VAL D’ORCIA: PIENZA, S. QURICO D’ORCIA, BAGNO VIGNONI

December 16, 2015

in Siena area

Val d’Orcia is an enchanting region inviting its visitor to slow down and meditate. Its landscape is characterized by rolling hills dotted by isolated farmhouses and limited southwards by the massive Mount Amiata. For its beauty this landscape has been declared World Heritage by the UNESCO.

Pienza, another UNESCO site, is situated here. The former small countryside village Corsignano was turned into an ideal city during the Renaissance, when one of his citizens, Enea Silvio Piccolomini, was appointed Pope with the name Pius II.

The heart of this amazing small city is the square with the cathedral, Piccolomini’s Palace and the well.

In Pienza it’s also possible to visit the Cathedral Museum, which houses wonderful treasures including Pius II’s Cope.

From Pienza we can move to S. Quirico d’Orcia, a small village situated along the Francigena route, where the Collegiata-Church welcomes us with its three monumental doors.

As an alternative, we can move to Bagno Vignoni, a spa renowned since the roman age: here the main square is made up of a tank of water, where hot waters are gushing. Here we will be able to relax and to bath our feet in the hot water.

DURATION: 3/4 HOURS