Montalcino was once a strategic point along the road to Rome and offers a panoramic view of the beautiful Asso, Orcia and Ombrone valleys.

At Taverne d'Arbia take the particularly scenic state road 438, toward Asciano.

The little town of Asciano lies in the foothills of the Crete, in the upper valley of the Ombrone river between Siena and the Valdichiana. Asciano is a typical medieval borough, surrounded by 14th century walls.
The Museo d'Arte Sacra, near the Romanesque parish church Collegiata di Sant'Agata, collecting 14th and 15th century works of painters and sculptors of Siena, among them by Matteo di Giovanni, Ambrogio Lorenzetti and the Osservanza Maestro.
The Musea Civico Areheologico, in the Chiesa San Bernardino, contains finds from the excavation of chamber tombs from the cemetery of Poggio Pinci.


Buonconvento

Buonconvento is an ancient settlement south of Siena, along the Via Cassia, where the Arbia and Ombrone rivers meet in the heart of the magical hills ofAmong the most important monuments to see in Buonconvento we point out here the Parrocchiale di San Pietro,, the Oratorio di San Sebastiano, the Palazzo Ricci (Ricci Palace), hosting today the Holy Art Museum of the valley of Arbia.
The important art works by Sienese artists such as Duccio di Boninsegna, Sano di Pietro, Andrea di Bartoio and Lucca di Tommè that were originally located in the Parrocchiale di San Pietro, are now in the Val d'Arbia Museum of Sacred Art, which is further down the Via Soccini, in the 19th-century Palazzo Ricci-Socini.
Inside the walls, the village is crossed from north to south by Via Soccini, the most aristocratic street in Buonconvento, with several palazzi. Palazzo Podestarile, with the 14th-century rectangular civic tower and the two Gothic arches in the façade, the Palazzo Comunale, or Town Hall, with its attractive brick front, and the imposing Palazzo Taja, built entirely in brick, and across from it is Palazzo Borghesi, built in the 14th century, which belonged to an old Sienese family whose coat of arms can be seen on the splendid façade.

In Murlo, Among the most important monuments to see in Murlo we point out here the Chiesa di San Fortunato (Saint Fortunato Church), the Palazzina (Residence) and the Palazzone (Big Palace, once Episcopal Palace) that today hosts the "Etruscan Antiquarium Museum of Poggio Civitate".

Monteroni d'Arbia

Grancia di Cuna

Lucignano

Monteroni d'Arbia is an agricultural center, crossed by the Via Francigena, 17 km southeast of Siena.
As an agricultural production centre of the ancient Republic of Siena, it preserves the sign of its most important monument in the imposing medieval fortified mill from the beginning of the fourteenth century, of which the original structure is nearly intact, with its brick keep and mill-pond.
The pieve of St. John the Baptist, at Corsano, dates from before 1031. With a nave and two aisles, it is an example of Romanesque architecture with Pisan and Lombard influences. It houses two canvasses by Alessandro Casolari.
The church of Sts. James and Chrstopher, at Cuna, has remains of 14th century frescoes.

The splendid massive structure of Grancia di Cuna rises on the road from Siena, a beautiful example of a medieval fortified grain tower (13th century), originally belonging to the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala which used it as a massive container for grain.

Comune

Lucignano is a fortified town, at 414 m. above the sea level, on the main route between Siena and Arezzo, overlooking Chiana valley.

Towards the end of the 18th century, the Villa Chigi, surrounded by a large park, was built on the site of the castle.

Dante referred to Monteriggioni in the Divine Comedy: Inferno, xxxi. 41-44 '...come in su la cerchia londa Monteriggioni di torri si corona'.


Abbadia a Isola

Abbadia a Isola is located half way between Colle Val d'Elsa and Monteriggioni. On February 4, 1001, Ava, the widow of Ildebrando dei Lambardi of Staggia, founded a family Benedictine monastery dedicated to San Salvatore in the area of Borgonuovo, a halting place on the Via Francigena. Between 11th and 12th centuries the monastery was completed with walls, gateway and towers. In this period was also erected the Romanesque Abbey of St.Salvatore.The Abbey, built in the 11 C by the Cluniac Benedectines, has a façade decorated with miniature arches and the interior consists three aisles divided by columns alternated to cross-shaped pillars.

The area around Roccalbegna offers some interesting walks among the various nature reserves.

In the comune of Civitella Paganico, there are two other picturesque castles in a nice panoramic position: the Castle of Monte Antico and the Castle of Casenovole

Monte Antico is a small town at the base of a hill and it towers valle dell’Ombrone which twists slowly at the base of Monte Amiata. The origins of the castle "Castello di Monte Antico" date back to the 10th century. The castle is situated on the top of a hill, at the confluence of the rivers Orcia and Ombrone.

Going beyond Castello di Monte Antico you end up on a rough road leading Casal di Pari through bushes and cultivated fields. On your way, we highly recommend a stopover at Castello di Casenovole. A unique 13th century castle with exceptional views over the Ombrone valley. The castle is situated on the top of a hill, at the confluence of the rivers Orcia and Ombrone.

Outside the walls, the elegant Church of Santissima Annunziata contains the remains of fine frescoes from the Bartolo di Preda and Sienese schools of painting. in 1400 it was enlarged with a span, an apses and a bell tower. We can admire great artistic treasures inside, like the valuable painting "The Madonna nursing the Child" by Bartolomeo di Lando, called Neroccio. Behind the church there is the famous Olivo della Strega (witch's olive tree): an over one thousand-year-old tree.
The monastery of San Bruzio, out of town and symbol of Magliano, is also wrapped in legend. Its picturesque ruins stand lonely among the olive trees. In Romanesque style, the monastery was built about in the 13th century. The nearby hilly village, Pereta, is dominated by the Torre dell'Orologio, which was part of the old fortress.

At the foot of Monte Cetona, amidst oak and chestnut forests, there are forty-two springs, with 42 springs, a mean temperature of 42°C, rich in mineral salts, sulphate, calcium, magnesium and fluoride and a daily delivery of 5.5 millions litre.

Acquapendente

is part of the upper portion of Tuscia, bordering Tuscany and Umbria. The most significant monument is the cathedral of Santo Sepolcro, constructed around the year 1000 over the votive chapel that Matilda of Westphalia ordered built with the same dimensions as Christ's sepulchre.

Lake Bolsena, lies 100 kms north of Romein a relatively undiscovered part of Italy. The largest volcanic lake in Italy, Bolsena's deep waters are exceptionally clean and sustain a thriving fishing community. Bolsena is the principal tourist centre on the lake's shores.
The old town, founded by the Etruscans, is dominated by the Monaldeschi castle and its raised position affords lovely views of the lake from its squares and medieval streets.

Lake Bolsena is surrounded by a 37-mile long panoramic road that connects Bolsena, Montefiascone, Marta, Capodimonte, and Valentano.

Marta, just a few miles south of Capodimonte, retains a very nice coat of arms of Paulus III at the entrance of the little town. A little fortress protects the town.
In the midst of the lake, accessible by boat taxi, their are two privately owned islands, one (Isola Martana) is closed to the public, but the other (Isola Bisentina), which used to be a summer residence of the Popes, is open. There is a large church and monastery on the island and are several chapels, including one whose interior contains some frescoes possibly by Benozzo Gozzoli, lining its shores.

Latera is located in the fascinating and enchanting territory of the Bolsena Lake, facing the western shores and extremely close to the famous Mezzano Lake.

Viterbo is famous as the town of the Popes: the Popes had a country residence there, which may still be seen; and it thus became the site of important church councils, and in particular of the first conclave. Its beautiful historical center was conceived in the Middle Ages and preserves the essential style of the medieval architecture of central Italy, with many palaces.

Celleno is located in the eastern part of the Tuscia area of Viterbo. The old village lays on a 476-metres-high green hill on which you can notice a fascinating medieval castle, Castello Orsini. Also in Celleno you can visit the medieval abbey and church rich in artistic masterpieces.

Giardino dei Tarocchi

Vulci | Castello della Badia

Vulci was the centre of a large city-state, but after the 6th century it had to relinquish parts of this territory to Rome.
In the Castello della Badia you will find the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Vulci. There are a number of important Etrusco-Roman remains on the site of the ancient city.
In the Natural Park of Vulci we can walk along the paths following the course of the Fiora, along the ancient roads that led from Vulci and Castro to the sea.

The main attraction nearby is Castiglione della Pescaia, also known as Terrazzo o Balcone della Maremma, a very attractive town consisting of a fishing boat harbour dominated by a mediaeval castle.
Other sight of interest are the ruins of the Abbey of San Pancrazio al Fango, between Grosseto and Castiglione della Pescaia, in the Natural Reserve of the Diaccia Batrona, and the Abbey of San Rabano, also in ruins, located in the Parco Nazionale della Maremma.

The Maremma Park, with its range of hills descending towards the sea to reach the sandy beaches and cliffs, spreads from the mouth of the Ombrone river till it reaches Talamone, along 25 km of the breathtaking Tuscan coastline surrounded by marshland, pinewood forests, tilled land and pastures.
The Maremma Park extends over a rectangular area of 17.000 hectares, bounded on the north by the Tombolo pine forest and Talamone in the south.

Monte Argentario is one of the most famous spots in the Maremma and Tuscany. The promontory, which was originally an island, is characterized by a high, rocky coastline covered by a thick Mediterranean thatch, interrupted by olive groves and vineyards. It is now connected to the land by the Feniglia and Giannella sand bars, two strips of uninterrupted sandy beach and thick maritime pine. The sandy isthmuses are separated by the Laguna di Orbetello, an area protected by the WWF because it sits on one of the most important migratory routes and is one of the principal wintering sites for birds that nest in Europe.

The peninsula Monte Argentario is connected with the mainland by three dams which form two lagoons, the Laguna di Ponente on the west side and the Laguna di Levante on the east side of the middle dam. Orbetello is located on the middle dam between the two lagoons.
The lagoon is separated from the sea by two strips of land. To the North-West the Gianella about 7 km long with a road, pine trees and camping's. To the South the Feniglia a 6 Km long pine wood with beach. The Feniglia is a natural reserve, only pedestrians and bicycles are allowed.
In the middle of the lagoon is an isthmus on with the town of Orbetello was build. Part of the Laguna di Ponente (West) is under protection of the WWF.

In the 17th century, the Spanish built fortifications like the Molino the Polveriera Guzman (the Guzmán Powder magazine, a large powder storehouse that contained tons of explosives and that, today, houses the city's archeological museum where you will find Etruscan and Roman finds from the entire area) and Forte delle Saline, situated in the frazione of Albinia.

The Molino Spagnolo or Spanish mill is the only wind mill which remained from a series of nine built by the Sienesi and subsequently restored by the Spaniards, when the lagoon city became the capital of the small State of the Presìdi - State of Royal Spanish Garrisons (1557).

Directly across the harbor from Porto Ercole lies Ansedonia, an almost sleepy little town with some of the best beach front in Tuscany. Ansedonia flourished in the 60's, with well-known architects of the time designing villas for the rich and famous, mostly in the mass-media circuit. Now, it is seen more as a retro relic of the past society.
Extending parallel to the coast, Lake Burano and the immediately surrounding district make up one of the most important wetland habitats in Italy in terms of the integrity of the environment and accommodation and teaching facilities. Lago di Burano is a typical Mediterranean coastal lagoon behind a line of sand dunes. A beautiful Spanish watch-tower with a square plan, Torre di Biranaccio, completes the atmospheric panorama of the lake.

Bomarzo is a small town, located near Viterbo on the road to Orta. The Castle, Palazzo Orsini di Bomarzo rises at the edge of this small town.
Bomarzo Park, a 16th century villa with grotesque stone sculptures of monstrous porportions, depiciting mythological personalities and creatures taken from classical fables: Pergasus, Hercules, Neptune, Cera. Prince Pier Francesco Orsini built the villa in 1552. Mourning the death of his wife, Giulia Farnese, he erected a temple and stauary in her honor on the grounds. Vicino Orsini didn't call this garden a giardino, but Bosco Sacro, a Sacred Grove or Bosco dei Monstri, the Monsters' grove. Monster must be understood in the Latin meaning of monstrare, which means to show and demonstrate. This then means that from stop to stop, from stage to stage, each element is a component of an immense, very neoplatonic poem to his lost love.

The villa was designed by Architect Pirro Ligorio. Giovanni Bettini purchased the property in 1954, eventually opening it to the public.

Palazzo Orsini di Bomarzo

Il parco dei Mostri di Bomarzo