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Tuscany Tour in Val d’Orcia, Crete Senesi and Brunello Wine Country

Private day tour in Val d’Orcia, Crete Senesi and Brunello wine region with luxury sedan, minivan and English speaking driver.

 

Day trip in Tuscany visiting Val d’Orcia, Crete Senesi and Montalcino wine region with transportation with private car service from Siena, Florence, Cortona, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, San Gimignano, Chianti, Arezzo, Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto and from all Tuscany, Umbria and Italy.

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • Private daytrip in Val d’Orcia, Crete Senesi and in the Brunello wine region from Tuscany with private English speaking driver and transportation
  • Scenic itinerary through the iconic landscapes of the Val d’Orcia and Crete Senesi
  • Learn all about the history of Pienza and view the beautiful art and architecture
  • The best of the charming hill towns of the Val d’Orcia enjoying amazing views of Tuscany
  • Behind the scene: Brunello di Montalcino, one of the best Tuscan wines

 

 

TOUR DESCRIPTION

 

Discover the most authentic and most picturesque landscapes of Tuscany with our guided tour visiting the Val d’Orcia and Crete Senesi with private car service and English speaking driver.

 

The tour in Tuscany starts driving through the spectacular scenery of the Crete Senesi, which many have said could recall a “moonscape”, enjoying all the road to Asciano and getting ready with your camera for amazing pictures of the Tuscan countryside. The first stop of the Tour in Tuscany will the abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, a gorgeous 13th-century abbey decorated with beautiful frescoes and surrounded by century-old cypresses, for then continuing the tour driving toward Buonconvento, with its impressive medieval town walls and its charming historical center. 

 

Next stop of the tour in Val d’Orcia will be Montalcino and its massive medieval fortress where you can enjoy the beautiful view and landscape of the Val D’Orcia. Montalcino is also very well known for producing the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG wine and it will be also possible to stop in a local winery for a private wine tasting session and for enjoying one of the best Italian wine, possibly pairing with a typical Tuscan menu lunch.

 

Leaving Montalcino, you will across the Val d’Orcia national park (UNESCO site) along a road which is one of the most beautiful and evocative of the whole of Tuscany: gentle rolling hills, picturesque olive groves, scenic country roads winding through perfect vineyards and isolated cypress trees atop hills.

 

After short stops in the small charming villages of San Quirico d’Orcia and Bagno Vignoni, the Tuscany tour continues in Pienza, a jewel of the Renaissance protected by UNESCOwhich stands high upon a hill and overlooks all the Orcia valley with amazing views. Pienza is also famous for the production of Pecorino cheese and it will be also possible to taste it with a cheese tasting session. The tour ends strolling through the enchanting streets and squares of the town, ending your full day trip in Val d’Orcia, immersed in the beauty of the Tuscan countryside.

Departure available from:

  • The day tour in Tuscany in Val d’Orcia and Crete Senesi is a private tour available from all Tuscany, Siena, Florence, Cortona, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza, San Gimignano, Chianti (Radda, Gaiole, Greve, Castellina), Arezzo, Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto, Todi, Spoleto, Spello, Gubbio and from all Umbria and Italy.

 

Duration:

  • approximately 8/9 hours

 

Inclusions:

  • Qualified and professional English speaking driver
  • Luxury vehicle (Mercedes-Benz or equivalent)
  • Head office assistance and insurance coverage
  • Complimentary water
  • Wi-Fi on board
  • Local tour guide for walking tours (on request)
  • Wineries visit and wine tastings (on request)
  • Traditional Tuscan lunch and wine tasting (on request)
  • Pecorino cheese tasting (on request)

Val D’Orcia: It is a valley in the south of Tuscany taking its name from the river Orcia which flows through its centre. Characterized by sweet hills and cypress trees, since 2004 is a national park, included among the sites protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, because of its perfect blend of history, art and natural beauty. From the Renaissance to modern photography, it has always been a source of inspiration to artists and painters.

Do not miss! Scenic route on road numbers SS2 and SS146, Cypress Woods in San Quirico d’Orcia, Chapel of Our Lady Vitaleta.

 

Crete Senesi: The area south-east of Siena is called Crete Senesi. The word crete is used to indicate clay which gives the typical grey colour of the landscape. In this part of Tuscany you don’t see many vineyards and olive trees, but cultivated fields crossed occasionally by rows of cypress trees and every so often a a solitary farmhouse. Here and there you can observe the particular dry grey terrain forms of badlands, typical of this area, which many have said could recall a “moonscape”. The way from Siena to Asciano is very beautiful and you can enjoy this landscape at every curve of the road.

Do not miss! Monte Oliveto Abbey, Scenic route from Siena to Asciano and Buonconvento.

 

Montalcino: The name of the town has roots in the Latin words Mons (mount) and Ilex (holm oak), and holm oak is actually the symbol of the city. During the Middle Ages it experienced its heyday, thanks to its position along Via Francigena (imported road linking Canterbury, France, Rome and Jerusalem), and it is in this period that legend has it that the Emperor Charlemagne, travelling from Rome to France, wanted to found the Sant’Antimo Abbey. The town is also famous for its Brunello di Montalcino DOCG wine. The wine is one of the most important and appreciated worldwide, and involves only the use of Sangiovese Grosso grapes, with a minimum aging process of 5-6 years.

Do not miss! Sant’Antimo Abbey, Fortress, Val d’Orcia National Park.


Pienza:
Called Corsignano until the XV th Century, when, Pope Pius II, originating from here, ordered the famous Renaissance architect, Bernardo Rossellino, to completely reconstruct the town, following the new Renaissance aesthetics. Pienza, named in honour of its most famous son, is considered the “ideal city” for its urban design. In 1996 it was added, together with the Val D’Orcia to which it faces, to World Heritage sites, protected by UNESCO. It should also be remembered for the production of Pecorino of Pienza, a hard cheese made from sheep’s milk.

Do not miss! Cathedral, Palazzo Borgia, Palazzo del Comune, Palazzo Piccolomini

 

Bagno Vignoni: It is a very small village of only 30 inhabitants, with the peculiarity that its thermal waters flow naturally. Known already in Etruscan and Roman times, in the Middle Ages it was a necessary step along Via Francigena. The central Piazza delle Sorgenti is characterized by a central pool where hot spring waters flow naturally, while in the eastern part of the town the ruins of water mills from the Middle Ages are visible.

Do not miss! Piazza Delle Sorgenti, Parco dei Mulini, Rocca D’Orcia

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