The Palio

kilometres: 140

How to reach

from Siena take the SS 438 to Asciano. Then continue on SS 451 to Monte Oliveto Maggiore and Buonconvento. Arrived on SS 2 Cassia, turn to Montalcino. From Montalcino follow to Sant'Antimo. Go back on Cassia till you arrive at San Quirico d'Orcia: take the SS 146 to reach Pienza.

Crete

The mystique of the Crete and Val d'Arbia areas is timeless. Here each day represents another step in an ongoing cycle of changing colours and infinite silence. The Crete is home to some of the most remote vestiges of the Sienese heritage, with its towers and castles reaching toward the sky and its enchanting landscape in the Val d'Orcia. Here nature has created a sort of perfect island, with such unique geometry and hues that in the 1800s visitors drawn here by their love of the landscapes in 14th-century Sienese madonna icons were bewildered to find them faithfully reproduced. The Crete is a land where poets, writers and mystics have always found inspiration.

Abbey of Monte Oliveto - Hour: Summer 09.15 - 12.00/15.15 - 18.00 Winter 09.15 - 12.00/15.15 - 17.00

The Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is the main monastery of the Olivetan order (a branch of the Benedectine) founded by Giovanni Tolomei, from the weathy Sienese family, in 1313. It is set in the middle of the extraordinary landscape of the Crete. The church restored in XVIIIth century, houses a mignificent choirstall of inlaid wood. In one of the three cloisters remarkable frescoes by Sodoma and Luca Signorelli (XVth century) represent histories from the life of Saint Benedict with a lively narrative style and charming naturalistic details.

Montalcino

Charming village in a beautiful position above production of the excellent Brunello wine. The Sienese Fortress, built in the late XIVth century, was provided with ramparts and a walkway from which are magnificent views. The village has numerous medieval buildings like the gothic Palazzo dei Priori and historical cellars for wine tasting.
For lovers of wine I recommend the visit and the tasting of Brunello in Azienda Agricola Altesino.

Abbey of Sant'Antimo - Hour: Weekdays 10.15 - 12.30/15.00 - 18.30 on Sunday and Holidays 09.15 - 10.45/15.00 - 18.00

Situated in the nearby of Montalcino. it's one of the finest Romanesque Italian abbey. The original abbey it is said to have been founded by Charlemagne in 881 but the present church dates back to the XIIth century. The interior, built of marble and onyx honey-coloured stones combines the French and Lombard style and preserves a remarkable sculptural decoration.

Pienza

Bears the name of the pope who entrusted its reconstruction to Rossellino: pope Pius II Piccolomini. The town stands on what was originally the site of Corsignano castle. In 1459 work began on the town square where the attempt was made to create the ideal town based on the utopian vision of humanistic-renaissance culture. Today, traces of Pienza's past remain almost completely intact and Rosselino's creations still covey the idea of that perfection and exceptionality for which they were conceived. The works of Rossellino include the 14th-century cathedral with carved wooden choir, paintings by Vecchietta, Matteo di Giovanni and Sano di Pietro, and Palazzo Piccolomini, inspired by the forms of Palazzo Ruccellai in Florence with its ashlar facades. On its three floors the mullioned windows are between pilaster strips, where the courtyard emphasizes the Florentine matrix with arched portico on Corinthian columns. Other Palazzi can be seen on the square: the Casa dei Canonici (the vicarage), home of the cathedral museum which contains works from the school of Sodoma, Flemish tapestries of the 15th and 16th centuries, 14th-century wooden sculptures and pope Pius II's cope. Then there are the episcopal residence and the town hall. The hanging garden at Palazzo Piccolomini is of interest and from here it is possible to view the Val d'Orcia. An excellent example of romansque art is Corsignano church, just outside the walls, and then within only a few kilometres of the town one can visit Spedaletto castle in the centre of the valley on the river Orcia and S. Anna in Camprena, an Olivetan monastery built on the site of a former Lombard fort.

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Last-Tour » Siena » Getting to » Places to sleep » Place to eat » Things to see » Tour of Crete and Val d'Orcia area » The Palio

kilometres: 140

How to reach
from Siena take the SS 438 to Asciano. Then continue on SS 451 to Monte Oliveto Maggiore and Buonconvento. Arrived on SS 2 Cassia, turn to Montalcino. From Montalcino follow to Sant'Antimo. Go back on Cassia till you arrive at San Quirico d'Orcia: take the SS 146 to reach Pienza.
Crete
The mystique of the Crete and Val d'Arbia areas is timeless. Here each day represents another step in an ongoing cycle of changing colours and infinite silence. The Crete is home to some of the most remote vestiges of the Sienese heritage, with its towers and castles reaching toward the sky and its enchanting landscape in the Val d'Orcia. Here nature has created a sort of perfect island, with such unique geometry and hues that in the 1800s visitors drawn here by their love of the landscapes in 14th-century Sienese madonna icons were bewildered to find them faithfully reproduced. The Crete is a land where poets, writers and mystics have always found inspiration.
Abbey of Monte Oliveto - Hour: Summer 09.15 - 12.00/15.15 - 18.00 Winter 09.15 - 12.00/15.15 - 17.00
The Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is the main monastery of the Olivetan order (a branch of the Benedectine) founded by Giovanni Tolomei, from the weathy Sienese family, in 1313. It is set in the middle of the extraordinary landscape of the Crete. The church restored in XVIIIth century, houses a mignificent choirstall of inlaid wood. In one of the three cloisters remarkable frescoes by Sodoma and Luca Signorelli (XVth century) represent histories from the life of Saint Benedict with a lively narrative style and charming naturalistic details.
Montalcino
Charming village in a beautiful position above production of the excellent Brunello wine. The Sienese Fortress, built in the late XIVth century, was provided with ramparts and a walkway from which are magnificent views. The village has numerous medieval buildings like the gothic Palazzo dei Priori and historical cellars for wine tasting. For lovers of wine I recommend the visit and the tasting of Brunello in Azienda Agricola Altesino.
Abbey of Sant'Antimo - Hour: Weekdays 10.15 - 12.30/15.00 - 18.30 on Sunday and Holidays 09.15 - 10.45/15.00 - 18.00
Situated in the nearby of Montalcino. it's one of the finest Romanesque Italian abbey. The original abbey it is said to have been founded by Charlemagne in 881 but the present church dates back to the XIIth century. The interior, built of marble and onyx honey-coloured stones combines the French and Lombard style and preserves a remarkable sculptural decoration.
Pienza
Bears the name of the pope who entrusted its reconstruction to Rossellino: pope Pius II Piccolomini. The town stands on what was originally the site of Corsignano castle. In 1459 work began on the town square where the attempt was made to create the ideal town based on the utopian vision of humanistic-renaissance culture. Today, traces of Pienza's past remain almost completely intact and Rosselino's creations still covey the idea of that perfection and exceptionality for which they were conceived. The works of Rossellino include the 14th-century cathedral with carved wooden choir, paintings by Vecchietta, Matteo di Giovanni and Sano di Pietro, and Palazzo Piccolomini, inspired by the forms of Palazzo Ruccellai in Florence with its ashlar facades. On its three floors the mullioned windows are between pilaster strips, where the courtyard emphasizes the Florentine matrix with arched portico on Corinthian columns. Other Palazzi can be seen on the square: the Casa dei Canonici (the vicarage), home of the cathedral museum which contains works from the school of Sodoma, Flemish tapestries of the 15th and 16th centuries, 14th-century wooden sculptures and pope Pius II's cope. Then there are the episcopal residence and the town hall. The hanging garden at Palazzo Piccolomini is of interest and from here it is possible to view the Val d'Orcia. An excellent example of romansque art is Corsignano church, just outside the walls, and then within only a few kilometres of the town one can visit Spedaletto castle in the centre of the valley on the river Orcia and S. Anna in Camprena, an Olivetan monastery built on the site of a former Lombard fort.

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