Places of artistic and historical interest
Radicofani, offers remarkable and unforgettable views of boundless landscapes ranging from the beloved chain of the Apennines, from the lakes of Bolsena and Trasimeno shading the glare of the Mediterranean.
The village lies at the foot of a high cliff basaltica volcanic rock that rises 896 meters above sea level, topped by the ruins of an imposing fortress which for centuries dominated the border crossing between the Toscana and Lazio. Of Etruscan origin, as proved by the recent finding of a temple dedicated to god Vertumnus Isabella in the woods and after the cultural division imposed by the barbarian invasions, Radicofani recovered the old road and strategic role by Desiderio, the last king of the Lombards. Over the following centuries Radicofani belonged to: the Papal State, Republic of Siena, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Kingdom of Italy after the plebiscite of 860.
Starting from the top of the cliff lies an incredible view of the feudal castle dating from Charlemagne. Expanded and fortified by Pope Adrian IV (1154) was later transformed into a fortress by order of Cosimo I de 'Medici by the renowned architect Baldassarre Lanci.
From 1297 to 1300 it was the inaccessible refuge of Ghibelline Ghino di Tacco (Italian version of Robin Hood) whose exploits were celebrated by Dante Alighieri (VI canto of Purgatorio) and Boccaccio in the Decameron. After the fall of the Republic of Siena, the castle was the scene of a heroic resistance until the sunset of the day August 17, 1559 when it was lowered last Balzana the glorious flag of liberty city in Italy. The fort suffered neglect in the final 735 after an arson fire.
A complex and hybrid land nestled between the Val d’Orcia and the Maremma, the Amiata area is a hub of life and culture that takes its name from Monte Amiata, a 1,738-metre dormant volcano dominating the landscape. In a place so rooted in its nature, its story can only be told through the elements, and so we offer here a metaphorical journey into this land.
Sarteano is a town of 4,852 inhabitants located in the province of Siena.
A town of historical and naturalistic importance, situated on a plateau between the Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana. This location has been inhabited for thousands of years. For this reason it has an extremely rich archaeological fame. In particular, Sarteano where you will find some of the most important Etruscan tombs of Tuscany. A large amount of findings made in this area are part of the collection at the Etruscan Museum of Sarteano. The town's medieval past is evidently displayed from its dominating castle, the main element of landscape architecture, and a large number of churches. The economy in Sarteano is diversified, but basically it is based on agriculture and tourism. The local products of this area are olive oil, wine and wheat. The main tourist features are concentrated on the Holy Bath pools (bagno Santo) and camping. The town hosts a score of small hotels and resorts. The relatively mild climate and proximity to cities such as Siena, Perugia and Arezzo, make Sarteano a good all year round destination holiday. The village is easily reached by car or train, within the proximity of the A1 exit Chiusi-Chianciano Terme and Chiusi station.
Siena is a town of 54,188 inhabitants in central Tuscany, capital of the province.
The city is universally known for its artistic heritage and for the substantial stylistic unity of its medieval street furniture and for its famous Palio. It was stated by UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Some of the scenes from the James Bond movie “Quantum of Solace” were filmed in Piazza del Campo.
The first mention of Cetona as "Castle" between 1207 and 1214, lordship of the Earl Ildebrandino but subject to the sovereignty of Orvieto.
Around the Castle, known for the inhabitants "the rock", afterwards the village developed a typical medieval agglomeration of houses and cottages built in a spiral on the steep slopes of the hills. In the territory of Cetona is one of the oldest settlements in central Italy that goes back 40,000 years ago, whose remains can be viewed by visiting the fascinating Archaeological Park of Belverde and 25 prehistoric caves now illuminated with the energy produced by a futuristic and environmentally friendly photovoltaic system, the archaeological finds are housed in the Museum of Prehistory of Mount Cetona. The ground floor of the City Hall Museum, experts describe as being "didactically perfect."
Chianciano Terme is one of Italy's most famous spa towns.
Particularly fortunate position, between the Val d'Orcia with its clay (since 2004 UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the fertile Chiana Valley, between the hills of Montepulciano wines and the beauty of Renaissance Pienza: place of care and relaxation but also a starting point for discovering the delights of Tuscany and nearby Umbria. Please note the presence of the innovative structure of the Sensory Spa in the heart of Acquasanta Park. This park had a rapid development in the period 1915-1920 with the construction of an aqueduct, a bottling plant and the renovation of the establishment of Water St. . This development continued after World War II with the transformation of the thermal plants and the increase in accommodation.
The hill on which Montalcino lies was probably inhabited by the Etruscans. Montalcino is mentioned for the first time in a document dated 29 December 814, when Emperor Louis the Pious granted the land upstream sub Lucini abbot of the nearby Abbey of Sant'Antimo. Origins of the name of Montalcino are at least two hypotheses. Some believe derives from Mons Lucinus 814 mentioned in the document, named after the goddess Lucina or reference to the Latin word Lucus, meaning "sacred grove", or more generally "small forest". Others derive the name from Mons Ilcinus, from Latin mons (mountain) and ilex (holm oak), meaning "mountain of oaks, plant widespread in the area also represented in the coat of arms. With the passing of the centuries the name, however, would then be transformed from Mons Lucinus Ilcinus or Mons, in Mons Elcinus and later in the Montalcino.
Montalcino wine is famous all over the world, particularly famous for its Brunello.
Pienza is a town of 2,231 inhabitants in the province of Siena, probably the most renowned and most important art of Val d'Orcia to which it belongs.
It is not far from the highway Cassia and the other two major towns of the valley, San Quirico d'Orcia, Castiglione d'Orcia. The history of Pienza, in contrast to that of nearby towns, is characterized by long periods of medieval events and wars.
This city was nothing but a small village until 1462, known as Corsignano. The event that changed the fate of Pienza was born in 1405 Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who 53 years later became Pope Pius II. Just a trip to Mantua pontiff led him to cross the birthplace and degradation he found led him to decide the building above the old town, entrusting the project architect Bernardo Rossellini construction that lasted about four years and led to a light and harmonious town forms typical of the fifteenth century.
The untimely death of Pope Pius II closed the history of the town which has since remained virtually unchanged.
The birth and development of San Casciano dei Bagni is mainly linked by the presence of thermal waters: 42 source at an average temperature of 40°c with a flow rate of about 5.5 million litres of water per day, which puts San Casciano in third place in Europe for thermal water flow.
Tradition, brought by the Florentine Domenico Maria Manni, between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, states that it was the Lucumone Etruscan Chiusi Porsenna that discovered the "Bath Drain" appreciated and visited later by the Romans, mainly for the effectiveness of water, also for the proximity it had to Rome itself and the Via Cassia. Among some of the most distinguished visitors is reminiscent of the Roman Emperor Augustus, as we learn from the works of Horace and other classical writers, and Triario, the wife of Emperor Vitellius. The vitality of this centre is also demonstrated by the early penetration Christianity and already by the fourth and fifth century existed in San Casciano a church dedicated to St. Mary "to Balneo".
Montepulciano is an Italian town of 14,234 inhabitants in the province of Siena in Tuscany. The town is situated 605 meters above sea level, between the Val di Chiana and Val d'Orcia.
Of ancient and long history, Montepulciano has origins from the Etruscans from the fourth century BC, It 'also known for its wealth of excellent vineyards, which produce the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG.
The town has medieval features in the shape of "S" and is enclosed within three circles of walls, all built to the fourteenth century.
Of Etruscan origin, and founded according to legend by Porsenna, Lucumone of Chiusi; some documents and artefacts found in the Fortress, dates the existence already at the IV-III century BC. In Roman times it was the seat of an army built to defend the consular roads. It was evangelized by St. Donatus, bishop of Arezzo in the fourth century.
The site of the Church of the Madonna di San Biagio, there was the Holy Mother Church in Castle Pulliciano, so in a document of 715 in Lombard times experienced its first development; In fact, in some deeds Archives of the Abbey of SS. Salvatore on the Amiata, are documents including one dell'806 and witnesses, all of Montepulciano, were priests, clerics, a doctor and a goldsmith, a sign of a high civil and cultural level.
The abbey of San Galgano is a Cistercian abbey, located about thirty kilometers from Siena, in the municipality of Chiusdino.
The site consists of the hermitage (called "Rotonda di Montesiepi") and the great abbey, now completely in ruins and reduced only to the walls, a tourist destination. The lack of the roof - which highlights the articulation of the architectural structure - unites in this the abbey with those of Melrose, Kelso and Jedburg in Scotland, of Tintern in Wales, of Cashel in Ireland, of Eldena in Germany, of Beauport in Paimpol (Brittany) and the Convento do Carmo in Lisbon. In Italy, a comparison, at least aesthetic, can be achieved with the Complex of the Holy Trinity called Incompiuta di Venosa (Potenza), which, however, did not fall into disrepair: the construction works were never completed.
The sword in the Stone
Place of great suggestion, the Rotonda di Montesiepi guards the sword that Galgano thrust into the rock, as a sign of refusal for the wickedness of his time, making what until then had been an instrument of death, a means of penance: a cross in front of which to kneel in prayer. San Galgano has been repeatedly linked to the Celtic myth of Arthur and the sword in the rock.