Castel del Piano: Palio Town on Amiata’s Western Slope
A working town on the Grosseto side of Monte Amiata with a bareback Palio every 8 September, the road up to the Macinaie, and a place in the Montecucco wine zone.
Castell’Azzara and Selvena: Dice, Cinnabar, and Karst Woods
The highest comune seat in the province of Grosseto, named for a medieval dice game, with the cinnabar-mining village of Selvena and the karst woods of Monte Penna next door.
Roccalbegna: Lorenzetti Panels Beneath Two Fortresses
A small fortified village in the upper Albegna valley, with three panels by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in its parish church and a fire rite every 24 November in the hamlet of Santa Caterina.
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.
5 Days in the Val d’Orcia: Along the Francigena
A 5-day Val d’Orcia itinerary along the Via Francigena: castles, hot springs, pecorino, oil, and a walk. Plan your route with our guide.
Meet CrocusBrandi: The San Quirico Farm That Brought Saffron Back
Val d’Orcia saffron vanished for four centuries. Meet CrocusBrandi, the San Quirico farm growing it again, and learn how to buy it right.
Meet the Oleificio Val d’Orcia: The Growers Who Built Their Own Mill
Meet a growers’ cooperative behind Val d’Orcia olive oil: its history, its mill, its DOP, IGP, and organic oils. Plan your visit to Castiglione d’Orcia.
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.