Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made 15 or more days in advance of your tour date are fully refundable, minus our 3% credit card processing fee. See our complete Cancellation Policy for more information.
Val d'Orcia Day Trip
Day Trip
9 hours
Transportation Included
About
If you've been dreaming of charming hilltop towns and rolling fields of golden wheat, then you've be dreaming of the Val d'Orcia!
Located in southern Tuscany close to the border with Umbria, this is one of the region's most picturesque areas. With no major cities nearby and no industry to speak of, it's a quiet rural area of sleepy little towns perched atop hills and overlooking open fields of grains. Although bucolic, this area was once a favorite retreat for many important Tuscan families and they spent much money making little towns like Pienza and Montepulciano into beautiful places.
The drives between the towns are also absolutely gorgeous, with many good places to stop enjoy the views that have made the area so famous.
If you're into wine, we can also visit a winery in the area around Montalcino where they produce terrific Brunello di Montalcino. For foodies, Pienza is renowned for its excellent Pecorino cheeze - which we can try right in town - and there are plenty of nice working farms and producers to visit.
For those interested in doing something active, we can even arrange to walk a short section of the ancient Via Francigena pilgrimage route, which cuts directly through this part of Tuscany. And lastly, for anyone interested in religious sites, there is the delightful Abbey of Sant'Antimo.
Our route and plan is totally customizable, and I'll be happy to tailor it according to your interests.
Because we can't see everywhere in just a day, we'll have to choose the 3-4 places that most interest you. Here are the main towns to visit:
- San Quirico d'Orcia - This pretty medieval town ringed with walls is right at the start of the area (if coming from Siena). It's a bit less known and tends to be less crowded.
- Bagno Vignoni - A tiny hamlet that has been a spa town since Roman times. It still has two spa-hotels and a pretty main square where the Roman baths once stood.
- Montalcino - Another medieval city with defensive fortifications. The town itself is nice, but the main reason to visit is for the excellent wineries all around it that produce Brunello di Montalcino
- Pienza - A gorgeous but very touristy town that was the birthplace of a powerful Pope during the Renaissance who tried to turn it into a sort of "ideal" city. It's famous for its pecorino cheese, has lots of nice shops, a great "belvedere" viewpoint, and the countryside around it is especially pretty.
- Montepulciano - Although not actually in the Val d'Orcia, this hilltop beauty lies just at its eastern edge and gets grouped into the region. It's the biggest and most impressive of any of the towns and usually a favorite with visitors.
Angelo
Overview
Highlights
- Charming hilltop towns
- Panoramic views
- Scenic drive
- Great (optional) food & wine experiences
- Private tour - only you and your guide
Tour Itinerary
Pick up at your accommodation anywhere between Florence and the Val d'Orcia
Scenic drive to our first town
Visits to various hilltop towns and lovely drives between them
Return to your accommodation
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations made 15 or more days in advance of your tour date are fully refundable, minus our 3% credit card processing fee. See our complete Cancellation Policy for more information.
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