Guide for Tuscany | Val d'Orcia map

Val d'Orcia map

The Val d'Orcia is one of the most suggestive and unique valleys of Tuscany, especially in spring, during the months of April and May. [1] Since 2004 the Val d'Orcia is part of the Unesco World Heritage Sites in Tuscany.
There are great hiking trails in the Val d’Orcia and in the nearby Crete Senesi area and Monte Amiata.

Maps

The Italian Touring Club's Toscana/Tuscany map (1:200.000) is not a bad choice to explore the region, but a better option is Kompass map 653 Pienza - Montalcino - Monte Amiata (1:50.000).

Podere Santa Pia is a large old rambling Tuscan farm house, located on a hill among olive groves, mediterranen macchia and vineyards in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma. A winding scenic road, just outside the village of Castiglioncello Bandini, is leading to this former cloister, hidden in a seduced valley.
The surrounding hills, crossed with dirt roads and secret paths are ideal for hiking. The famous trail Montalcino - Abbey of Sant'Antimo is situated a little north of Podere Santa Pia. A short drive will bring you to the the attractive hilltop town of Montalcino. A good selection of hiking trails in the Val d'Orcia can be found here.

Walking in the Val d'Orcia | Itineraries gpx

Walking from Montalcino to Sant'Antimo | 10,92 km

Annello Pienza - Capella di Vitaleta | 10,26 km

Montepulciano - Montefollonico | 19 km

[1] In 2004 the Val d'Orcia was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites under these criteria: * Criterion (iv): The Val d'Orcia is an exceptional reflection of the way the landscape was re-written in Renaissance times to reflect the ideals of good governance and to create an aesthetically pleasing pictures. * Criterion (vi): The landscape of the Val d'Orcia was celebrated by painters from the Scuola Senese, which flourished during the Renaissance. Images of the Val d'Orcia, and particularly depictions of landscapes where people are depicted as living in harmony with nature, have come to be seen as icons of the Renaissance and have profoundly influenced the development of landscape thinking.

The UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE website \| The 7 places in Tuscany located on the UNESCO World Heritage Site The landscape of Val d’Orcia is part of the agricultural hinterland of Siena, redrawn and developed when it was integrated in the territory of the city-state in the 14th and 15th centuries to reflect an idealized model of good governance and to create an aesthetically pleasing picture. The UNESCO world heritage site is made up by the comune of Montalcino, Pienza, San Quirico d'Orcia, Castiglione d'Orcia and Radicofani. Guide for Tuscany \| Southern Tuscany Walking in Tuscany \| San Quirico d'Orcia, Bagni Vignoni, Castiglione d'Orcia, Rocca d'Orcia, Montalcino, La Foce Walking in Tuscany \| Rocca d'Orcia, Castelnuovo dell'Abate - Vivo d'Orcia


The Val d'Orcia between La Foce and Radicofani