Val d'Orcia

Val d’Orcia is a region in Tuscany, Italy.

Towns

• 1 Castiglione d'Orcia – medieval town with castle.
• 2 Montalcino – medieval town with fortress and cathedral. It is known for its wine.
• 3 Pienza – gothic town listed as UNESCO World Heritage site.
• 4 Radicofani – medieval town with fortress.
• 5 San Quirico d'Orcia – medieval town with many churches.

Other destinations

• 1 Bagni San Filippo – hot springs with calcium deposits and waterfalls.
• 2 Bagno Vignoni – village known for its hot springs.

Understand

Landscape

The Val d’Orcia is characterised by gentle, carefully-cultivated hills occasionally broken by gullies and by picturesque towns and villages such as Pienza (rebuilt as an “ideal town” in the 15th century under the patronage of Pope Pius II), Radicofani (home to the notorious brigand-hero Ghino di Tacco) and Montalcino (the Brunello di Montalcino is counted among the most prestigious of Italian wines, rated 2007 #1 world wine by Wine Spectator).

It is a landscape which has become familiar through its depiction in works of art from the Renaissance painting to the modern photograph. In 2004 the Val d’Orcia was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Get in

Best option is to use car. The journey from Siena takes around 1 hr, from Florence around 1 hr 50 min and from Rome around 2 hr 10 min.

Another option is to take a regional bus, but most towns in Val d’Orcia have very few bus connections per day.

There is no railway with regular service; there is the Asciano - Monte Antico heritage railway, but it has very limited service.

Do

• Steam Train tour. 

Eat

• Fattoria La Palazzina.