Travel bucket list idea:
Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy
Credit Shutterstock.com/Watercolor_Art_Photo
The UNESCO-protected Val d’Orcia is one of the most beautiful areas of Tuscany, a ravishing expanse of open, undulating farmland broken by cypresses in soldier-straight lines and dominated by Monte Amiata, an extinct volcano.
Atmospheric hill-top towns dot the countryside, many dating back to medieval times, when settlements were built on outcrops of rock or hill summits; both easier to protect and harder to invade.
Pottering between two of three of the towns is a glorious way to spend a day; Pienza and Montepulciano are the biggest draws, but other highlights include the spa village of Bagno Vignoni – where a thermal pool takes the place of the central piazza – and San Quirico d’Orcia, with its magnificent Collegiata church. Close to Montepulciano is Villa La Foce, with a beautiful garden open to visitors.
Unpaved white roads link many of the smaller villages in the area, making this ideal walking and cycling country. Weaving through these unspoilt landscapes on either foot or two wheels is a fabulous way to appreciate some of the most beautiful rural landscapes in Italy.
Southern Tuscany, including the Val d’Orcia and Montepulciano, is easily accessible from major cities like Rome and Milan, with travel times of just a few hours.
Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy
Experience
Villa La Foce was once home to Marchese Antonio Origo and his Anglo-American biographer wife Iris who, in 1925, commissioned renowned English architect Cecil Pinsent to make a garden. The glorious result overlooks the Val d’Orcia and Monte Amiata and is open to visitors.
Adult price: £9
Good for age: 18+
Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy
Experience
This small, enchanting village, situated on a hill above the Val d’Orcia, is famous for its central square, which is a large pool filled with hot springs water. You can’t bathe in it these days, so head for Hotel Posta Marcucci instead.
Good for age: 18+
Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy
Experience
Famous for its production of robust red wines (which can be sampled at the town’s many enotecas), hilltop Montepulciano is also worth visiting for its grand palazzi, the Duomo, and, just outside the walls, Sangallo’s church of San Biagio.
Good for age: 18+
Pienza, Tuscany, Italy
Experience
In the mid-15th century, Pope Pius II commissioned architect Bernardo Rossellino to remodel erstwhile Corsignano, resulting in what many see as a perfect example of Renaissance town planning, with grandiose palazzi and splendid churches in what is essentially a rural village.
Good for age: 18+
San Quirico d’Orcia, Tuscany, Italy
Experience
An atmospheric hilltop town dating back to Etruscan times, a tangle of medieval streets lies between the fortified walls, home to historic churches and a clutch of excellent restaurants and cafes.
Good for age: 18+
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