FIlari of cypresses on the hills, immense fields of wheat, villages and castles. To capture the essence of the beauty of the Val d’Orcia, one must keep in mind the motivation with which in 2004 Unesco declared it a World Heritage Site: “For its being an exceptional example of the redesign of the pre-relevant landscape that illustrates the ideals of good government and aesthetic research that guided its conception. Celebrated by the painters of the Sienese school, Val d’Orcia has become an icon of the landscape that deeply influenced the development of landscape thought». And how can we not agree?
A toast in Montalcino
The journey can start from the famous Montalcino, perched on the hill, with the Palazzo dei Priori and around the precious vineyards of Sangiovese from which the Brunello di Montalcino and the Rosso di Montalcino are obtained. Rossi of character, to be tasted in the fascinating Enoteca La Fortezza (Enotecalaforzza.com) which is located right in the medieval fortress of Montalcino. Within the former convent of Sant’Agostino, in the Civic and Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art of Montalcino, you can admire numerous wooden sculptures, Made by the major artists of the time, by Jacopo della Quercia to Francesco di Valdambrino.
Tuscany, where the Gregorian songs resonate
In Val d’Orcia art is at home and has many different faces. There is the spiritual one that reveals itself to the abbey of Sant’Antimo: stands in a splendid clearing, between vineyards and olive groves, in the solitary Valle Starcia (Municipality of Montalcino) and is one of the most beautiful examples of the Romanesque church in Tuscany. The abbey retains the ancient tradition of Gregorian chant, always an integral part of the liturgy of the Benedictine monks.
The apse and the bell tower of the abbey of Sant’Antimo.
Tour in the historic cellars of Tuscany
To fully experience the wine culture of this land, there is the inn in Tuscany, near Castiglione d’Orciaa small refuge in the countryside that knows how to summarize the past and aim for the future, with Tour of the historical cellars and beyond, meetings with the winemakers, walks among the vineyards, as well as original tastings, such as “History & Wine”, led by a sommelier-historical art of art.
Landscape around Pienza, in Val d’Orcia, Tuscany.
By bike, on white roads
He knows how to give some nice surprises to the gaze of the Ripa d’Orcia nature reserve, with white and country roads, which explore on foot but above all by bicycle. A part of these paths is part of the CAI network, and are suitable for all levels, from those that lead to the highest hills, to the simplest ones. Traveling them, it is not uncommon to come across the traces left by the animals that populate the Crete of the Orcia: the footsteps of the roe deer, the acules of the innkeeper, the feathers of many birds, including the Pellegrino hawk, who have chosen this habitat as a reproduction area. The Pienza-Pedaletto-Vitaleta ring, 22 kilometers, is one of the easiest. Starts from Pienzathe hometown of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who in 1462 was elected Pope with the name of Pius II. His project was to create here the prototype of Renaissance city, almost a new Rome, to experiment with a place of harmony, designed by the architect Bernardo Rossellino and the humanist Leon Battisti Alberti.
In Pienza, the ideal city
Premature death did not allow him to complete the idea but to look today in Pienza Palazzo Piccolomini, Palazzo Borgia, the cathedral, the walls, it can be said that it was close to realizing it. In the “ideal city” difficult to resist the tasting of the local specialty: the cacio pecorino who has seasoned in oak barriques, proposed by the shops in the historic center of Pienza. © RESERVED REPRODUCTION
Where to sleep in Tuscany
Locanda in Tuscany Podere Moro Scarchi 13, Castiglione d’Orcia (Siena). Country resort with
9 rooms and suite, one different from the other and with panoramic outdoor swimming pool. Double from 300 euros in B&B. locandainttuscany.it
A room in the “Locanda in Tuscany”, near Castiglione d’Orcia.
Where to eat
Osteria di Porta al Cassero Via Ricasoli 32, Montalcino. On the menu the “poor” dishes of traditional local cuisine, such as i pinci with the crumbs (of bread) and the tomato pappa.
What to buy
Delights of the Val d’Orcia Via Dogali 2, Pienza. Historical shop with an accurate selection of food and wine specialties
of the Val d’Orcia: from pici to cured meats, from truffle sauces to legumes for soups. Deliziedellavaldorcia.it
Info:
I woman © RESERVED REPRODUCTION