Lucignano (Km. 15)
Piccolo Borgo della Toscana, represents one of the most extraordinary examples of Medieval town planning, for its elliptical shape with concentric road rings, it has survived intact over the centuries. The happy geographical location of Lucignano, in a dominant position over the Val di Chiana has made it strategically important since ancient times, then marking its history as a castle disputed between the neighboring territories. At the center of the Borgo is the Church of San Francesco, built starting from 1248 with a typically Franciscan architectural facade, in “Granaio”, inside which there are numerous frescoes from the end of the 14th century. The civic museum is located inside of the Town Hall, it also conserves two plates by Signorelli and it is also possible to admire the well-known Golden Tree (or Albero di Lucignano), an imposing reliquary which symbolically depicts the cross of Christ.
Assisi (Km. 95)
Assisi with its narrow and winding streets, its squares and the many ancient residences, has kept the imprint of the medieval age which here joins the Franciscan memories. In fact, Saint Francis was born and carried out in Assisi. The most famous monuments of the city are religious ones. The Basilica of San Francesco, made up of two superimposed churches, of which the Lower one (the oldest), was started in 1228, frescoed by Cimabue, Giotto, Pietro Lorenzetti. The Upper Church of the 14th century is decorated with a cycle of 28 frescoes, almost all attributed to Giotto, depicting the life of the saint. The Cathedral in which Federico II of Sweden was baptized in 1197, was erected in the 8th century on Roman ruins. The church of Santa Chiara, where there is also the Crucifix which spoke to San Francesco, frescoed by Giotto.
San Sepolcro (Km. 45)
Established towards the end of the century. X around an oratory erected to house some relics brought from Palestine, from the Holy Sepulcher; the Borgo was a free municipality in the century. XIII. The ancient, roughly rectangular walls still surround the center of the city. The Cathedral preserves the Romanesque-Gothic facade (in stone, with three portals and a large rose window) and the spire bell tower. Inside, a fresco of Batolomeo della Gatta, the “Crucifixion”. The church of San Francesco has a 1258 facade, open from a Gothic portal and a rose window, the interior is Baroque, the church is flanked by the cloister (13th-14th centuries) and the chapter house (13th century). The Town Hall preserves inside the famous fresco by Piero della Francesca, the “Resurrection” and houses the Pinacoteca, among other valuable works we remember, always by Piero della Francesca, the “Polittico della Misericordia”.
San Gimignano (Km. 50)
Overlooking a typical landscape characterized by olive groves and vineyards, San Gimignano was already famous in the Middle Ages for the production of fine wines. Built in a place already inhabited in Etruscan times, towards the end of the century. XII, he proclaimed himself a free commune. The inhabited area is distributed over three well-defined heights; The highest part of San Gimignano is occupied by the Rocca, a little further down, the old citadel, dating back to the 13th century, closed within a city wall, further down the 14th century part, also surrounded by walls. During the Municipal period Palazzo del Podestà (with a large access arch, and the high Torre Rognosa), and Palazzo del Popolo, containing valuable frescoes of the time and flanked by Torre Grossa, were built on Piazza del Duomo. In the Pinacoteca di San Gimignano (located in the Palazzo Comunale) among the most interesting paintings we remember the “Madonna in glory between Saints Gregorio and Benedetto”, by Pinturicchio.
Montepulciano (Km. 30)
The splendid town, which for its artistic and architectural vestiges has been called the “Pearl of the ‘500”, preserves its beauty intact. Going up the steep villages, the visitor will discover beautiful palaces and churches where the greatest architects of the Renaissance transfused their incomparable art. To see the splendid Piazza Grande, with the Cathedral with an incomplete facade and the Palazzo Comunale; all around Renaissance palaces.
In the valley below the village, in an unforgettable panorama, the elegant bulk of the Temple of San Biagio stands out.
Montalcino (Km. 40)
Montalcino is located on a hill at mt. 564 above sea level, enclosed between the valleys of the rivers Orcia, Arbia, Asso and Ombrone, rich in forests of holm oaks, chestnuts, oaks and strawberry trees. Since the Bronze Age, Etruscans and Romans have taken turns on this “mount of holm oaks”. Due to its strategic position, Montalcino has always been at the center of clashes between neighboring territories. Until towards the mid 16th century, after Siena had surrendered to the Medici, over four hundred families of Sienese exiles took refuge in the free Commune of Montalcino and under the guidance of Marshal Piero Strozzi they gave birth to the “Republic of Siena in Montalcino” , acquiring laws and civic systems similar to nearby Siena. Between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries there was a period of particular economic recovery, due above all to the large number of artisans who worked within the city, and together agriculture flourished, which up to now has given prestige to this part of Tuscany; Even today, in fact, the landscape is dominated by rows of vines from which high quality wines are appreciated and appreciated all over the world. Among these, a place of honor is occupied by the now famous “Brunello di Montalcino”.
Pienza (Km. 35)
Originally “Castello di Corsignano”, Pienza took its current name in honor of Pope Pius II Piccolomini, who undertook, in the second half of the 15th century, the restructuring with which the utopian image of the ideal city was tended to materialize. The whole village is a small jewel to be seen, but in particular it is necessary to linger in the Cathedral, which collects works by Giovanni di Paolo, Matteo di Giovanni del Vecchietta, by Sano di Pietro; there is also a marble altar attributed to Rossellino, the architect who was commissioned by Pope Pius II to redesign the city.
Adjacent to the Duomo is the Diocesan Museum, where it is possible to admire works from the Sodoma and Sano di Pietro schools, Flemish tapestries from the 15th and 16th centuries. A few meters away is the beautiful Palazzo Piccolomini, built on a design by Bronzino and of Beccafumi. Downstream of the town the enchanting landscape of the “Val d ‘Orcia Artistic and Cultural Park” develops, with badlands, undulating fields and the famous cretaceous cliffs.
Trequanda (Km. 30)
In one of the most intact areas of the province of Siena is the medieval village of Trequanda. The village developed around a 1200s Castle, of which the imposing crenellated cylindrical tower remains today. Trequanda lies on top of a hill, immersed in a natural environment made of woods and neat cultivation of vineyards and olive trees.
The historic center stands around an airy and sunny square where the splendid Romanesque church dedicated to Saints Peter and Andrew, founded in the thirteenth century, has a facade with ashlars of white and dark stone, reaching a rather rare chromatic effect in this area. Inside there is an Ascension in fresco by Sodoma and a triptych by Giovanni di Paolo.
Chianciano Terme (Km. 40)
Certainly one of the most famous and important spa resorts in Italy; however, always to the waters, the presence of a significant human settlement that would have constituted a large Etruscan-Roman center is probably linked. Important evidence in this regard is the discovery of a monumental thermal complex being excavated in the central location “Mezzomiglio”. Many other finds from the Etruscan and Roman periods, some of which have recently been discovered, are visible in the “Delle Acque” Archaeological Museum. Medieval Chianciano contains the small treasures of Romanesque and Renaissance art: some of these can be admired in the Museum of Sacred Art at the Palazzo dell’Arcipretura.
Bagno Vignoni (Km. 40)
The characteristic that makes this medieval village something unique in the world is its water square, in which the old houses are mirrored. From the large tank, the hot vapors released by the thermal waters create visual effects with an unusual charm that are different according to the seasons. It is from there, from the large tub in the 16th century that Santa Caterina from Siena and Lorenzo de ‘Medici, known as the Magnificent, took a bath that one can admire one of the most suggestive panoramas of the area. The rivulet that still emerges from the huge swimming pool, before going to kiss the Orcia river, once fed the complex system of mills, the remains of which form an archaeological park from which opens an absolutely spectacular view of the valley. Entering Bagno Vignoni means climbing over the wall of time, immersing yourself in a reality out of time.
Chiusi (Km. 45)
Already very important in the Etruscan era, Chiusi experienced its heyday at the time of the legendary King, Porsenna. Very important finds, the result of archaeological excavations that continue successfully even today, are visible at the “National Etruscan Archaeological Museum”. In front of this there is the Cathedral, already existing in the XII century and transformed in 1585; adjacent to the building, the “Cathedral Museum” was established in the 1930s, which houses important finds including precious illuminated missals.
In the area have also been brought to light interesting Etruscan tombs such as that of the Pilgrim, the Monkey, the Lion, and that of the Pania. In these places it is also possible to admire the Catacombs of the Christian era, of Santa Mustiola and of Santa Caterina. In addition to the Catacombs, the so-called “labyrinth of Porsenna” can be visited, consisting of an intricate system of underground tunnels, which leads to the Cistern dating back to the 1st century AD.
Cetona (Km. 50)
Located on the slopes of the mountain of the same name, Cetona preserves the characteristic structure of the Medieval settlements with the alleys and narrow streets winding spiral in the Borgo to culminate in the Rocca. To visit the prehistoric settlement of Belvedere, 40,000 years old. The Civic Museum for the Prehistory of Monte Cetona is interesting, with finds ranging from the Paleolithic to the end of the Bronze Age. In the Church of San Michele Arcangelo (founded in 1155) it is possible to admire some frescoes of the Sienese school and other attributes to Cola Petruccioli; a cycle of frescoes by Pinturicchio is instead preserved in the Church of the Holy Trinity.
Castiglion del Lago (Km. 40)
Located in a promontory – peninsula of Etruscan origin, around the 7th century AD. constituted a formidable defense of the Byzantine Duchy of Perugia. Castiglione was then contested by Arezzo, Cortona, and Perugia, which definitively subdued it. In 1617 Castiglione was elevated to a Duchy until 1648, when the Castiglionese territory was subjected to the Apostolic Chamber. The Rocca del Leone was built in 1247, on a probable project by Friar Elia Coppi, pentagonal in shape with four corner towers and the triangular section keep. The Palazzo della Corgna is part of the ancient Baglioni houses and the existing walls. The proximity between the Palace and the Rocca, connected by a suggestive walkway, gives the whole a typically Feudal character. Of considerable importance is the extensive pictorial decoration of the interior, starting with the interventions by Niccolò Circignani called “Il Pomarancio” which began in 1574.
Camaldoli (Km. 50)
Immersed in the Casentinesi forests, it offers the possibility of relaxing walks surrounded by nature, in a place full of spirituality. In fact, in Camaldoli there is the first convent of the Camaldolesi order (founded in the XI century by San Romualdo). The monastery was above all in the humanistic period, an important center of culture. It housed a famous Academy sponsored by Lorenzo the Magnificent and Leon Battista Alberti. Higher in m. 1104, the Hermitage of Camaldoli rises, the first seat of the order itself, which still retains the original layout with separate cells.
La Verna (Km. 40)
A place rich in spirituality and peace, here is the famous Franciscan Convent, dating back to the century. XIII. In 1213 Count Orlando Gaetani donated the Mount to San Francesco d’Assisi, who went there with some companions to dwell in a cave: here, on September 17, 1224, he would receive the Stigmata. In 1216 Orlando built the small church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, subsequently modified, in the second half of the century there was the Cappella delle Stimmate and in the Secc. XIV and XV the Chiesa Maggiore, with one nave. The three churches preserve precious terracottas by Andrea della Robbia, including an “Adoration of the Child” and an “Annunciation”.