Montepulciano
Montalcino |
MONTEPULCIANO - PIENZA - MONTALCINO
This is a more classic tour, a more renowned tour, and considered by some to be the best tour… and it is definitely one of our favourites! We will discover together the rare beauties of the Sienese province, where even the ancient Romans would come to relax and soak up the numerous pleasures this land has to offer. We will depart for a visit of Montepulciano and a tour of the city centre, where we will take in together its impressive Renaissance buildings, churches, the main street of the town known as the ‘Corso’, and of course, Piazza Grande, the heart of the city. Before departing we will stop in some local wine cellars/shops where you can sample some of the delicious local products. We will then leave for Pienza for a visit of the small town whose history is so closely connected to that of its founder, Pope Pio II, who with the help of well known artists and architects was able to complete construction of these magnificent buildings in just three years, from 1459 to 1462. He thus transformed the small Sienese country village into a true Renaissance gem. Pienza is now well known for its production of Pecorino cheese, which may be sampled in any of the delightful wine bars or local cheese shops. We will stop here for about an hour so that you can enjoy lunch in one of the many wonderful restaurants in town before we set off for Montalcino. We will then visit the city which is located among the rolling hills of the Chianti region, at almost 600 meters altitude. The fortress of Montalcino was erected by the Sienese people in 1361 in order to keep command over the valleys below, and two centuries later was destined to become the last defence of the Sienese Republic after the surrender to Florence; here under the leadership of Pietro Strozzi they fought and resisted for four years more before giving up to the Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici. However, the origins of Montalcino date even further back. In the 12th century it was a free commune until the Sienese took control and built the fortress. Piazza del Popolo is the centre of civil life of the city, with its dwellings that date back to the late Middle Ages and frame the Palazzo dei Priori, a slender building with an interesting portico and a high tower.
-If you prefer to have a more relaxing tour it will be possible to substitute Montalcino’s visit with some characteristic places close to Pienza as Bagno Vignoni, very old roman thermal baths, and Monticchiello, wonderful small town dominating the Val d’Orcia.
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