Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
gelato
(ice cream) from
Café Ricchi
(see p272)
in
the same square.
famous for its Vino Nobile
wines. Visit the Duomo and
Sangallo's Temple of San
Biagio just outside the town.
About 5 km (3 miles)to the
southeast, the tiny medieval
village of
Monticchiello
(see
p209)
, set in an idyllic
landscape, is a wonderful
place to stop for a coffee
break. Its 13th-century
church is worth a visit too.
Move on to
Pienza
(see
p226)
, Pope Pius II's ideal
Renaissance town, where you
will find charming cobbled
streets and panoramic
ramparts to explore. Buy
some local
pecorino
(sheep's
cheese) before lunching at
La Pergola
(see p279)
.
Afternoon
On a warm day, take the
kids for a swim at the out-
door pool at
Bellariva
(see
p293)
, open Jun-mid-Sep.
If cool, a visit to
Palazzo
Vecchio
(see p78)
is a good
bet; tours of secret passages
and other activities (also in
English) geared to all ages
are organized within the
palazzo museum. End the
day with a leisurely ride
around the
centro storico
in one of the horse-drawn
carriages that stand in
Piazza Signoria, before
going for a pizza.
Archway view of Siena's Piazza del
Campo at dusk
Nazionale
(see p219)
to see
its 12th-15th century Sienese
masters. Or you could wander
the streets on the lookout for
signs, which represent the 17
contrade
(or districts), such
as ceramic animal plaques and
fountains. End the day with
an
aperitivo
at one of the
bars on Piazza del Campo.
Afternoon
From Pienza, the road winds
through glorious countryside.
Take a detour to the remote
monastery of
Sant'Anna in
Camprena
(where part of
The
English Patient
was filmed)
with its refectory frescoes by
Sodoma
(see p226)
. Once
you get to
San Quirico d'Orcia
(see p225)
, visit the beautiful
12th-century Collegiata, with
three Romanesque doorways
carved in local travertine.
There is also a pretty 16th-
century Italianate garden, the
Horti Leonini. Finish the day
with a soak in the outdoor
37 °C (98.6 °F) pools at the
Hotel Posta Marcucci in the
medieval spa village of
Bagno Vignoni
(see p226)
.
You will find several good
restaurants for dinner.
MEDIEVAL HISTORY, ART
AND CULTURE
• A dramatic hilltown
• Siena's striped Duomo
• Sienese art in the
Pinacoteca Nazionale
• An aperitivo in the Piazza
del Campo
TUSCAN HILL TOWN
TOUR
• Montepulciano and its
Vino Nobile wines
• A leisurely lunch in Pienza
• Frescoes in Sant'Anna
• A soak in the thermal
pools at Bagno Vignoni
TWO ADULTS
allow at least €190
Morning
Arrive by car early in
San
Gimignano
(see pp212-15)
,
arguably Tuscany's most
famous hilltown. Must-see
sights here are the 13th-
century towers, the frescoes
in the Collegiata church, and
the art in the Museo Civico.
You might like to buy a bottle
of the local Vernaccia wine
and have a coffee in Piazza
della Cisterna before setting
off to
Siena
(see pp216-19)
.
Head straight for theatrical
Piazza del Campo where the
energetic can climb the Torre
del Mangia, while others can
visit the medieval state rooms
in the Palazzo Pubblico. Don't
miss Lorenzetti's frescoes of
the
Allegory of Good and
Bad Government
. Take a
break for lunch at the
Osteria Le Logge
(see p280)
.
TWO ADULTS
allow at least €250
Morning
Drive to
Montepulciano
(see
p227)
, one of Tuscany's
highest hilltop towns and
Afternoon
Visit the striped Gothic
Duomo
(see pp220-21)
, then
pop into the
Pinacoteca
Tall cypress trees, in the timeless landcape of southern Tuscany
