Introduction to the Val d’Orcia
The Val d’Orcia is about forty minutes north of Podere Sant’Angelo and is one of the most recognisable landscapes in Tuscany. Expect open hills, cypress lined lanes and small villages that are easy to explore in a day. In spring, the fields turn bright red with poppy flowers.
It’s an easy area to explore in a single day, whether you are staying at Podere Sant’Angelo, Roccalbegna or researching Val d’Orcia Tuscany for a wider trip.
Why the Val d’Orcia is a UNESCO site
UNESCO protects the area because it shows how people shaped the land over hundreds of years. Farming, trade routes and defensive hill towns created the balanced landscape we still see today. The classic Tuscan view, rolling fields lined with cypress trees, comes from planned land management dating back to the Renaissance.
A short historical background
The valley developed along the old route between Siena and Rome, the Via Cassia. Castles controlled movement through the hills, monasteries supported pilgrims travelling along the Via Francigena to Rome and farming supported small communities. Renaissance painters used this landscape as a model for their ideal scenes, which helps explain why Val d’Orcia day trips remain so popular today.
Castiglione d'Orcia
Castiglione d’Orcia is a compact hilltop village with outstanding views across the valley. Its pleasant square with a Renaissance fountain is a lovely place to pause for a cappuccino before exploring the two historic fortresses above the town.
Rocca Aldobrandesca
The older of the two castles stands on a rocky spur above the village. A short walk takes you through the ruins and out to viewpoints that open across the entire valley.
Rocca di Tentennano
The second fortress stands on a separate outcrop and has a tall tower that once controlled the trade route between Siena and Montepulciano. The climb is manageable and gives wide views that help you understand the layout of the Val d’Orcia.
Bagno Vignoni
Bagno Vignoni is unusual because the central square is a large thermal pool fed by natural hot water. The village is small, easy to walk around and close to several scenic routes along the river valley. Below the village you can find a series of open air pools fed by the same hot spring. These are simple, natural basins where you can enjoy the warm water while looking out across the valley.
San Quirico d’Orcia
San Quirico is an easy stop for lunch or a mid morning break. The main attraction is the Horti Leonini, a classical Italian garden laid out in the late Renaissance. The design has long been linked to Michelangelo’s circle and shows the clean geometry typical of the period.
Thinking about exploring the Val d’Orcia during your stay? Podere Sant’Angelo is a quiet base in the Maremma hills with easy access to the region’s best day trips. Browse our one bedroom nature houses and plan your visit.
Pienza
The small village of Pienza was rebuilt in the fifteenth century as an ideal Renaissance town. The main square, cathedral and palaces were planned as one coherent ensemble. The lanes open onto views of the surrounding countryside, which makes Pienza a good place to appreciate why the Val d’Orcia Tuscany area became such a model landscape.
The garden at La Foce
La Foce is a short drive from Pienza and is home to one of Italy's most famous gardens. Created by the architect Cecil Pinsent, it combines clipped hedges, terraced paths and wide views. It is a good place to see how formal design and rural scenery can work together.
The estate is also strongly linked to the writer Iris Origo, who lived here during the Second World War. Her book War in Val d’Orcia records the impact of the war on farm workers, local families and the wider valley. Reading her diary adds depth to a visit, making it easier to understand the pressures rural communities faced and how the landscape shaped their daily lives.
For a longer stay try the circular walk to Castiglioncello del Trinoro.
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