Hotel
Spas
Wellness
Chianciano
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ITINERARIES IN VALDORCIA & VALDICHIANA
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In the footsteps of the Etruscans
The notoriety of the beneficial effects of Chianciano's thermal
waters is not recent news, as the many Etruscan temples and
holy sites found near the springs show. The remains of the
fine terracotta decorations from a 2nd century B.C.
found near the
Fucoli spring can be seen in the local Arcaeological museum.
Etruscology started in the 18th century in Cortona when the
Etruscan Academy was founded. Its museum houses materpieces
of Etruscan art like a notable bronze chandelier (5th-4th
century B.C.) and the "Tabula
cortonensis" (3rd-2nd century B.C.), one of the longest
Etruscan writings ever found.
Chiusi was the most important inland Etruscan city, with a
massive ring of walls and an intricate system of underground
waterways (known as "Porsenna's Labyrinth").
The National Museum houses some real masterpieces of Etruscan
art.
Not far from Chiusi, by Sarteano, in 2003 archaeologists found
a most unusual mural painting dating from the last decades
of the 4th century B.C. and pportraying a demon with flaming
red hair, riding a chariot pulled by lions and griffins.
At Murlo, archaeologists dug a palace dating from the 6th century
B.C. and the local Antiquarium houses some outstanding and
mysterious terracotta decorations that adorned the roof.
Finds from the Poggio Pinci necropolis, the Mulinello mound
and the Campo Muri holy site can be seen in the Archaeological
Museum of Asciano.
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Wine trails
Near Chianciano are Montepulciano and Montalcino,
two of Italy's best winemaking areas.
In
Montepulciano you may taste and purchase the local Vino Nobile
di Montepulciano Docg and Rosso di Montepulciano Doc, as
well as grappas and "Occhio
di Pernice" Vinsanto.
You should not miss a visit to the monumental cellars of the
Vino Nobile growers, like the Cantine
Contucci at the foot of their noble palace overlooking the
Piazza Grande or the Cantine del Redi, entered through the
Palazzo Ricci, veritable underground cathedrals with high
pillars dividing the vaults into three "naves"
with impressive arches.
From Montepulciano, passing the Renaissance town of Pienza and the lunar countryside
of the Crete you reach Montalcino, surrounded by vineyards as far as the eye
cn reach. Here, countless wineries and wine shops offer tastings of the celebrated
Brunello di Montalcino Docg, Rosso di Montalcino Doc, Moscatello Doc (still
or sparkling) and St Antimo Doc.
Wine lovers can also reach other wine trails like Montecucco,
Terre di Arezzo, San Gimignano Vernaccia, Chianti Colli Fiorentini
and Colli di Maremma.
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The Francigena Route
and great abbeys
The Francigena is an old pilgrimage route which crossed Europe
from Canterbury in England to Rome in Italy.
The route was first documented in the 10th Century when the
Archbishop of Canterbury Sigeric the Serious travelled to Rome
to see the Pope in order to be consecrated and kept a diary
detailing his itinerary.
From Siena, the Francigena route follows the Cassia road
to Buonconvento and onwards to Montalcino, San
Quirico d'Orcia, Castiglione d'Orcia, Abbadia San Salvatore
and Radicofani before it enters the Lazio to reach Rome.
According to a legend, the abbey of Sant'Antimo near Montalcino,
was founded by Charlemagne, who was traversing the area in
781 A.D. on his way back from Rome.
Only a few years older (it was founded in 743
A.D.) and again related to the Francigena route is the San
Salvatore sull'Amiata Abbey, deservedly famous for its crypt
supported by carved capitals.
Set in the Crete near Asciano,
the Benedectine abbey of Monte Oliveto
Maggiore was founded in 1313 by the Sienese blessed
Bernardo Tolomei (1272-1348). Its cloister was frescoed
by Luca Signorelli in 1497-98 and later by Sodoma.
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Between Hollywood and Cinecittà
The rolling hills of the Sienese countryside have inspired
famous directors and film makers, who have chosen this natural
set as their movie location.
Chianciano's thermal baths were
the setting for Federico Fellini's Oscar-winning "8 ½" starring
Marcello Mastroianni.
Bagno Vignoni (and also Pienza) was in Franco Zeffirelli's "Romeo
and Juliet"
and in Andrei Tarkovsky's "Nostalghia".
Bernardo Bertolucci
filmed some scenes of "Stealing Beauty",
with Liv Tyler and Jeremy Irons, in a farmhouse here.
It's in the monastery of Sant'Anna in Camprena that Jiulette
Binoche nurses "The English Patient" in Anthony
Minghella's movie; it is also in the Valdorcia that Ridley
Scott filmed several scenes for his "Gladiator",
starring Russel Crowe.
Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett
and Kevin Kline star in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" filmed
in Montepulciano, whose Piazza Grande provides the backdrop
for some scenes of "Under the Tuscan Sun" starring
Diane Lane as the bestselling writer Frances Mayes.
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Cycling routes
The Sienese countryside is a dream-come-true for cycling enthusiasts,
who will find a variety of unforgettable trails in this charming
corner of Tuscany, between farmland and cypress trees.
Beside the main traffic roads, the area has a widespread network
of "backroads", or secondary roads, which are
excellent natural cycling routes. You can choose between paved
road suitable for tourist bikes or "white roads" and tracks
suitable for mountain bikes.
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Tourist Train Routes
The Treno Natura is an excellent way to travel through the
Sienese countryside catching glimpses of picturesque views
that it would otherwise impossible to see, far from the carriage
roads, through areas of outstanding natural beauty.
The vintage (steam or diesel) trains give new life to otherwise
abandoned secondary lines and old train stations in the Crete,
the Valdorcia, the Monte Amiata and the Ombrone Valley,
departing from Siena.
The project marks the first step towards a new synergy between
railways, environment and tourism: special trains run for folk
and culinary events,
and it is possible to take walking tours along footpaths linking
different stations, dine in typical local restaurants,
and visit country festivals, villages and monuments.
In the summer of 2007 a new
Wine Train was also launched. It runs in the weekends through
the Valdorcia from Siena to Montalcino and back, skirting the
Sant'Antimo Abbey.
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Further info...
www.archeologiatoscana.it
www.museisenesi.org
www.toscanaunderground.it
www.terreditoscana.regione.toscana.it/stradedelvino
www.stradavinonobile.it
www.stradadelvinomontecucco.it
www.stradavinimaremma.it
www.museodelbrunello.it
www.associazioneviafrancigena.com
www.monteolivetomaggiore.it
www.antimo.it
www.toscanafilmcommission.it
www.terresienainbici.it
www.ferrovieturistiche.it
www.winestation.it
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