A.M. Bagno Vignoni.
Duration: 30 minutes – Tour Topics and Highlights: History, thermal baths.
Bagno Vignoni is little more than a group of houses surrounding one of the most memorable squares in Tuscany. Its exceptional square, made up of a great pool of natural spring water, is completely enclosed by medieval and Renaissance buildings. The hamlet is noted for its thermal baths since the time of the Romans, and was frequented by St. Catherine of Siena and the Medici family. Below the town natural thermal pools in mineral outcroppings are still accessible for swimming and wading in. Did you know?The town of Bagno Vignoni, with its remarkable original historical center, has been used as a natural setting for numerous films such as “Nostalghia” by Andrei Tarkovskijj , “Al lupo, al lupo” by Carlo Verdone and “Affettuose Lontananze” by Sergio Rossi
San Quirico d’Orcia. Duration: 60 minutes – Tour Topics and Highlights: History, architecture.
San Quirico d’Orcia, with its original medieval street plan intact, is home to the celebrated 12th-century Romanesque collegiate church of Collegiata. Its façade is abundant with Romanesque symbols, portions from the 12th century. Especially unique to the area is its pleasant and elegant 16th century Renaissance garden Horti Leonini of the Chigi family. Down the block in the main square, the Horti Leonini dates back to 1580, has geometric box-hedge designs and shady holm oaks, and originally was a resting spot for the holy pilgrims on the Francigena road from France to Rome. It’s open daily, sunrise to sunset.
P.m. pienza Duration: 70 minutes – Tour Topics and Highlights: History, architecture, urban planning
Built on a hill that dominates the Val d’Orcia, in the southern Siena’s province, Pienza is a completely intact, elegant Renaissance town, proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage of Humanity site (1996) for its important example of Renaissance urban planning, architecture and monuments. Pope Pius II (Enea Silvio Piccolomini), a great humanist, commissioned his native village of Corsignano to be transformed from a medieval town to a splendid Renaissance city. Built of local yellow-ochre and white travertine stone, the pedestrian town of Pienza was designed by one of the most famous Florentine architects of his time, Bernardo Gambarelli known as the Rossellino, and built between 1459 and 1462. The itinerary includes the exceptional Cathedral, whose Renaissance façade hides a gothic interior 4Piazza Pio II and urban planning review 4 Palazzo Piccolomini and Palazzo Borgia’s courtyards 4 the Renaissance buildings 4 the medieval districts 4 the panoramic streets, from where the splendid landscape of the Val d’Orcia can be admired.