Tuscany Umbria Vacation

Siena, one of the most beautiful cities of Tuscany, is surrounded by charming landscapes, a land of small mediaeval towns, of the Via Francigena, of oil and of wine.

At the centre of the city is the Piazza del Campo, impressive stage setting for the Palio di Siena  - a horse-race around the square, with the Palazzo Comunale and the famous tower, “Torre del Mangia”. One day alone is not sufficient to appreciate all its beauty, the streets and museums.

And a week is not enough to visit its surroundings.

North from Siena the valley of the River Elsa, Valdelsa, offers landscapes and nature trails, beautiful small mediaeval towns to visit, such as Colle Val D’Elsa, San Gimignano and Casole D’Elsa.

The hills of the Chianti region from north-east to south-east offer hillsides of vines and olives and the production of DOC Chianti Colli Senesi.
South of Siena, in the municipalities of Asciano, Buonconvento, Monteroni d’Arbia, Rapolano Terme and San Giovanni d’Asso in the moonscape of the Creti: hillsides bare or golden with cereal crops alternate with eroded clay and moorland.
The Orcia Valley: the perfect landscape in its unpredictability is an ever changing work of art, dependent on the seasons and weather.  Try wandering aimlessly from Pienza to San Quirico D’Orcia, from Montalcino up to Monte Amiata, discovering roads over the hills lined with Cypress trees, among  fortresses and spas, availing oneself of the delicious local cuisine which combines strong flavours (game, sausages and pecorino cheese from Pienza) with smooth wines such as Brunello di Montalcino.
The Val di Merse, between the Maremma, the Creti and the Val D’Orcia, forms a natural bridge between Amiata and the Colline Metallifere, between the sea and Siena.

In the Area of Siena we include the city, the Orcia Valley, the Creti and the municipalities of the Siena province which are not already featured in the areas of Monte Amiata and Val di Chiana: Asciano, Buonconvento, Casole d'Elsa, Castellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Chiusdino, Colle Val d'Elsa, Gaiole in Chianti, Montalcino, Monteriggioni, Monteroni d'Arbia, Monticiano, Murlo, Poggibonsi, Radda in Chianti, Radicondoli, Rapolano Terme, San Gimignano, San Giovanni d'Asso, San Quirico d'Orcia, Siena, Sovicille.