TURISMO A SIENA
PALIO DI SIENA Colori, folla, grida festose, una piazza coperta di tufo, dieci cavalli montati a pelo da altrettanti fantini per una corsa che dura pochi secondi. Questo è il Palio per coloro che lo vendono per la prima volta. Per i senesi è la vita, la passione, la storia.
Visita le pagine del Consorzio per la Tutela del Palio
IL CHIANTI
The name "Chianti" identifies an essentially hilly geographical area in centre of Tuscany, between Siena and Florence. In this specific area there is the production of the Chianti Classico wine. The Chainti is a quite large territory, including many characteristic little villages and districts, devoted to agriculture and viticulture and well known for the typical good cuisine. The main theme of the various local folkloristic events and town festivals is the celebration of typical agricultural products: wine and oil, together with traditional culinary specialities. Even if the wine is the main reason of the fame of these lands, Chianti is also appreciated for its ancient traditions and its historical monuments such as castles, villages, abbeys, churches and so on....CASTELLINA IN CHIANTI
This town, with its ancient and nobles origins, rises on a hill between the valleys of the rivers Elsa, Arbia and Pesa.
It has been historically disputed for a very long period between Florence and Siena.
The historical centre of the town is surrounded by the walls of the ancient castle.
Its territory is characterized by large woods and by animal such as wild boars, hares, squirrels and pheasants.
The typical cultivation is olive groves and vineyards.
Here in Castellina in Chianti, in 1924, the Consorzio del Chianti Classico has been constituted
In 1984 it obtained the D.O.C.G. label
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GAIOLE IN CHIANTI
Its territory rises on two hills, at the righ and at the left of the Massellone stream.
Hills alternate with chestnut and oak groves.
Not to be missed a tour in the surroundings of Gaiole, to visit beautiful churches such as San Polo in Rosso and Spaltenna and most of all the castles (especially the Castle of Brolio, the most famous one in Chianti).
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RADDA IN CHIANTI
The town rises in a high position between the valleys of the Pesa and Arbia rivers.
The city plan is still the medieval one: an oval shape enclosed by the walls. Little streets go up toward the ancient fortess.
The most important monuments you can visit in Radda in Chianti are the "Pieve di San Giusto in Salcio", the "Palazzo del Podest" and the "San Martino al Prato" Cloister.
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CASTELNUOVO BERARDENGA
Its territory lies between the Chianti hills and the landscape of the "crete" (Siennese Clay Hills).
The large district of Castelnuovo Berardenga surrouns Siena at the North and East side.
Castelnuovo Berardenga takes name from a castle built around 1366 from the Siena Republic.
The original walls were defended by seven towers built along the perimeter of the castle, today there is only one ( the Torre dell'Orologio).
In the centre of the town you can find the Villa Chigi Saracini, built in 1800 and surrounded by a wonderful Italian garden, with a little lake and a beautiful fountain.
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SAN GIMIGNANO
It takes name from the Saint who saved the village from the invasion of the Goti. It is 325 meters above sea level. Thanks to its Medieval architecture and its artistic value it has been declared "UNESCO Mankind Heritage". It is famous for its 15 medieval towers, so that it has been nicknamed the "Manhattan of the Middle Ages". The most ancient is the Tower of the podest, the higher one is the Torre Grossa (Big Tower) with its 54 meters. Very beautiful is the Collegiata Church (the Duomo), an example of Tuscan Romanesque. San Gimignano is moreover renowned for the production of the famous "Vernaccia", a white wine appreciated all over the world, the first Italian wine which obtained the "DOC" label in 1966.To show all accommodation about San Gimignano in Sienaturismo click here
VAL D'ELSA
The Val d'Elsa is in the North-Ovest of Siena and takes its name from the Elsa river, its landscape is hilly and wooded. The main districts are Colle Val d'Elsa, famous fot its crystals, Poggibonsi, Radicondoli, Casole d'Elsa and Monteriggioni. Thanks to its central position in Tuscany, the Val d'Elsa rises in a very strategical area, close to Siena, Florence and Volterra, in the ancient "Via Francigena" route.COLLE VAL D'ELSA
Important artistic and cultural city, Colle Val d'Elsa has more than 20000 inhabitants.
The ancient part of the town of Colle Val d'Elsa rises on a hillock.
In the past the city plan was divided in tree parts: the "Borgo di Santa Caterina", the "Castello di Piticciano" and the "Piano", today simplified in "Colle Alta" (constituited by the Castello di Piticciano and the Borgo di Santa Caterina) and "Colle Bassa" (The "Piano").
Today Colle Val d'Elsa is known as the "City of the Crystal" (in fact its production is the 15% of the world and 95% of Italy).
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POGGIBONSI
It is 29 km from Siena and rises at the junction of the Staggia stream and the Elsa river, in the valley which separates the Chianti from the Metallifere Hills.
Close to the city you can admire the "Collegiata of Santa Maria dell'Assunta" (neoclassical style), the Santuario of Romituzzo and the Poggio Imperial Fortress.
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CASOLE D'ELSA
Ancient Etruscan settlement, its territory is constituted of sweet low hills with vineyards, olive groves and cereals cultivation.
Very important from the environmental point of view also its woods: the Foresta di Berignanone and those of the "Montagnola Senese".
Very folkloristic its Palio (horse race) which takes place every second Sunday of July between 6 contrade (which are the city districts).
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RADICONDOLI
Radicondoli rises in a high ground of the Colline Metallifere, thanks to this strategic position above the Cecina Valley, it became in the past an important fortification for the control of the underlying valleys.
The local economy is mainly based on the utilization of the woods, the sheep farming and the sheep farming and electric industrial plants.
To visit in Radicondoli: the Collegiata, the Pieve di San Simone, the San Francesco Cloister and the Castle of Elci.
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MONTERIGGIONI
Well known for its walls (one of the most intact you can find Italy) with 14 four-sided towers.
Even Dante Alighieri mentions it in the XXXI "canto" of the Inferno in Divina Commedia: "...però che come sulla cerchia tonda Monteriggion di torri si corona, cosi 'n la proda che 'l pozzo circonda torreggiavano di mezza la persona li orribili giganti, cui minaccia Giove ancora quando tona".
Monteriggioni is a characteristic Medieval village with a unique profile given by its walls.
Very folkloristic is the "Medieval Festival" in July, when people wear medieval dresses and you can taste medieval dishes and admire jousts, wizards and actors, in a magic atmosphere.
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VAL D'ORCIA
The Val d'Orcia is a large valley, crossed by the Orcia river. The Valley is very important from the environmental point of view, so that in 2004 it has been declared one of the places in the list of "UNESCO Mankind Heritage". The area is hilly and characterized by the typical Siennese Clay Hills, which create an almost "lunar landscape". The towns of the Val d'Orcia are: Castiglione d'Orcia, Montalcino, Pienza, Radicofani and San Quirico d'Orcia. Other important villages are Monticchiello, Bagno Vignoni, Rocca d'Orcia, Campiglia d'Orcia and Bagni San Filippo.MONTALCINO
Universally well-known for the production of the famous "Brunello" wine it rises 567 meters above sea level.
Most important monuments and places to visit are: the Palazzo Comunale, the Palazzo Vescovile (in which there are the museums), the Duomo and, not far from the town, the Romanesque Abbey of Sant'Antimo, founded by Carlo Magno in 781.
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PIENZA
It is right in the center of the Val d'Orcia and represents the model of the Renaissance "ideal city". Enea Silvio Piccolomini (the Pope Pio II) called one of the most famous architects of Renaissance (il Rossellino) to plan the prototype of the "Ideal Renaissance city".
Pienza is also famous for its typical products: most of all the "pecorino" (sheep milk cheese), but also the vinsanto, the "pici" (a special kind of typical pasta), the honey and jams.
Very appreciated are also the hand-worked ceramics and jars.
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VAL DI CHIANA
The Valdichiana is crossed by the Main Water Channel of the river Chiana, which was built to reclaim the valley which became a wetland during the Middle Age. 8 are the cities of the Sienese Province in Valdichiana: Cetona, Chianciano Terme, Chiusi, Montepulciano, San Casciano dei Bagni (in parte), Sarteano, Sinalunga e Torrita di Siena. The remaining cities are in the province of Arezzo and in Umbria.CHIANCIANO TERME
"The town of health", is one of the most important thermal centers in Italy, rich of thermal mineral waters.
Having been known since the Etruscan times for its beneficent thermal waters, Chianciano still has a great charm and appeal with its springs, the Holy, the Fucoli and the Sillene.
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VAL DI MERSE
Embedded between the Maremma and the Siennese Clay Hills, in the south-west side of the province of Siena, the Val di Merse is known both for the thermal establishments (Petriolo Thermal Baths, which were the favourite of the Pope PIO II) and for the wildlife reserves. Not to be missed the marvellous Cistercian Abbey of San Galgano, one of the most famous religious buildings in the province of Siena. Main towns: Chiusdino, Monticiano, Murlo and Sovicille.CRETE SENESI (SIENNESE CLAY HILLS)
Large area between the provinces of Siena and Arezzo, extending to the Monte Amiata. This characteristic clay, known as mattaione, represents the sediments of the Pliocene sea which covered the area between 2.5 and 4.5 million years ago. The soil have a typical grey colouration which makes it appear "lunar". One of the most important monuments of this area is the famous Benedectione Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore. Towns: Asciano, Buonconvento, Monteroni d'Arbia, Rapolano Terme, San Giovanni d'Asso . To show all accommodation about Val di Merse e Crete Senesi in Sienaturismo click here