DATE
01 JAN - 31 DEC
TIME
Half Day
PRICE - € 160
VAL D'ORCIA
-
Val d’Orcia is the southern area of Siena, its landscape of clay hills with cypress trees that follow the winding roads, has been listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. During this tour we will stop in San Quirico d’Orcia, an important stage of the Via Francigena; Bagno Vignoni, famous for its hot spring. We will finally reach Pienza, a renaissance city built by Pope Pius II, known for its Pecorino cheese.
The guide does not provide transportation service. To get further information or to get a licensed driver providing private transfer service, please contact me.
PROGRAM
--------
SAN QUIRICO D'ORCIA
San Quirico d'Orcia is a town located southeast of Siena (22mi) on the Via Francigena, which was the main medieval route followed by pilgrims who went to Rome. The building of the Santa Maria della Scala Hospital, built for housing pilgrims is still visible along the main street as the medieval Collegiate Church of San Quirico. It is characterized by the two side portals, added in the 13th century; one of them has been attributed to Giovanni Pisano, who was in Siena at that time. Inside the old town center it’s also possible to see an extraordinary example of Italian garden known as Horti Leonini.
The Vignoni Castle, a well preserved medieval hamlet with the original church and city walls, is located just a few minutes from San Quirico.
BAGNO VIGNONI
Bagno Vignoni is a village near San Quirico d'Orcia (10mi). It is well known for its hot springs. Thanks to the Via Francigena, these thermal waters were found and have been used since Roman times. At the heart of the village is the "Square of sources", a rectangular tank, which contains the original source of water that comes from the subterranean aquifer of volcanic origins. Bagno Vignoni was attended by eminent personalities such as Pope Pius II, Saint Catherine of Siena, Lorenzo the Magnificent and many other artists who had elected the village as their main holiday resort.
PIENZA
Pienza is a town situated not far from San Quirico d’Orcia (15 mi). it is considered a perfect example of Renaissance town and this is why it has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Before the village was renamed to Pienza its name was Corsignano. In 1405 Enea Silvio Piccolomini was born in Corsignano, a Renaissance humanist born into an exiled Sienese family, who later became Pope Pius II. Once he became Pope, Piccolomini had the entire village rebuilt as an ideal Renaissance town and renamed it after himself to Pienza which mean "city of Pius". The rebuilding was done by the florentine architect Bernardo Rossellino. The main square houses the most important buildings of Pienza: the Cathedral, the City Hall, the Piccolimini Palace and the Borgia Palace
INFO / BOOK
€ 160