If someone happens to ask me: which one is your favourite region in Italy? I wouldn’t be able to give an honest answer to this question, but I can openly say that Tuscany is for sure on my top 5 list. I dare you not to fall in love with this region, particularly with this breathtaking little part.
Val d’Orcia, situated in the heart of the Tuscany region, is a beautiful valley where the landscapes are fulfilled with cypress avenues, green and light brown hills, hilltop villas and vine fields are the strongest and most striking points.
So get ready to take notes for the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia, as there will be plenty of places to see and even more things to do and of course, let’s not forget the eating part.
You may have come across this name or maybe not, but for sure you will recognize some of its best characteristics such as the many wine villages, the small Renaissance countryside and of course the famous landscapes.
The best things to visit in Val d’Orcia
Nestled in the stunning Tuscan hill, this little region extends from the hills South of Siena to the Monte Amiata. Its unique beauty and preciousness meant that in 2004 this province was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
Val d’Orcia takes its name from the crossing river, Orcia, and it stands out thanks to its Medieval town, as Pienza, Montepulciano and many more you will come up against in this article. Also, let’s not forget this region is one of the most famous for its wine – Brunello di Montalcino, to name one – and the mouth-watering food, such as Pici and Pecorino di Pienza.
As much excitement as I felt, I would like to pass them on to you so you can love and appreciate everything as I did. So here are for you, the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia.
How to get to Val d’Orcia
Planning your trip, consider it a must to have your own transport, to enjoy all the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia. The distance from Rome is around 2 and a half hours, while from Florence and Siena shrink to less than 1 and a half hour.
Unfortunately, no train reaches this area closely, the only alternatives are to get to Siena by train and from there move by local buses, but they only connect to the biggest town.
Other fun and unforgettable choices to visit this area are either by bicycle or by walking through the Via Francigena – the last is on my bucket list since I visit the Val d’Orcia and came across the walking track so many times, I loved the vibes.
Monticchiello
Luckily enough I could get my cosy accommodation for the whole journey here in Montichiello. So from where to start my list of the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia, if not from here?
With its 202 habitants, Montichiello is famous for its Medieval and well-preserved borough over time. This town has said to be founded 1000 years ago and to prove this there is the church of Saints Leonard and Christopher and the city walls with towers, standing tall from more than 850 years.
Arrive in Monticchiello by driving through this meandering white road on the Tuscan hills and park the car close by the “door” of the village.
Here stop to enjoy from the viewpoint the spring up of Pienza town and the green and light brown landscape filled with the tall mainstream cypress trees.
Monticchiello is a small and cute village, the houses, restaurant and church keep all the same style, bringing you back to Medieval times. Get lost through the street appreciating the flowery balcony, the little main square and, of course, the splendid church of “Santi Leonardo e Cristoforo“.
I highly recommend stopping here for your dinner or aperitivo, the 6 restaurants are there for you to discover the beautiful wine the Tuscany region has to offer and the deliciously, fresh and seasonally prepared food; keeping the traditions and the flavours as simple and amazing as they are. Some of my favourite restaurants are Taverna di Bronzone and Daria, but let me tell you all of them will please your gut.
Last but not least, do not miss the unique and original folk tradition, the “Teatro Povero” (poor Theather of Monticchiello). Since the ’60s, this event was taking life out of an economic and social crisis, from then until today during the summer the community of actors has grown an “autodrama”.
The Teatro Povero acts in dramatic performances touching on different topics, such as historical events and wars, and the strong connection the community of people has built will let you enjoy at most this experience of the open sky theatre.
Pienza
Another listed UNESCO world heritage site of Tuscany and in Val d’Orcia is the little gem of Pienza and also a great producer of a special cheese: Pecorino di Pienza.
Famous for being a hilltop village in the heart of Tuscany, Pienza offers years of history within its medieval walls and historical buildings, such as the Church of Saint Francis, Palazzo Piccolomini and its garden, the elegant Pienza Cathedral and the decorative Town Hall.
The small and delightful historical centre, the alleys to lose yourself within this beautiful town and discovering houses built with the typical ochre stone, will make your best visit to Pienza. Walking into the village you will spot viewpoints that deserve to be exploited for some time during your stay, sweet and tiny balconies, flowers and plants decorating the alleyway.
Spend a full day in this area and enjoy one (or two) of the many restaurants for your meal. For lunch, dinner or even aperitif with a view definitely stop at Idyllium. The vibes in this place are just so high you will definitely love it, same for the food, drinks and service.
If you want to enjoy your food within the city walls Sette di Vino, la Taverna di Re Artù or Baccano are some of the other very good and on-budget restaurants to fall in love with the fresh and tasty typical Tuscan food.
Don’t forget to try Pecorino di Pienza, either in restaurants and bars; but also in the many artisan shops you will meet during your walk. The smell of this cheese will definitely capture you in a deli where you can have a taste of it and buy some of the local and usually handmade products.
Considering staying overnight? Book a room in Agriturismo Podere San Giorgio, here you will be pampered and surrounded by nature, animals, wine, food and good people.
San Quirico d’Orcia
Only 15 minutes driving from Pienza you will reach San Quirico d’Orcia, another of the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia.
Park your car and get to stay here for at least a couple of hours (close by the sunset hour if you manage) or consider staying the night, because even if is a little village, the cuteness of it will make you feel so good you will want to spend the full day and more.
San Quirico d’Orcia welcomes you through the city gate which opens onto the main square and surrounds you with the medieval walls. The village has little more than 2 thousand habitats and used to be a stop along the Via Francigena for the pilgrims on the way to Rome.
The 3 churches in San Quirico d’Orcia are situated respectively at both the “end” and the middle of the village. Pieve dei Santi Quirico e Giulietta is the biggest one at one end, followed by the Church of Saint Francis at the centre and at the other end is to be found the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. The three Churches are characterized by a wonderful Romanesque facade of this light colour stone, which during the “golden hours” turned into pinkish colour and give a wordless feeling to just enjoy.
Not to be missed visit the Horti Leonini, a public historical garden dating back to 1581 and preserved over the year in a wonderful way, even though they have been expanded over the years, they are for sure a perfect example of a typical Italian-style Garden. Definitely spend some time here just wandering around with an empty mind and an open heart.
Chapel of Vitaleta
Drivign between Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia, spotted from the main road is the Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta, one of the most photographated spot on the Val d’Orcia hills.
If you are willing for a short walk, I highly recommend leaving your car in the small parking space you will see on the side of the road and getting to do the 40 minutes satisfy walk.
Deeply typical of this area, during your walk towards the Chapel, the green and golden hills, the poetic olives trees and the dark green cypress are gonna enhance your path; the feeling of the fresh wind and warm sun will only let you love more the journey to this pretty late 1800’s architecture which is the Chapel of Vitaleta.
Montepulciano
The best things to visit in Val d’Orcia cannot be “the best” without walking through the street and to the vineyards of Montepulciano.
Montepulciano is another stunning hilltop and medieval location that you can’t miss to visit during your stay in Val d’Orcia. This town, like most of them in the area, is best to be visited on foot.
Reaching the parking you will be welcomed by the ochre walls of Montepulciano, which will delight your ramble in its narrow street. Strolling through the gate of “Porta Prato” you engage the main street, walk and enjoy the many cafes, restaurants, small souvenir shops – that offer local products such as textiles, olive oil and wine – and also historical buildings craved with symbols from local families.
The main spots to visit in Montepulciano are the Pizza Grande, the church of Sant’ Agostino, the medieval and Reinaccece historical palaces such as Palazzo Comunale, the Nobili-Taurici Palace and not to forget, the stunning Montepulciano Cathedral from the early 17th century.
As a viewpoint and landscape lover, I suggest you to sneak from Piazza Grande through one of the small alleys and get some time for yourself just overlooking all around you. The beautiful nature view will allow the Church of the Madonna di San Biagio to flourish in a picturesque way and give you an extra emotion for your journey.
Wine tasting is a must around this area if you are a wine lover. Montepulciano has an amazing reputation over red wine, in fact here is produced some of the best Italian, and so Tuscan, wines.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello and Vino Santo tasting and studying can make your days sweeter and fulfil with another beautiful experience among the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia.
Consider attempting the wine tasting in one of the many shops, bars or Osterie; but if you get to have a full day or more to stay in this area, I suggest booking your tasting in a proper winery. Here you will be delighted with wine and food pairing (cheeses mostly) and proper enlightenment on the vineyard itself, the process of making these wines and a perfect exposition of this so-loved drink.
Spoiled for choice looking for a restaurant in town will not be a difficult challenge, so listen to the vibes of the place, look at the menu if you’re searching for something specific and love eating your fresh meal sitted maybe outdoor. Cantina Gatta Vecchia Osteria gives you this special feeling of being stuck in time while eating surrounded by big old barrels.
Cheese and Wine Picnic at Cugisi
Indeed I am a food, wine and nature lover so as I spend my week in Val d’Orcia, my best friend came over with this name: Caseificio Cugisi and came out this fantastic place situated between Pienza and Montalcino.
Caseificio Cugisi is a cheese factory founded in 1962 by Raffaele and Maria Cugisi who moved from Sardinia to Tuscany carrying with them the cheese traditions and knowledge, building up a unique Caseificio with a lovely familiar touch.
What is so special about Cugisi? Despite the stunning hilltop location their shop, and so “factory” is extended over 190 hectares amid olive trees, vineyards and pastures. Here is home to the thousand flocks of sheep, fed by the high-quality pasture grass which gives the milk, and so the cheese, the unmistakable, light but still uniquely tasty flavour.
Cheese tasting and picnic are the two main experiences Caseificio Cugisi has to offer. The tasting included 5 different Pecorino and one ricotta cheese, matched with jam and honey and a glass of Vino Rosso di Montalcino.
The intriguing opportunity to picnic with cheese and wine over the Val d’Orcia landscapes, surrounded by cypress, the typical green and golden hills, the peaceful sound and the view over the distant villages, was taken for granted to be one of the best experiences I could do in this area.
Get into the shop choosing “by the nose” between over 20 different cheese of their own production, the local cured meat, jam, honey and much more; of course, do not forget your favourite matching drink choosing through the many options, from some of the best wine of Montepulciano winery and the local craft beer and non.
Take your wicker basket full of happiness and find the best spot to appreciate the unforgettable experience which is.
Bagno Vingoni
An hamlet of San Quirico d’Orcia is the tiny village of Bagno Vignoni. With only 30 inhabitants this touristic spot is famous for its only hot water pool square, the so-called “Piazza delle Sorgenti” (Square of Sources).
No wonder why is one of the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia; the rectangular tank in Bagno Vignoni Square, has sat there since the sixteen-century, containing the original source of water coming from the subterranean aquifer of volcanic origins.
This small village is exactly on the Via Francigena route and the thermal water this area offer, has been used since Roman times. Also don’t forget to go for a walk at Mill Park (Parco dei Mulini), where the thermal hot water flows between these 4 middle age mills, built to provide, in the past, water even during the dry season. The view from here is fantastic and there is also a little hike to enjoy, with the sounds of nature that accompanies you.
Enjoy your al fresco wine with some food and experience the thermal spring water (not the one in the main square) at some Spa or Hotel.
Bagni San Filippo
Val d’Orcia isn’t for sure only hilltop Medieval villages, food and wine; natural hot spring thermal areas are also quite famous here in this area.
Definitely, the best thing to visit in Val d’Orcia during any of your days, whether you want to relax, be far from “village noises” or just have a picnic surrounded by nature sounds, is to make your way to Bagni San Filippo and please your journey in complete harmony with nature.
Situated in the forest of the Siena region, Bagni San Filippo is far from mass tourism and a fee-free area (you only pay the parking fee) where to spend some time in complete peace and tranquillity.
The hot sulfur spring water origin in Monte Amiata and comes all the way down forming a hot river with hot water pools whose temperature reaches 25° Celcius. Let yourself immerse and take the advantage of these water healing benefits surrounded by the untouched nature and limestone deposits that created beautiful rock formations over the years.
Trust me, make your way to visit, but mostly to live, this stunning location of Val d’Orcia. Don’t be afraid to walk further down the “river”, as more pools and beautiful landscapes will take your breath away and eventually gives you more privacy or better a pool to enjoy all for yourself.
Montalcino
Here we are to Val d’Orcia’s best wine area, Montalcino whose vineyards produce one of the most famous and delicious wines in Italy: Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino.
Are you ready to love another hilltop village and the surrounding area of Val d’Orcia? Let’s take a closer look at the most visited place in this area for the wine lover.
As you might have understood from all the previous places listed, the Val d’Orcia area gives its best if you walk through the villages, towns and main spots (of course would need a car to move from one village to the other).
So reach Montalcino by car, park it and get lost in its narrow alleys. The streets are mostly close to traffic and the tour of the city will be delightful with all the encounters you will have during your journey. From flowery balconies to al fresco restaurants, enotecas, cafes, wineries and stunning and pleasant sites such as squares and historical buildings.
At the top of the hill, the 13th-century fortress, the Rocca, dominates the scene with its tall walls and turrets. Let yourself in, exploring the fee-free internal garden, or a 4€ walk on the famous walls overlooking the Val d’Orcia hills.
As you are getting lost through the alleys, run into the main square of Montalcino, a large space where cafes, bars and restaurants gather all the “crowd”; here during the summer, you can enjoy the open-air live Jazz music while sipping your favourite wine. Ancient churches, Reinassence buildings and the famous Montalcino’s Duomo are other of the main attraction of the lovely town.
Last but definitely not least let’s talk about Montalcino’s wine. Some of the most important wine, not only in Italy but all over the world, is produced from zero in this stunning area in the heart of Tuscany.
If you are a wine lover, Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino are a must-try, especially in their own hometown. Bars, restaurants and wineries do offer a tasting experience, but if you are keen and you have time and interest, I suggest you book a tasting with a guided tour of the winery in a vineyard outside the town.
Cantine Mastrojanni, Terralsole, Casato Prime Donne and Corte Pavone are just some of the crazy amount of vineyards this area of Val d’Orcia has. So check it out on their website and do not hesitate to book your tasting.
Best time to visit Val d’Orcia
Val d’Orcia offer all-year-around good weather, despite the cold and wet months between November and February, the rest of the year is most likely to enchant your stay in the heart of Tuscany.
From my point of view the best months are April, May, June and September, as the weather is not at its peak point and, eventually, you will get to enjoy the cool breeze during the whole day.
I hope you like this overview of the best things to visit in Val d’Orcia and I wish to help you even more in case you have some doubts about planning your trip over this amazing location.
