THE SWEET HILLS OF SIENA AND VAL D'ORCIA

1° Day Montepulciano

Late morning arrival of your group in Montepulciano. : a town that stands on a hill opposite Val di Chiana, in an area once inhabited by the Etruscans and the Romans, at a height of six hundred and five metres above sea level, considered a sixteenth century jewel due to the many excellent pieces of architecture. Montepulciano is famous above all for its Nobile, a red, d.o.c.g. wine, exalted since early days by wine experts. Speaking of which, you can visit one of their wine cellars, more often than not built from what used to be Patrician cellars. Once you leave the town you will immediateley see the magnificent Church of San Biagio, and the beautiful green tones of the fields all around are contrasted by the travertine yellow, colours that change tone depending on the season, the weather and, even the time of day. Inside, the shape in the centre is such that the sound can be heard clearly all over the church. Lunch in a typical farm. Arrival at hotel, evening meal and accommodation.

2° Day Abbey Sant'Antimo – Montalcino – Pienza

Breakfast in hotel. Morning: first stop San Antimo, a marvellous example of a Romanesque-French style abbey that suddenly appears before you after the last bend in a cool road surrounded by woods. It is built on a plateau surrounded by hills, and at the back you can see the quarries where the marvellous stone used to build it came from: alabaster, that helps give it the inside brightness. Next stop Montalcino standing on a high hill that looks down to Val d’Orcia, Valle dell’Arso and Val d’Arbia. The town is spread out over the side of the hill protected by a majestic fortress with ancient churches and buildings scattered all over. A stop at a Wine Cellar for a taste of the first class, world famous “Brunello” is a must. Next stop lunch in a restaurant. Afternoon destination Pienza, the Renaissance city par excellence. Born from a thought of love and a dream of beauty (G.Pascoli), its name comes from Pope Pio II, who succeeded in having it founded in only four years, thus creating a jewel like no other, an example to everybody of beauty, harmony and architectural perfection. There are many beautiful places to see: as well as the numerous monuments, much appreciated by tourists, there is something unique to be seen in every corner, like breathtaking, unexpected views that open out before your very eyes, or streets with suggestive, poetical names: Via delle Serve Smarrite, Via della Fortuna, Via dell’Amore, Via del Bacio. In the many shops that sell typical, local products, you can find something tasty to suit everybody: cheese, wine, oil, aromatic herbs etc... Return to hotel in the evening, dinner and accommodation.

3° Day Siena – Abbey of San Galgano

After breakfast in the hotel, departure for Siena, a city with the Chianti woods on one sideand the crete (hilly area between Siena and Val di Chiana with clay earth) on the other, and compared to the land once dominated by the city, Siena is in a central position as though resting in the middle of a low hill. The city, famous for its Palio with its districts, is truly fascinating, thanks to its multicoloured flags, its narrow, winding streets, the perfection of its Gothic monuments, the many famous people born there, and its high quality products you can savour anywhere. The very high Torre del Mangia that stands proud over Piazza del Campo can be seen from all around, and it is precisely from this square that you can get to the Dome, San Domenico, Santa Caterina, Piazza Salimbeni, Via di Città, and Porta Romana. Lunch in a restaurant. In the early afternoon departure for the Abbey of San Galgano. The magnificent, suggestive remains of what used to be a majestic Cistercian abbey are in a valley surrounded by the woods of Siena and the river Merse. What is left of the magnificent building is absolutely unbelievable; slightly further north you can see the small Church of Montesiepi, with its famous “sword in the stone”, bringing to mind the legend of San Galgano, but, as opposed to the legend of Excalibur, this one can be seen and touched, not just imagined.