide to find the sites you want to visit. Hike all the way up to the Piazza Grande. It’s a somewhat steep walk through town, however, but the village is very pretty. You can taste some excellent wine at the Avignonesi estate (you will see it – just opposite the tall column in the middle of the main street, just after you enter town). If you need a snack, find a place where you can get pizza by the slice & have a mushroom (fungi) and truffle (tartufi) pizza (only in Italy!!!).

Leave Montepulciano towards Pienza on the N146 again. Now you get a better view with the remarkable San Biagio Church in the foreground and Montepulciano in the background (you may have to drive a little west on the N146 to get the view). Hopefully you are at this spot about 5:00 or so. Without any further stops, you are less than 1 ½ hrs from Siena.

Drive along the N146 toward Pienza & San Quirico again (30 min drive). The sun will be in your face, but now the little church with the cypress trees around it will look quite different, as will other sites you photographed when you drove this route in the morning.

If time allows, visit San Quirico (it’s 45 mins to Siena from SQ). San Quirico is kind of a poor man’s Pienza – but they like it that way. It’s a town where people really live. In fact, I’ve told friends that San Quirico is the type of town we wish our small towns in the US would be like – kind of a River City, Iowa (Music Man). Everyone knows everyone else, people are out strolling, there are stores where locals shop for their everyday stuff, etc. Families congregate at the Bar Centrale (closed Thurs) in the evening, where the men play cards in one room, the younger children are in the video room, and the older children are outside playing soccer in the town square or just hanging out. If you visit San Quirico, have a coffee latte at the Bar Centrale & “people watch”. SQ is a 30-45 min visit. Some stores may be closed Wednesday afternoon.

Further reading suggestions:
War in the Val d’Orcia by Iris Origo
This is a woman’s diary of happenings in this area during WWII. “Non-political, it is an elegantly simple chronicle of daily life at La Foce, a manor in Tuscan no-man’s land bracketed by foreign invasion and civil war. The Marchesa Origo’s faithful record is one of those rare and precious accounts that give the truth of history with the art of a gifted writer, that bear witness nobly to ignoble times.” The preceding was lifted from the back cover of the book. While we were there in ’02, they were celebrating the 100th anniversary of her birth.

Dinner Taverna da Ciacco in San Quirico

Day 14
Head south from San Quirico on the N2 (marked SS2 or SR2). This is a pretty drive & you will visit some appealing medieval towns in a hidden corner of Tuscany.

Take the Radicofani* exit off the N2. As you approach Radiconfoni, look for the "Centro Storico" sign, follow the sign, and immediately park the car. There is one long street that runs through Radicofani, and it is paved with 2' X 3' pavers. Follow these pavers through the entire length of town and don't wander off onto any asphalt roads (a good suggestion for exploring any village in Europe). In the direction of the "tower" (you'll spot it), there are some interesting side streets to explore. These side streets are covered with 1' X 2' pavers.

After exploring Radicofani, exit (by car) from the Centro Storico and follow the signs towards Rome and re-connect with the N2/SR2 (same road) south towards Rome. About 6K after this "re-connect", turn right where you see the signs towards Piancastagnaio, Abbadia S.S., and M. Amita. You will almost immediately encounter a Y in the road, and head southwest on a small road – it goes through Sforzesca. I think there are signs directing you to Pitigliano & Sorano (this road was blocked when we were there in '13, so I'm trying to recall info from our trip in '04). Follow this road through S. Valentino to Sorano*. Upon arriving in Sorano, pull into the large parking lot on your right (just off the road) and walk to the old fortress.

Sorano is like a layered surprise. The first part is the massive castle/fortress that looms in front of you when it is approached from the flat parking area. It is a 'bulky' structure surrounded by what may have been a moat with large adjacent arches. This alone is impressive. As you continue your walking visit, you cross a wide "piazza" and from there ascend a broad set of stairs which takes you to a spot offering an expansive overlook. Then comes the second - perhaps even more memorable - part of the visit. Because, from above and spreading out below, you then see a panoramic view of the old village itself which has not been evident when you first approached the castle. Initially, the vista is mainly one of the village rooftops and the bell tower of the large church. You could easily conclude the visit here and feel rewarded by the memorable view, but continuing down into the village brings real treats. Once you have descended into the village, you find yourself in a maze of twisting, turning pedestrian "paths" - none if which is level and none of which seems to follow any particular plan or organized layout - it is a labyrinth which forms the town. You literally ramble and meander up and down the passages. Unobtrusively, small doors often fronted by a short set of stone steps signal the presence of a home. A small terrace tucked into an outward-facing stone wall offers up another clue that somebody lives within. It is easy to believe that "somehow" this town has luckily managed to remain in livable condition over its hundreds of years and that the small stone dwellings have simply remarkably withstood the toll of time. But, just when you think you are walking through a well-preserved time capsule, you see a structure which has literally collapsed into itself or one which more resembles a pile of stone rubble than a dwelling. Then you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the effort that has gone into preserving and/or restoring the town to its current pleasing condition. While mostly "residential", the passages widen and open up in several spots to accommodate light commerce - a pottery shop and perhaps a small restaurant. While the town has only muted noises, a child's voice is heard in the distance and cats skitter here and there to signal that there is real daily life going on behind the shutters. From the town, you can glance back up to the pizzza adjacent to the castle and to the stairs which brought you down into the village and you realize fully how the town literally tumbles down the hill from the high, protective point of the castle. Budget 10 minutes to just view the lower village from the fortress, and 1 hour to explore all of old Sorano (there is a "new" part).

After visiting Sorano, when you leave the parking lot you will immediately see a sign with two different directions to Sovena. One says Sovena/Pitigliano to the left and the other says Sovena/Castell-Azzara to the right. Take the Sovana/Castell-Azzara to the right and get your camera poised. There are some fabulous views of Sorano from this road. Keep following the road through a gorge to Sovana.

When you arrive in Sovana*, follow the signs to the "center" (acute left turn involved) and park where it tells you to park. As where Sorano was hilly with narrow streets, lots of small passageways, stairs, few "cute shops" or restaurants - Sovana's one main street is flat, wide, with many shops & restaurants (a bit touristy).

Leave Sovana heading east - the same road you used to get to Sovana from Soreno. After about 3K, follow the signs to Pitigliano. Get the camera ready again, because there are some fabulous views of Pitigliano from this road - but this is the north side of Pitigliano so the village may be silhouetted. Continue to follow the road to Pitigliano around the base of the village to the south side of Pitigliano. Soon you will see a sign directing you left into Pitigliano, and another directing you right towards Albinia. Take this right towards Albinia and you will see some amazing views of Pitigliano. There is a "pull-out" along this road where you and dozens of other cars will park to take pictures. Do a U-turn & go into Pitigliano. Good luck with parking - it is difficult.

As opposed to Sorano (above), Pitigliano* presents itself in its entirety upon approach! In fact, a gasp is in order when Pitigliano comes into view. Pitigliano does not "tumble" down its textured rock foundation, but rather is a low-slung town stretched along the top of the rock outcropping on which it sits. It offers a distinctly different visual effect from the "traditional" hilltop towns which have more of a vertical orientation vs Pitigliano's horizontal plane. The rock cliffs which form the base for Pitigliano are fascinating in and of themselves, but when the town and its supporting cliffs are considered in combination, the resulting effect is quite remarkable. The buildings straddling the cliffs look literally like wooden building blocks of varying sizes neatly stacked side by side, punctuated by a set of arches which is visible from a distance on the road outside town. Once inside town, these same arches provide a visual landmark which helps to map in your mind the external and internal orientation of Pitigliano. The proportions of the town are quite simple: long and narrow. Namely, there are literally only 3 primary streets that run the length of the town; at some points you are able to look across from a position on one side of town and see through to the other side. The buildings in the town are rather stark overall and the town has a somewhat utilitarian atmosphere, although there is an almost-Baroque style church in town which catches your eye if only because of its architectural contrast with the rest of town. Touring the town on foot is relatively easy because the terrain is primarily flat (not surprising when you consider the town's geographic placement on the cliffs), but the natural setting of the town may be among one of its greatest visual assets.

The descriptions of Sorano and Pitigliano were written by my wife.

We have visited Pitigliano twice, and both times we made the mistake of taking the 74 east towards Orvieto, and then north to Onano and Acquapendente. This is a slow, ugly, and very bumpy route. Most of it is in Lazio and the roads are full of potholes. You will notice a significant difference between the quality of roads in Tuscany vs. Lazio. All the cars taking the Lazio roads were constantly steering around these potholes. One person ever steered off the road into a ditch. When leaving Pitigliano, I would instead retrace my route through Soreno back to the N2. I don't know how this road is "signed" - probably "Siena".

The last time we followed this itinerary, we left San Quirico at 9:00 and returned at 3:30. We did not have a sit-down lunch, and we did not visit any museums or shops. We explored all four villages quite thoroughly, however.

Day 15
Montalcino* is one of our favorites. It is flatter and easier to walk through than Montepulciano, has more interesting shops, restaurants, and cafes than San Quirico - and is less touristy than Pienza. Of course, there are dozens & dozens of wine shops. Spend the morning and lunchtime there. Arrive at about 10:00 and have cappuccinos at the Caffe Fiaschetteria Italiana on the Piazza del Popolo (main square in town). It has outside tables and also an interesting interior. This is a great spot to people-watch. Don't be surprised if some school kids join you. After a leisurely cappuccino, wander through town. Get a "rustic" town map at the tourist office and follow the paved (not asphalted) streets that traverse town. At about noon, have a "sit-down" pizza at the Belvedere Bar on Via Giacomo Matteotti just off of the Piazza del Popolo. However, do not eat outside at one of the tables set up on the street. Go inside to the "farthest" section of the cafe and dine there. The back of the cafe is all windows with a fabulous view of the Val d'Orcia countryside below. After lunch, visit the Fortress** (access through the wine bar) and admire the views from the Ramparts.

Head east, then north from Montalcino towards Siena/Buonconvento and get on the SR2 heading north.

Here are two short drives where you can visit the most interesting Etruscan museum we've ever experienced, see some more scenic countryside, and then visit a monastery.

From Montalcino, head north on the SR2, and then into the "Centro" of Buonconvento - not the bypass to the east around Buonconvento. Turn left (west) and follow the signs to Muro. This is an extremely scenic road after you get about half-way to Muro. We really enjoyed the Museum** in Muro. It is rated 2 stars in the Michelin Green Guide, has descriptions in both Italian and English, and has a "lift" for handicapped people. We spent 40 minutes in the museum and 5 minutes exploring the small village.

Return to Buonconvento and then head northeast of Buonconvento on the 451 twoards Asciano and Chiusure (direction signs from Buonconvento). The first site you will want to visit is the Abbezia di Monte Olvieto Maggiore** (check opening times). After visiting the Abbey, follow the direction signs to Chiusure and then to San Giovanni d'Asso - this is a very scenic road. Continue through San Giovanni to Torrenier and then get on the SR2 & back to your hotel/apt.

Dinner La Terrazza Chiostro in Pienza

Additional sightseeing options
If you want to drive around on your own and explore a little further out, here is a rough geographical description of the area that I think is the most scenic between Siena and Lake Bolsena to the south:
Find Monte San Savino on the map. Draw a line from there to about ½ inch west of Sinalunga, to about ½ inch east of Montepulciano, to ½ inch east of Chianciano, and then down the A1 to Orvieto. The area in Lazio just north of Lake Bolsena is not scenic and the roads are full of potholes (compared to the roads in Tuscany) Everything west of this line I have found to be very scenic, and everything east is not so scenic, in my opinion. If you explore the area from Orvieto, to Todi, to Spoleto, and to Trevi, you will find the villages & scenery enjoyable too. Assisi is one of my “must see” towns and so is Perugia, but the area around these cities is not that great (especially around Perugia). As I mentioned earlier, the countryside around Cortona & Arezzo is not scenic (didn’t take the road from Arezzo to Sansepolcro, which is described in my books as nice). As you go from Bibbiena, to Poppi, to Dicomana, the drive is quite pretty. The Strada dei Sette Ponti (Road of 7 bridges) from Pontassieve (just east of Florence) to Vallombrosa, to Reggello, to Castelfranco to Loro (pretty village) is also quite beautiful.

Drive through the area north of the N146 in the afternoon & see some of the small perched villages:
Petroio, Trequanda, Montisi, Castelmuzio. This area is very scenic.

Day 16
Spend more time in the Val d’Orcia. You should stay at least 4 days in this area (we’ve spent over 2 1/2 months there & we’re still discovering new places).

Drive to San Quirico from Pienza (if you are staying in Pienza), and when you approach San Quirico, go over a bridge, and the arched town gate is directly in front of you. Immediately turn left in front of the gate (don’t go through the gate - expensive ticket if they catch you). Continue down this road at the east end of San Quirico and park there for a visit (lots of public parking available – free). There is a stairway up to town at the south end (far end) of this car park. There is even something happening on Sundays in San Quirico (many stores close Wednesday afternoon). Have a café latte at the Bar Centrale .

Return to your car & continue in the same direction you were driving (south). The road will turn to the right around SQ, and there is a stop sign at the south entrance to town (where you entered on foot). Continue straight and head to the small town of Ripa d’Orcia (southwest of San Quirico). This road is quite scenic. Ripa d’Orcia is actually a castle with a rustic B&B (It’s in the Karen Brown guide – our friends stayed there when they were buying their home in SQ). You can’t go into the castle unless you are staying there or having dinner there (rustic dinner too). Turn around & drive to Vignoni. They were restoring the largest building in this town when we were there in March ’04 and it will be apartments. Continue on this road to Bagno Vignoni. This is a bath/spa town with old Roman bath ruins that are quite interesting. There is a spa/hotel in town. You can purchase a day pass for the spa even if you don’t stay at the hotel (our friends have done this many times). I’m not a spa person, but the spa complex looks like a resort hotel you might find in Mexico or Hawaii. The “pool” is fed by a heated water source. It has walkways over the pool as it winds around, and there are lots of lounge chairs where people catch some “rays”. We were there on a Sunday on a cold but sunny day in March and there was lots of activity. The actual town was quite nice too with many/all stores open on Sunday. There are lots of restaurants/ delicatessens with outdoor dining tables for picnics. There is another 90 room “super spa” called Adler Thermae just outside the center of town. Our friends said that this hotel first started the planning process in ’80 and finally opened in '04. People in Tuscany like to keep things beautiful and planning is a lot of give & take. The hotel looked very pretty & blended in with the countryside quite well. Great views from the hotel.

Dinner your choice

Day 17
Siena*** This is our favorite larger town in Italy.

It is only an hour drive from Pienza, so you can certainly visit it as a day trip from Pienza, but I think it is much better to stay overnight in Siena so that you can fully enjoy one of the most charming cities in Europe. There is nothing quite like wandering through the Campo in the late evening.

If you decide to do it as a day trip from Pienza, there is a trick to parking. Head north on the Via Cassia (N2/SS2). This is actually a scenic drive most of the way. This will take you directly into Siena (don’t take the interchange to the left as you get near Siena – many cars will be taking this left). Follow the signs to Porta Romana, which is the old town gate. As soon as you see an arch over the road, park the car. This will be a metered area (with parallel street parking).

If you are staying overnight, the hotel is close to another Porta. This is the Porta Laterina. You can actually drive through this porta, drop off your bags, let the car sit for a short while, & then park it outside this gate. Ask the hotel how to park the car. I did this without difficulty. It will be best to get to Siena early in the morning before it gets crowded.

Remember, Siena will mostly close down for a 3 hour lunch, and some stores will be closed on Monday morning (always the ones my wife wants to shop in).

The Campo*** is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe.

Visit the Duomo*** This is perhaps our favorite medium sized church in Europe. Get there early in the morning before 9:00am. Once we were the only ones there at this time once, & there were 100s of people there by noon. When visiting, look for some devices where you can insert some Euros & the device will light up the pulpit, mosiac floor, or whatever – it’s worth it.

Next to the Duomo is the “Museo dell opera Metropolitano”. We have never visited the museum, but the view from the tower on top is the best in Siena. Climb to the top – it is not difficult. Make sure you go all the way to the top - we saw several people who didn't find the last stairs to the top. You can see all the terra cotta rooftops & the maze of streets below – even the Campo.

On the other hand, the tower on the Campo is a difficult climb. It is cramped & if you get a little claustrophobic, don’t do it. My wife & I both climbed it & if you don’t mind the narrow & low twisting stairs, the view from the top is fantastic.

Wander around Siena. Read the guide books to find the interesting streets & sights. Duck into any courtyards you can find – they are usually interesting. Have lunch on the Campo (on the shady side). The shops are great: ceramice, Florentine paper, tassels, linens, leather goods, & simply “pretty” storefronts to enjoy.

Hotel Palazzo Ravizza. This is centrally located with big rooms, a delightful garden, & moderately priced.
http://www.palazzoravizza.it/
Dinner There is nothing like dinner on the Campo. It’s touristy, but watching the sun set on the campo & the belltower is unforgettable. Just pick any place that looks appealing.

Stu Dudley
StuDudley is offline  
Old Apr 23rd, 2013, 06:26 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
bookmarking. Thanks Stu!
enewell is offline  
Old Apr 24th, 2013, 06:33 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
top
StuDudley is offline  
Old Apr 24th, 2013, 06:52 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you Stu for your continuing contributions to Fodors Europe website. Over the years we have taken your advice on several Italian and Tuscan trips and our travelling experience has been enriched by your posts. Keep travelling and posting.
Colleen is offline  
Old Apr 24th, 2013, 07:11 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 517
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bookmarkng
Ralstonlan is offline  
Old Apr 24th, 2013, 08:10 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We are leaving on our long-awaited trip tomorrow so thank you for your updated information. Just sent you an email!
caze17 is offline  
Old Apr 24th, 2013, 09:05 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,710
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Stu

If you look on google maps using the little man, you will find the only way to see Tuscany.

I posted this a couple of years ago but the google car choose the day of a classic car rally to cover the hill towns of Southern Tuscany. If you street view the roads in this area there is an amazing array of classic cars on the road.

i think the rally began in Monteroni D 'Arabia.

My favourite is an Aston Martin DB5 south of Buonconvento.

See what you can find!
Dickie_Gr is offline  
Old Apr 25th, 2013, 02:03 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
STu: I can't tell you how many times I have read this series of trip reports of yours in the val d"Orcia. And I am one of the 1000 who have printed out the entire report.

I went to the val d'Orcia before I was ever on Fodor's and as luck would have it, we stayed in a farmhouse just outside of San Quirico. Now that I've been back 4 times, I still feel like San Quirico is my "home town."

But I love it all, including La Foce with all it's richness of garden and view, and beautiful homes. One day, however, I think I'd like to stay in that apartment in San Quirico. It will be like going home.

Many, many thanks for the re-run.
taconictraveler is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2013, 04:15 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you so much, StuDudley. I have pored over your wonderfully descriptive TR with great interest. We will be in the Pienza in less than two weeks!. This our first "once over lightly" 25th anniversary trip to Italy with, hopefully, more to come. I will print this out and plan on retracing some of your routes!
GAJayhawks is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2013, 05:31 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,282
Received 6 Likes on 1 Post
It's all about the deatils and you surely do provide them.
Your trip reports are very much appreciated.
Thanks for taking us along on another fascinating adventure.
TPAYT is offline  
Old Apr 26th, 2013, 05:40 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 660
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thank you once again! So much amazing info that I am def bookmarking!
crazyfamilyof4 is offline  
Old May 2nd, 2013, 07:58 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you Stu!
We used your report when we were in San Quirico a few years ago and are happy to have the updated one. [We are currently staying in Montepulciano.]

carolsc
carolsc is offline  
Old May 2nd, 2013, 10:17 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bookmarking. Thank you, Stu!
julia1 is offline  
Old May 7th, 2013, 07:44 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 382
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you Stu. I used your report last year when I was in Val d'Orcia. Thanks again for sharing your insight!
Piccolina is offline  
Old May 17th, 2013, 08:30 AM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Top
StuDudley is offline  
Old Dec 15th, 2013, 05:18 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bookmark
Sberg is offline  
Old Dec 15th, 2013, 06:15 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 29,541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wonderful info, Stu. Thank you.

DH and I had a great time making Spoleto a base for the towns you mentioned. Our hotel had a spectacular restaurant.

http://www.hotelclitunno.com/

The hotel is family owned and run. The online photos of the rooms look much nicer than when we were there so some refurbishing has occurred.
TDudette is offline  
Old Dec 22nd, 2013, 12:27 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 880
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you for all the great information, Stu! We will follow your directions when we drive through the area in May/June 2014.

Laurie
Laurie is offline  
Old Dec 24th, 2013, 10:04 AM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Stu and everyone else,

I am curious about the Etruscan museum in Murlo. Is it fairly easy to find and well marked?

We were planning to go to the Etruscan Museum in Chiusi, but that might change now. Have you been to both? If so, which is more interesting?

Thanks.
wekewoody is offline  
Old Dec 24th, 2013, 10:44 AM
  #20  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>>I am curious about the Etruscan museum in Murlo. Is it fairly easy to find and well marked?>We were planning to go to the Etruscan Museum in Chiusi, but that might change now. Have you been to both? >>

Nope - just the one in Murlo.

Stu Dudley
StuDudley is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -