Brunello/Montalcino-Tour in Ferrari

On the slope that leads towards the river, you’ll find the Parco dei Mulini — interesting park that bears witness to plumbing constructions and techniques that were invented in medieval times. Bagno Vignoni is a small spa of medieval origin, although it was already know in Roman times. Bagno Vignoni sits on a hill above the Val d'Orcia just south of San Quirico. The fascinating tiny village is clustered around a large pool closed on three sides by the town walls, whith water that flows at 52°. The pool essentially fills the square, surrounded by a 1.5 metre-high wall on three sides. All around are buildings designed by Bernardo Rossellino in honour of Pope Pius II, while on the fourth side is the archway from which St. Catherine of Siena admired the view. This place also fascinated Lorenzo il Magnifico of the Medici family, who spent part of 1490 here. The old Francigena road passes near the village, and as the diary written in 1581 by Michel de Montagne confirms, pilgrims and travellers heading toward Rome frequently stopped in Bagno Vignoni to find comfort in its hot springs. In 1677 the Gran Duke Cosimo III enfeoffed St. Quirico d’Orcia to Cardinal Flavio Chigi, together with the lilttle villages of Vignoni and Bagno Vignoni; the thermal establishment, together with three mills, eight houses, a tavern and a certain amount of land thus passed into the hands of the Chigi family and their discendents to whom a part still remains in property. Nowadays Bagno Vignoni is well-known and appreciated the world over as an esteemed thermal locality situated in the heart of the Val d’Orcia.

The impressive castle or Fortezza, which was built by the Sienese in 1361, dominates this well-preserved medieval town. The town takes its name from il leccio or holm oak, a variety of oak tree that once covered the terrain. The very high site of the town offers stunning views over the Asso, Ombrone and Arbia valleys of Tuscany, dotted with silvery olive orchards, vineyards, fields, and villages. The lower slopes of the Montalcino hill itself are dominated by highly productive vines and olive orchards. Even more than because of its historical heritage, Montalcino is known for its famous Brunello di Montalcino wines. Some pleasant enoteca or wineries can be found in the heart of the city. In the early hours, when the locals prepare everything for the incoming visitors, The historic center of Montalcino has been pedestrianized, so it is a pleasant place to stroll around or linger over at a café on the square and practice your Italian with the locals. Parking is easy on Via Pietra Strozzi (Parcheggio Viale Strozzi). At the end of Via Pietra Strozzi is the Chiesa della Madonna del Soccorso. Behind the church, there is a small square offering a marvelous view over the Val d’Arbia in the direction of Siena. Montalcino is situated in the heart of Val d’Orcia in a postcard-like scenery. The city is part of the Val d’Orcia, a part of southern Tuscany characterized by gentle hills, sinuous country roads or strade bianche, and a horizon dotted with isolated cypress trees. The entire valley of the Val d'Orcia with this magnificent natural scenery was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2006.'San Gimignano delle belle Torri' is in Tuscany, 56 km south of Florence. It served as an important relay point for pilgrims travelling to or from Rome on the Via Francigena. The patrician families who controlled the town built around 72 tower-houses (some as high as 50 m) as symbols of their wealth and power. Although only 14 have survived, San Gimignano has retained its feudal atmosphere and appearance. The town also has several masterpieces of 14th- and 15th-century Italian art.