Semproniano: Templar Legends and Open Cellars in Southern Amiata
A quiet village on the southern edge of Amiata, with the limestone-perched hamlet of Rocchette di Fazio, an October open-cellar festival, and a project to rescue centuries-old olive trees.
Rocca d’Orcia: The Salimbeni Stronghold Where Saint Catherine Stayed
Rocca d’Orcia Tuscany: the Salimbeni fortress of Tentennano, Saint Catherine’s 1377 stay, and the private castle of Ripa d’Orcia. Plan your visit here.
Castiglione d’Orcia: Two Fortresses and a Madonna’s Swallow
Castiglione d’Orcia Tuscany: two fortresses on one ticket, a Simone Martini Madonna, and the valley’s oil cooperative. Plan your visit here.
San Quirico d’Orcia: An Emperor, a Pisano Portal, and a Garden
San Quirico d’Orcia Tuscany: Barbarossa’s 1155 visit, a Giovanni Pisano portal, and a Medici-era garden. Read our guide and plan your stop.
Bagno Vignoni: A Square of Hot Water Nobody Swims In
Bagno Vignoni Tuscany: a square built around a hot pool, mills that ground all summer, and the rules on bathing. Read before you visit.
Radicofani: The Pope’s Border Fortress, Blown Up on Purpose
Radicofani Tuscany: a papal fortress on a volcanic rock, a Medici posthouse, and Dante’s bandit. Plan your visit to the Val d’Orcia’s southern gate.
Bagni San Filippo: A Free Hot Stream and Its Rules
Bagni San Filippo Tuscany: a free hot stream, white limestone, and years of rows over access. Read the rules before you go and plan your visit.
Monticchiello: The Village That Writes Its Own Play Every Summer
Monticchiello Tuscany: a walled village that has written and staged its own play every summer since 1967. Read our guide and plan your evening.
Castelmuzio: The Confraternity’s Castle Above the Val d’Orcia
Castelmuzio Tuscany: a walled confraternity village, San Bernardino’s stone, and Sienese art, just outside the UNESCO area. Plan your visit here.
Sovana: A Cathedral, a Necropolis and 122 Residents
A Sovana Tuscany guide: Etruscan tombs, the Cavone sunken road, a stolen gold hoard and a pope’s disputed birthplace. Read before you go.