Home to some of the region’s most perfect landscapes, familiar scenes from Renaissance paintings, guide book photographs and film settings, the Val d’Orcia stretches from the hills south of Siena to Mount Amiata, across an unspoiled and quieter swathe of southern Tuscany.
In addition to enjoying a leisurely drive or walk through the landscape along quiet country roads abundant with photo opportunities, the villages of Bagno Vignoni (ancient thermal baths) and San Quirico d’Orcia (gardens and historical churches) are also well worth a visit or stop for a bite to eat. The pretty hamlet of Monticchiello also has a couple of worthwhile trattorias, whilst La Foce is a private estate that not only hosts the annual Incontri in Terra di Siena, but also has one of Tuscany’s most beautiful formal gardens that is open to visitors during the summer months.