{"id":8841,"date":"2016-03-24T10:45:05","date_gmt":"2016-03-24T09:45:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=8841"},"modified":"2024-01-09T19:14:45","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T18:14:45","slug":"sienese-hills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/sienese-hills\/","title":{"rendered":"10 things to do in the Sienese hills"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Sienese hills<\/strong> enclose unexpected beauty, art, culture and amazing<\/strong> landscapes<\/strong>. It is a unmatched, romantic and antique scenery. Unforgettable colors<\/strong> and shapes seem to form a dream. The scents<\/strong> and the genuine products of the earth are delicious flavors<\/strong> of yesteryear.<\/p>\n

The cypresses<\/strong>, the hills of Mount<\/strong> Amiata<\/strong>, the narrow streets of the medieval<\/strong> villages<\/strong>,the natural hot springs<\/strong>, they will enter into\u00a0heart forever. Follow me on this journey into the heart of Italy, exploring the Sienese hills, among\u00a010 idyllic places.<\/p>\n

10 things to do, see and experience in the Sienese hills<\/h2>\n

1. Visit the magical San Galgano Abbey<\/h3>\n
\"San
Photo by Erik via Flickr<\/div><\/div>\n

Thirty kilometers away from Siena, you will visit one of the most evocative of Tuscany, on the trail of the legend of the Knights of the Round Table<\/strong>. At the center of a plain, isolated from everything and surrounded only by green, stands this Gothic<\/strong> building<\/strong>, made even more special because of the lack of roof<\/strong>. These are\u00a0the sites of the famous legend, and a short walk from the Abbey we find the Hermitage of Montesiepi<\/strong>, keeper of the legendary Sword in the Stone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2. A bath in natural hot springs of Petriolo<\/h3>\n
\"natural
Photo by M@rcello;-) via Flickr<\/div><\/div>\n

Along the banks of the river Farma, immersed in an enchanting<\/strong> setting<\/strong> between lush<\/strong> forests<\/strong> it hides the second pearl of our journey through the Sienese hills. They\u00a0the closest free hot springs<\/strong>\u00a0in Siena, in the municipality of Moticiano and here the underground water flows at a temperature of 43\u00b0<\/strong>, forming small pools.<\/p>\n

3. Uncover the geysers\u00a0of Sasso Pisano and Monterotondo Marittimo<\/h3>\n

\"geothermal<\/p>\n

The Sienese hills allow you to discover a rare<\/strong> natural<\/strong> phenomenon<\/strong>, that you can\u00a0find\u00a0only in Iceland, New Zealand, in the far east of\u00a0Siberia and in Yellowstone Park in Wyoming. It is a mysterious place, once known as the Valley of the devil,<\/strong> for the presence of geysers<\/strong>, sulphurous smoke and natural steam<\/strong> jets<\/strong> that emanate from the ground violently, creating a fascinating show\u00a0that you cannot miss.<\/p>\n

4. Walk\u00a0along a stretch of Via Francigena, with a stop in San Quirico d’Orcia<\/h3>\n
\"Val
Photo by Tommy Clark via Flickr<\/div><\/div>\n

In these lands, Via<\/strong> Francigena<\/strong> passes on its\u00a0way to Rome. Here there’s\u00a0one of the most beautiful stages<\/a> of all the 1600 km. We are in the heart of Val d’Orcia<\/strong>, in the province of Siena, 424m above sea level, in the beautiful village of Etruscan origin<\/strong> of San Quirico d’Orcia,<\/strong> consisting of picturesque<\/strong> streets<\/strong> and medieval<\/strong> fortresses<\/strong>. The landscapes that meet up to Radicofani<\/strong> are breathtaking; between the up and down between the hills and the woods it’s\u00a0the perfect place for a pilgrimage<\/strong> to the discovery of nature and of yourself.<\/p>\n

5. Take part\u00a0to Eroica Primavera<\/h3>\n

\"the<\/p>\n

In the spring, south of Siena between Val d’Arbia, Val d’Orcia and the Crete Senesi<\/strong> held a beautiful historical cycling event along the white gravel roads<\/strong> through vineyards and incredible views. Anyone can sign up for this bike<\/strong> ride<\/strong>. On the occasion, an interesting festival is also organized, with exhibitions, markets, sports tournaments and music!<\/p>\n

6. Visit Monteriggioni<\/h3>\n
\"Monteriggioni,
Photo by Isabelle Puaut via Flickr<\/div><\/div>\n

On top of a hill lies the beautiful village of Monteriggioni. Its walls<\/strong>, almost intact, is known throughout the peninsula, since the times of Dante, who mentions it in the thirty-first Inferno’s canto. The walls are long 570 m and are alternated by 14 towers<\/strong> and by\u00a0Porta Franca and that of St. John. It’s a blast from the past, a unique emotion.<\/p>\n

7. Sleep in a former watch tower with magnificent views of the hills<\/h3>\n

\"Farmhouse<\/a><\/p>\n

To know the Tuscan hospitality, to relax\u00a0in a hammock, to admire the Sienese hills from your window, there is no better place that the Farmhouse\u00a0Torre Doganiera<\/strong><\/a>. You can find accommodation in one of three apartments available, all furnished in typical Tuscan<\/strong> style<\/strong>, with private garden<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

8. Walk in the protected area of \u200b\u200bMontagnola<\/h3>\n
\"Montagnola
Photo by Antonio Cinotti via Flickr<\/div><\/div>\n

In Tuscany every corner is a little paradise; in the Siena hills there’s\u00a0also a paradise<\/strong> for<\/strong> hikers<\/strong>. It is the Montagnola Senese, a small hilly<\/strong> area<\/strong> rich in fauna<\/strong> and flora<\/strong>. It is home to\u00a0rare<\/strong> animals<\/strong> such as the Kestrel, the Italian Crested Newt and five species of bats. Immerse yourself in the immense forest of live oak<\/strong> and be enchanted by the pristine<\/strong>\u00a0nature<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

9. Enjoy a glass of Brunello<\/h3>\n
\"Waiting
Photo by Dimit\u00aei via Flickr<\/div><\/div>\n

Walking on the\u00a0many routes along the Sienese hills, you’ll notice the large number of vineyards<\/strong>. Those of Montalcino<\/strong> give life to one of the most famous Italian wines, Brunello<\/strong>. What’s better than a sip a glass of it\u00a0there, between the land that produces it?<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0Photograph\u00a0the landscape from one of the towers of San Gimignano<\/h3>\n
\"San
Photo by Martin Hapl via Flickr<\/div><\/div>\n

San<\/strong> Gimignano<\/strong> is one of several towns of the Tuscan hills is worth a visit. To make the town, set in a beautiful green setting, more special are the 13<\/strong> medieval<\/strong> towers<\/strong> that dominate the landscape. They\u00a0said that in 1300 the towers surrounding the town were even 72! From the towers you can not help but bring out your camera to immortalize<\/strong> the<\/strong> landscape<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A weekend in the Sienese hills has it all: art, culture, landscapes that take your breath away, culinary delights, nature, and secret places.<\/p>\n

Cover photo:\u00a0View on Tuscan City of San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Sienese hills enclose unexpected beauty, art, culture and amazing landscapes. It is a unmatched, romantic and antique scenery. Unforgettable colors and shapes seem to form a dream. The scents and the genuine products of the earth are delicious flavors of yesteryear. The cypresses, the hills of Mount Amiata, the narrow streets of the medieval […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":8862,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2,6],"tags":[25,1444,627,1333,1442,222,364,280,334,225,231,59,60,1443,70,1441,73,269,83,1029,91,886],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 things to do in the Sienese hills - Ecobnb<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the unexpected beauty of the Sienese hills on a trip with 10 unusual stages: from free hot springs to the woods and good wine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2016\/03\/sienese-hills\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 things to do in the Sienese hills - 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Spero ancora in un web che sia spazio di condivisione e divulgazione, e credo che l\u2019eco-sostenibilit\u00e0 sia una sfida imprescindibile del nostro tempo. 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