Itinerary
3:
The Renaissance of taste
(20 km - 30 Minuts)
Montepulciano
(20 Km - 30 Minuts)
Located on the hill-ridge separating the Valdichiana from
the Val d’Orcia, Montepulciano stands amidst typical
Tuscan gentle rolling hills and green valleys which man
shaped and turned throughout the centuries into a huge garden
covered in vineyards and olive-groves and dotted with cypresses
standing, alone or lined along country-tracks, against the
blue Tuscan sun.
Montepulciano, known as far back as in Etruscan and Roman
times (Romans called it Mons Politianus), first rose to
importance in the 12th century as the swamping of the Valdichiana
marked the decline of the Via Cassia (running further up
north just below Cortona) as a commercial road and is therefore
moved to the west between the Val d’Orcia and Siena.
The town underwent a period of steady development, walls
and a fortress were built and its position started alluring
the neighbouring cities of Siena and Florence which were
to contend for the town for a long time until Florence eventually
took the town over in 1390. Montepulciano started since
being enriched with magnificent buildings, especially during
Renaissance times, such as the Cathedral, the Palazzo Comunale,
the Fortezza Medicea and the Temple of San Biagio, which
gained it the reputation of “ the pearl of the 16th
century”.
Montepulciano’s immense architectural heritage is
today combined with the production of one of Tuscany’s
best red wines, the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, which
Francesco Redi once described as follows: “Montepulciano
d’ogni vino è il Re” (Montepulciano,
a king amongst all wines).
Also worth mentioning is the thermal spa of S. Albino, located
a few miles away from the town.
Events:
o Bruscello (August)
o Bravio delle Botti (barrel rolling contest) (September)
Pienza
(30 Km - 45 minuts)
The
castle of Corsignano came to be known as Pienza in the second
half of the 15th century as Pope Pius II Piccolomini, originally
from the village, completely converted it, based on plans
by Rossellino, from a small medieval hamlet into a jewel
of renaissance architecture finding its inspiration in the
utopian models of the time and gave it its own name. The
village, orderly and rational, can be seen as a monument
as a whole, features human scale spaces and offers the visitor
stunning views of the Val d’Orcia which appear as
if painted by the Renaissance’s best.
Of great interest are the Cathedral, the Palazzo Piccolomini,
built on plans by Bronzino and the Museo Diocesano, housing
works by Sodoma and superb 15th and 16th century Flemish
tapestries.
Pienza is also well known for its production of sheep cheeses
manufactured in the Val d’Orcia countryside between
typical “calanchi” (badlands) and green rolling
hills (so called “crete”) and skilfully seasoned
in different flavour varieties such as walnut leaves and
“vinaccia” (grape pips and skins) or aged in
limestone pits (formaggio di fossa).
Montalcino
(38 Km - 1 Ora)
The
charming town of Montalcino is perched high up on a hilltop
overlooking the Val d’Orcia, the Val d’Arbia
and the Valle dell’Obrone.
The town shows a typical austere medieval layout and offers
its visitors to see the 14th century Palazzo Comunale (formerly
Palazzo dei Priori), the Cathedral, built in neoclassical
style on the remains of a 11th century Pieve and the churches
of S. Agostino, S. Egidio and S. Francesco. The Museo Archeologico
houses interesting prehistoric and Etruscan finds from the
area whilst in the Museo Civico two “terracottas”
by Andrea della Robbia are on display.
Montalcino, though, is known above all as the adoptive home
of one of Tuscany’s and Italy’s most important
red wines, the Brunello di Montalcino: made from pure Sangiovese
Grosso grapes grown in the neighbouring countryside this
wine is the ultimate expression of a territory and a land
which are the very heart of Tuscany.
Events:
o Benvenuto Brunello (November)
o Sagra del Tordo (thrush festival) (October)
Itinerary
1:
Cortona
(11 km - 15 Minuts) |
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