Day 1
Meeting at your hotel and transfer to Castiglione d’Orcia. Visit to the small “borgo” founded in the 8th century and dominated by the ruins of the Tower of the Aldobrandeschi family, and then visit to its twin Tower, the Tintinnano Stronghold, from which you can see the whole Val d’Orcia in one sweeping view.
Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, visit to the beautiful Sant’Antimo Abbey, lying solitary in the fields. According to the legend, the abbey was built by order of Emperor Charlemagne, who, on his way from Rome through the Via Francigena, had risked being struck by the epidemic of bubonic plague spreading around from the “borghi” of Mount Amiata. Then he vowed that, if he and his retinue were spared by the plague, he would make an offering to God. They were spared, and as an act of thanksgiving he founded the S. Antimo Abbey.
Checking into a farm holiday, with breakfast, and dinner in a typical tavern
Day 2
Meeting and then departure to the “borgo” of Radicofani, high on the peak of a basaltic rock hill. Visit to the picturesque old fortified town with its town park and medieval stronghold. Lunch on your own.
In the afternoon, a relaxing time at the Bagno Vignoni spa, and dinner at the spa’s wine shop. Then return to the B&B.
Day 3
Leaving to Abbadia San Salvatore, visit to its medieval “borgo” and to the beautiful Abbey after which the town is named. We’ll also the Abbey’s impressive, disquieting crypt.
Lunch on your own.
In the afternoon we move over to Piancastagnaio, another old “borgo” set high on a plain dominating the Paglia Valley and the Cassia road. It is also defended by very strong, partly well preserved medieval walls and by natural walls of trachitis rock. We’ll find the Aldobrandeschi Stronghold of the town, the Palazzo del Podestà, the ancient Piazza del Comune, and the beautiful Bourbon Del Monte Palazzo, the residence of the town feudatories from 1601 to the end of the XVIIIth century.
Dinner in a tavern and then back to the B&B.
Day 4
First a very relaxing morning dedicated to walking around in the alleys and streets of the small “borgo” of Bagni San Filippo, with the possibility of taking a relaxing bath in the free, hot thermal waters of the free spa, set in a magical environment of white calcareous rocks, small waterfalls and pools among a green luxuriant wood. It is a unique, wonderful experience in all seasons of the year.
Dinner and return according to your wishes