Val D’Orcia Tour: Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004, the Val d’Orcia area is in the South of Siena. Redesigned and developed back in the XIII- XIV century, the Val D’Orcia was said to represent and reflect three key principles of the ideal government of the Republic of Siena: functionality, order and beauty. Its elegance and distinctive features like the clay soil, the walled towns on the top of hills, and the isolated farms and abbeys have inspired many artists during the centuries.That is why the Val d’Orcia is considered one of the most fascinating countrysides in all of Tuscany.

The Valley was always a great economic resource because the ancient Roman Via Cassia crossed through it, which was once the main road to go to Rome, passing through the little town of Radicofani, Castiglione D’Orcia, San Quirico, Pienza and Montepulciano. Many pilgrims and merchants stopped in the towns of the Val D’Orcia on their way to Rome bringing innovation, culture and…money! But no doubt about it, another great attraction of the Val D’Orcia is the fantastic local products, like the wines or the world-famous Pecorino cheeses. The most important wine produced here is the Brunello di Monatlcino, which is considered one of the best wines produced in Italy.

It’s a red wine made with a kind of Sangiovese grape, perfected due to its aging process. It obtained the DOCG certification and can now only be produced just in and around Montalcino. The young version of Brunello is the Rosso di Montalcino, and there is another famous wine of the Val d’Orcia area called the Nobile di Monepulciano. And if you match this red wine with the Pienza Pecorino cheese, one of the oldest cheeses in the world, your experience of taste and flavor will be memorable.