Fonteverde's surroundings

• San Casciano dei Bagni

  An obligatory stop is San Casciano dei Bagni, a town that has been awarded the Orange Flag by the Touring Club of Italy and the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy certificate thanks to the care for the territory and to its rich history and naturalistic significance. Known since ancient times for its thermal waters, San Casciano fascinates not only for its uncontaminated nature, the forests and the suggestive landscapes that surround the village, but also for the historic centre characterised by its medieval layout. This consists of a maze of narrow streets, alleyways and squares that go up to the Collegiata and the Municipal Hall.
  The church of Santa Maria della Colonna, the Turrito Castle, the Church of the Holy Conception or Visitation, the Capuchin Church and the 5th century Pagan Temple are some of the wonders that you can visit.

• Chiusi, archaeological centre

  With its splendid Etruscan and Roman remnants, is an important archaeological centre, famous in Italy and around the world. The National Archaeological Museum of the town, one of the most important in the sector, will intrigue you with the historical rarities and tombs that can be found throughout the area, including the famous tomb of the Monkey, dating back to the beginning of the 5th century BCE, still bearing important frescoes to this day.
  The catacombs of Santa Mustiola and Santa Caterina are from ancient Roman times, along with the large cistern under a thirteenth-century defence tower, adapted to become a bell tower at the end of the sixteenth centuty. The subsoil of Chiusi is of particular charm, famous for its vast network of Etruscan tunnels, now partially accessible. In addition to the Cathedral of San Secondiano and its museum, the Chiusi lake, a few kilometres from the city, is also worth a visit. A quiet stretch of water flowing between cultivated fields and reeds, is a hot spot for catch-and-release fishing and bird watching.

• Montepulciano, the pearl of the sixteenth century

  Montepulciano,”the pearl of the sixteenth century”, is a destination you cannot miss: with its Piazza Grande, surrounded by authentic masterpieces of Renaissance architecture, it has perfectly preserved the atmosphere of that era. As an echo to this setting, there are artistic buildings of great interest such as Palazzo Comunale, Palazzo Cantucci, Palazzo del Capitano, Palazzo dei Nobili, the Cathedral and the artistic treasures kept in the temple, and again Palazzo Cervini, Palazzo Grugni, the Fortress, Palazzo Budelli, the Temple of San Biagio, the church of Sant’Agostino and that of Santa Lucia, the church of Jesus and the church of Santa Maria dei Servi.
  The villages and squares that open unexpectedly upon breathtaking vignettes make this city unique which, in addition to the architectural beauties, is known for its renowned wine cellars of undoubted historical value: some of these, in continuous use for centuries, occupy a large part of the subsoil of the town.

• Pienza and Boccaccio's story

  Pienza, which was mentioned by Renaissance writer Giovanni Boccaccio under its original name of Corsignano in one of his short stories, is a splendid town that was radically renovated by the will of Pope Pius II, in the second half of the fifteenth century, by one of the most famous architects of the time: Bernardo da Settignano, also known as Il Rossellino. Today, it still presents the urbanistic and aesthetic canons of the ideal Renaissance city: the main street, thanks to a skilful game of perspective, seems very long to those who begin to walk it, even though in reality, this tiny jewel of a town measures, from one end to the other, less than four hundred metres. In addition to the main street, Piazza Pio II is another attraction to admire: this represents the monumental centre of Pienza, with the main historical buildings such as the Cathedral, Palazzo Piccolomini, Palazzo Borgia, Palazzo Ammannati and the Town Hall.
  After crossing the large entrance of Palazzo Piccolomini, you will see in front of you a beautiful hanging garden that overlooks the Val d’Orcia and offers an incredibly suggestive panorama.

• The charm of the Val D'Orcia

  Finally, the entire Val d’Orcia is an exceptional setting: this is the vast area that extends into the south of the province of Siena and which has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by Unesco for its beauty.
  It is a natural park crossed by the eponymous Orcia river, and it offers dreamlike views, where the hilly landscape contrasts with the majesty of Mount Amiata. Here, there is an atmosphere of magical harmony, where the green of the vineyards and olive trees, the colour of the streams and the characteristic clays create a beautiful blend. Admiring this spectacle of nature causes intense emotions that evoke the canonical beauty of the most famous paintings by the great Sienese painters of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.