Why choose this tour? 

Ideal for those interested in spirituality and mediaeval history, this tour is perfect for experiencing the charm of ancient abbeys and small villages in Tuscany, visiting some of the most enchanting and sacred places in this region for a breathtaking experience and a real leap back in time

DAY 1: Arrival

Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Depending on the arrival time, it is also possible to arrange a quick visit to the neighboring villages before the overnight accommodation.

DAY 2: Abbey of Sant’Antimo, winery and Montalcino

Breakfast and morning transfer to the Abbey of Sant’Antimo for a guided visit.This Abbey dates back from the time of Charlemagne and it stands from a countryside sprinkled with olive trees and vines. Made of stones, the outside of this building is characterized by simplicity but the interior spaces convey an air of solemnity: Gregorian chants and prayers echo all over this place.

After the guided tour of the Abbey, transfer to a local winery for a tasting of wines. Why is it important to visit a winery? So you can understand the significant role that this beverage played in the lifestyle of monks: religious rites required a great deal of it and it also was a staple of their diets.

Free time to enjoy lunch in the typical Italian restaurants of the area.

In the afternoon, free visit of the home of the famous Brunello: Montalcino. This hill town has one of the warmest and driest climates in Tuscany that allows the grapes in this area to reach the perfect ripeness. Brunello wine is said to be “the king of reds and the red of kings”. It is no coincidence that it was among the four wines awarded with the first Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) designation. 

At the end of the visit, transfer to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 3: Siena

Breakfast and departure for a guided tour of Siena, one the most beautiful Italian cities. Siena’s heart is its central square Piazza del Campo, known worldwide for the famous Palio:  a horse race that runs around the Piazza two times every summer. Rich in history and culture, the medieval charm of Siena is still intact today.

At the end of the visit, free time for lunch and shopping during the afternoon.

In the evening, return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 4: San Quirico D’Orcia, Bagno Vignoni, visit of a Vinsantaia and Monte Oliveto Maggiore

In the morning, guided visit of San Quirico d’Orcia. In ancient times this town was an important stop, due to the fact that it sat along the Via Francigena, the route that connected northern Europe to Rome. San Quirico is one of the most charming medieval towns of the Val d’Orcia, abundant in olive groves, vineyards and oak woods.

Guided tour of Bagno Vignoni in the late morning. A lovely town where tiny houses surround a unique square made of a pool of natural spring water: Bagno Vignoni was frequented by Romans since ancient times for its thermal pools. Nowadays, thanks to its remarkable historical center, the town of Bagno Vignoni has been used as a natural setting for numerous films. 

After the visit, guests will taste the famous “Vinsanto” (a wine made from grapes dried on straw mats) in a traditional “Vinsantaia”, the space in which barrels of Vin Santo are fermented.

Free time to enjoy lunch in the typical Italian restaurants of the area.

Guided visit of the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore during the afternoon. In the midst of the Tuscan countryside stands this ancient Benedectine Monastery where pilgrims received shelter and medical care. Like the village of San Quirico d’Orcia, this Abbey lies along the Via Francigena. However, this building had much more to offer than its holy atmosphere: in the dark of its cellars were kept barrels of fine wine as well as other products of the area.

In the evening, return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 5: Montepulciano, dairy farm and Pienza 

Breakfast and departure for Montepulciano. Nestled between the Val D’Orcia and Val di Chiana, Montepulciano is the perfect example of a Tuscan medieval village where perhaps the most interesting construction of the Renaissance is preserved: the Temple of San Biagio. The highest point of the town is represented by its square,  Piazza Grande, surrounded by ancient buildings. Apart from the historical aspects, wine lovers will already know that this village is where one of the most renowned red wines of Tuscany is produced: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, not to be confused with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.

Guests will have lunch in an awarded dairy farm, where one of the best sheep cheeses is produced. With a taste of different cheeses, they will experience a real journey into “the world of cheese”, with its aromas and flavors.

Visit of Pienza during the afternoon. Pienza is a testimony of the urban standards of the Renaissance: the rational organization of the spaces and the unparalleled perspectives of its 16th-century squares and palaces will surely captivate the visitor’s gaze. But there is something else to pay attention to: the pastures that surround this World Heritage Site. In fact, the meadows around Pienza where the sheeps graze are made of aromatic herbs that ensure a unique flavor of the milk of this land.

In the evening, return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

We don’t want our guests to leave without a tasty souvenir of this trip: that is why a gastronomic lottery of typical Italian cold cuts will be offered during the last dinner together, as well as a parting gift: a bottle of high quality local extra virgin olive oil.

DAY 6: Departure

Departure and return to home. Depending on the departure time, it is also possible to arrange another visit before returning home.