Val D'orcia

Val d'Orcia is one of Tuscany's most celebrated landscapes, stretching south of Siena across a broad valley of rolling clay hills, cypress-lined roads, and medieval hilltop towns. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, the valley was shaped during the Renaissance when the ruling families of Siena reorganised its farmland and villages into an image of the ideal landscape, an influence that can be traced directly to the paintings of the Sienese school. The towns of Pienza, Montalcino, and Bagno Vignoni each carry distinct histories, from Pienza's Renaissance urban planning commissioned by Pope Pius II to Montalcino's association with Brunello wine production.

Visiting from Florence, a full-day tour of Val d'Orcia covers the valley's signature scenery and its historic settlements, offering a grounded introduction to a region that has shaped both Italian art and agricultural tradition. The landscape is at its most photogenic in spring and early summer, when the wheat fields and wildflowers are in full colour.