Abbadia San Salvatore

Abbey of Sant'Antimo

Albarese

Acquapendente


anghiari

Archipelago Toscano


Arcidosso


Arezzo


Asciano


Badia di Coltibuono


Bagni San Filippo

Bagno Vignoni

Barberino Val d'Elsa

Beaches

Bolsena Lake


Bomarzo

Brunello di Montalcino

Buonconvento

Campagnatico


Capalbio


Castel del Piano


Castelfiorentino

Castell'Azzara

Castellina in Chianti


Castelmuzio


Castelnuovo Bererdenga


Castiglioncello Bandini


Castiglione della Pescaia


Castiglione d'Orcia


Castiglion Fiorentino


Celleno


Certaldo


Chinaciano Terme


Chianti


Chiusi


Cinigiano


Città di Castello

CivitÀ di Bagnoregio


Colle Val d'Elsa


Cortona


Crete Senesi


Diaccia Botrona

Isola d'Elba

Firenze


Follonica


Gaiole in Chianti


Gavorrano

Gerfalco


Greve in Chianti


Grosseto


Lago Trasimeno


La Foce


Manciano


Maremma


Massa Marittima


Montagnola Senese


Montalcino


Monte Amiata


Monte Argentario

montecalvello

Montefalco


Montemassi


Montemerano


Monte Oliveto Maggiore


Montepulciano


Monteriggioni


Monticchiello


Monticiano


Orbetello


Orvieto


Paganico


Parco Naturale della Maremma


Perugia


Piancastagnaio


Pienza


Pisa


Pitigliano

Prato

Radda in Chianti


Roccalbegna


Roccastrada


San Bruzio


San Casciano dei Bagni


San Galgano


San Gimignano


San Giovanni d'Asso


San Quirico d'Orcia


Sansepolcro


Santa Fiora


Sant'Antimo


Sarteano


Saturnia


Scansano


Scarlino


Seggiano


Siena


Sinalunga


Sorano


Sovana


Sovicille

Talamone

Tarquinia


Tavernelle Val di Pesa


Torrita di Siena


Trequanda


Tuscania


Umbria


Val d'Elsa


Val di Merse


Val d'Orcia


Valle d'Ombrone


Vetulonia


Viterbo

Volterra




 
Walking in Tuscany
             
 
Trequanda



Trequanda
album Surroundings
       
   

Trequanda


   
   
The medieval village of Trequanda developed around the castle dating back to 1200, of which just the cylindric crenellated tower remains, some pieces of the boundary walls and two of the three original entrance doors are still well visible.

The thirteenth-century Romanesque Church of St. Peter and Andrew has a façade of white and dark ashlars giving the church a rather unique chromatic effect for this area. In the interior, on the high altar, there is a wonderful polyptych of the Sienese painter Giovanni di Paolo (1479-1549) and here the remains of the Beata Bonizzella Cacciaconti are preserved in a richly decorated urn, a masterpiece of the 16th century Sienese art; on the right wall a beautiful fresco by Sodoma (1479-1549), a fresco by Bartolomeo Mirana, on the left wall there is a niche with a statue representing a Madonna with Infant by Sansovino and a majolica representing the Ascension of the Della Robbia’s school.

A good part of the village is still occupied by the ancient Castle of Cacciaconti and by its important annexes, among which a little and unique Italian garden shines. On the north-eastern part there is the majestic cylindric stone tower dominating the whole building, partially rebuilt after the war it points the castle ancient fortified structure.

 

Trequanda chiesa
Chiesa dei SS. Pietro e Andrea
, in Trequanda

Trequanda, a medieval village, was a feud under the rule of the Cacciaconti della Scialenga from 1100 to 1300. Later, because of controversies between them and the local population, the village went under the rule of the Republic of Siena (1555) and followed its destiny until the last war against the imperial troups. The territory was plundered, the village and the castle partially destroyed. In 1774 Trequanda gained independence.

At first its territory included Trequanda, Montisi and Petroio. In 1877 San Giovanni d’Asso conquered Montisi; from then on the territory of Trequanda included only Petroio and Castello (Castelmuzio). The castle built in the XII century was partially destroyed. The territory of Trequanda extends over an area of 64 kmq and is limited by Valdichiana to the east and by the “Crete Senesi” of Valle d’Asso to the west. The environment is characterized by the Tuscan hills and is mostly covered by oak and ilex trees; the typical fauna includes pheasants, hares, wild boars, foxes, badgers, roe-deers, follow-deers etc. The climate, thanks to the geographic position of these surroundings, to their altitude and to the wide wooded areas, is mild and pleasant in every season.

Agriculture gives important typical products: olive oil, wine, pecorino cheese (sheep cheese), salt pork, honey and other fruits of the hive. The most important place in Trequanda is the square, where there are most of the shops: the newsagent’s, the pharmacy, the post office, the bank, the bar, the Town Hall. There are also other shops, such as the grocer’s, the butcher’s, the baker’s, a restaurant but they are in other streets. Seven streets branch off the square, among which two lead to the town gates: Porta a Sole and Porta a Leccio.

Among the remaining five streets, four are linked to each other, the last one leads out of the town wall. In Trequanda there are three churches; the main one is romanic in style and is dedicated to Sant’Andrea; the other ones are the Chiesa dell’Immacolata and the Chiesa della Madonna del Sodo.

 

 Sodoma, Transfiguration
Sodoma, Transfiguration

Madonna del sodo

The comune Trequanda comprises the three villages of Trequanda, Petroio and Castelmuzio, and occupies an area of 64 sq km, more than a third of which is covered with lush woods of oak and a wide variety of mediterranean herbs.
The road which links the villages offers a series of particulary attractive scenery and views.

Castelmuzio


 

 

Castelmuzio, is located close to the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Val d'Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park. These coveted designations are protecting this area’s cultural and artistic heritage and its miracle of nature called the "crete senesi", a countryside characterized by undulating ploughed hills and densely forested woods. Castelmuzio is a mesmerizing medieval hamlet and precious treasure of the real Tuscany, and has been wonderfully preserved–you can touch the medieval walls, see the watch tower, and enter the village through the ancient arched stone gate. The cloister Sant Anna in Camprena and the old church Pieve de Santo Stefano in Cennano are situated on opposite sides of the village.

Over the years it has been called by several names, Castel Mozzo and later Castello. The local people still refer to it simply as Castello. You can see the old city walls and ramparts, including the embrasures through which cannons were fired. The village came into its own in the 13th century, when many of the buildings you see today were built.
Castelmuzio is constructed on a volcanic limestone mount and is defended by walls and ramparts in which the cannon embrasures can still be seen. These are formed of randomly placed limestone and sandstone blocks, as is the Casa Torre in the main square.
There are 4 narrows sloping streets, all leading to the square under which lies an ancient travertine based water cistern. In this square, the Piazza della Pieve, the most important buildings are La chiesa Plebana, Casa Torre, Spedale di San Giovanni Battista and la confraternità della SS Trinità and S. Bernardino.

The tower, a prominent part of the fortified castle, stood watch over the countryside to protect the citizens from local enemies and barbarians from far away. Later, in the 16th century, it became the village’s civic building and housed the town council meetings and provided residence for the town prior. The tower is part of the Palazzo Fratini, which was once the medieval Spedale di San Giovanni Battista (hospital of St. John the Baptist).

The village includes three churches. The most famous is the Pieve di Santo Stefano in Cennano, just outside the village. This small parish church has a documented history since 715 A.D. Its location was originally an Etruscan place of worship, and much later the church was built over an early Roman temple. The part you see today was built in 1285 A.D. From the original base, divided into a nave and two aisles, all that remains are three apses, while today the interior is one single nave.
In recent years a cemetery and Roman bath have been discovered very close to the church.

During the 15th century the Confraternità della Santissima Trinità opened a hostel for pilgrims. These pilgrims came from France and other parts of Europe, usually on foot, to see the pope in Rome, and followed a route called the Via Francigena. Do visit the Sacred Art Museum which is housed inside.

The marvellous Romanesque parish church Pieve of Santo Stefano in Cennano stands next to Castelmuzio. Already mentioned in a Lombard document in 715, it was restored in Romanesque style.

Castelmuzio, an ancient village dating back to the time of the Etruscans, is built on a volcanic limestone hilltop overlooking an amazing landscape.

 


Val d'Orcia


Castelmuzio

 

 

 

 

Petroio

   
The church of San Giorgio is at Petroio, close to Trequanda. Petroio (13th century) is built on a curious circular plan and is one of the best brick castles in the region.
The picturesque cone-like village perched on a hill, which spirals around a single narrow road within the remains of the ancient walls, the old houses, palaces and churches and the steps that lead up to the summit of the lower and the fort, preserves the warm blonde colour of the sandstone with which almost all of it is built. Its origins are etruscan as the name testifies, deriving from the etruscan Petruni, (or even from the Latin “Praetorium”, and archaeological remains discovered nearby.
The church of San Giorgio is the oldest sacred building in the town. Its construction was begun in the year 300.
The original structure was lower, as can be ascertained from the façade. There is a visible difference between the type of stone used in the upper and lower parts. A large round window is above the impressive main doorway. The bell tower, which was added in the eighteenth century is on the right side of the church.
The interior consists of a single nave and a chapel dedicated to the Santissimo Sacramento along the left wall.



 


Petroio

 

Petroio, Cappella della Madonna del Parto
Petroio, Cappella della Madonna del Parto


Petroio (13th century) is built on a curious circular plan

 

Badia di Santa Maria in Sicille

   
A few kilometres to the northeast of Trequanda is the Abbadia a Sicille, a beautiful Italian old village. The history of the village dates back to approx 1.200 AD. Abbadia Sicille and Abbadia a Cignano, ancient Templar rest stops on the way to Rome.
The name derives from the Etruscan name Segnes, and through the Latin Secennius became Sicille.
The presence of the two crosses of Malta to the sides of the portal of the Chiesa di Santa Maria a Sicille suggests the foundation of the complex by the Knights of Malta.

Pro Loco Trequanda | Badia di S. Maria a Sicille

 

Abbadia a Sicile

Montisi

 

   
Castelmuzio

Montisi

 

 
Montisi, a frazioni of San Giovanni d'Asso, is a small ridgetop village north of Castelmuzio, located on an Etruscan road that linked the Maremma coastline with the rich city of Arezzo. Montisi is perched on a crag and built around the castle that forms the nucleus of the village. The name is a modernization of Monti Isi, or the Mount of Isis, reflecting the fact that an 8th century B.C. temple of Isis was located a couple of kilometres from Montisi. As you walk around Montisi, you will note that like Siena, it is divided into quarters – the famous contrade.
At the edge of the village is the fortified Grancia.
The Piccola Accademia di Montisi, located in Montisi, has been founded to provide a center of inspiration for musicians worldwide who have an interest in the harpsichord, its repertoire and its history.
Although there are small vineyards all around Montisi there is no definitive local wine. There are three kinds of local wines: red, made principally from the Sangiovese grape and recently awarded its own DOC under the name of Orcia, a local peasant wine which is made with a component of about 20 percent white grapes, and the vin santo, a dessert wine that can range from dry to sweet.
[Strada del Vino Orcia]

Grancia is a fortified farm complex dating from the 14th century, built on the edge of Montisi, around a courtyard that stored provisions for the Spedale of Santa Maria della Scala in Siena. This extraordinary organisation took care of the flood of pilgrims to Rome that travelled the Via Francigena from the 12th century onwards, and was always in need of supplies.
In 1295 Simone dei Cacciaconti, Lord of Montisi, left his estate in Montisi to the Hospital of St. Maria della Scala in Siena.
In the next century the Hospital built a small fortress with a high tower on the Western boundary of the village. It was to be used as a Grancia, a granary for the storage of the produce grown on the property.
In 1775 Pietro Leopoldo, Grand Duke of Tuscany, issued an order to sell the estate of the Hospital, including the Grancia of Montisi. It was bought by Jacopo Mannucci Benincasa in 1778 and has remained in the family to this day.

The word grancia, or grange, of French derivation, denotes a building with the functions of storehouse and granary. In the middle ages granges were rural buildings situated on the estate of an abbey for the storage of agricultural produce.
Initially the Sienese granges had both of these features. They came under the Spedale di S. Maria della Scala of Siena and consisted of buildings for storing the harvests of an extensive property. But in Siena the granges had an additional specific element: they were equipped with considerable fortified structures. They were built, in a word, not only to preserve agricultural produce but also and above all to defend it against military threats.

 

Montisi, panorama
Montisi, panorama

 

 


Montisi

 

Cennano

   
The Pieve San Stefano in Cennano, of paleo-Christian origin, arose around the center of what was a Roman settlement, a "vicus". It was situated in an uncivilized area, a part of the greater municipality of Roman Arezzo. It was built on the foundations of a former pagan temple. It is sited along an Etruscan-Roman road leading from Chiusi towards Chianti and Fiesole. The structure already existed in the 4th century, (perhaps consecrated by Saint Donato, second Bishop of Arezzo, who was an evangelizer in this area) as a "baptismal church" when civilized laws advanced into this rural district of plebians. But it was documented for the first time in a decree of Luitprando in 715, which is preserved in the archives of the church in Arezzo. As part of a group of 19 Pievi, it was the object of a famous dispute between the Bishops of Siena and Arezzo, over the question of to whom they belonged, which went on until 1220. Of the 19 ancient baptismal churches, Cennano and Corsignano are the only ones which have retained any integrity, while the others either no longer exist or have been radically altered.

From the point of view of history, the Pieve was very important starting from the 7th and 8th centuries till the end of the 14th century, when it was under the same the ecclesiastical and civil jurisdiction as Chiese di S. Flora in Montisi, S. Pietro in Petroio, S. Guisto in Castelmuzio and the Monastery of the Pilgrim in Passeno, near Castelmuzio. This monastery had been founded in the 7th century (653-661) by a Longobardian lord named "Ursus Ariman", and was located close to an alternate route of the Roman via Francigena. The 16th century marked the beginning of its decline; Castelmuzio was growing as its castle was fortified, and the Church of Santa Maria took over those functions which had remained at the Pieve. The church(s) kept on performing (some) ecclesiastical functions in the immediate area until 1723.

In September, the Festa della Pieve di Cennano is celebrated.

 


Pieve of Santo Stefano in Cennano

East of Trequanda you reach Sinalunga, a modern, thriving centre with connections to Siena, Arezzo and Chiusi. It has one notabIe painting, an anunciation by Benvenuto di Giovanni, in the church of San Francesco.

Leaving the town following the road which leads to Torrita di Siena we find the ancient medieval village of the Amorosa. This manor house was built in 1575 on the occasion of the marriage between Niccolò Piccolomini and Ippolita Pannilini, although the castle was owned by the Piccolomini family as far back as 1350. At the centre of the village is found the church of S. Maria Assunta.

The first iconographical mention of L'Amorosa dates back to the year 1363, in the fresco of Lippo Vanni, which hangs in the Sala del Mappamondo (Museo Civico) in Siena's Palazzo Pubblico. This image depicts the battle of Valdichiana,, fought in October on the plains under the city's walls.
The first documented owners of L'Amorosa were the Chigi Saracini family, ownership probably passed through inheritance to the family of the Piccolomini del Mandolo,, the same family which owned the palace of the same name in Siena, now seat of the Accademia Musicale Chigiana.

 

 
   
Victory of the Sienese Troops at Val di Chiana in 1363
c. 1364
Fresco
Palazzo Pubblico, Siena

Accompanying Simone Martini's Maestà in the Sala del Mappamondo (formerly known as Sala del Consiglio) were a number of secular images. Frescoes commemorated battles and important military captains. One of the best surviving examples of this reportorial art was commissioned from the painter and miniaturist Lippo Vanni to record the Sienese victory in the Val di Chiana over English mercenaries in 1363. His monochromatic fresco records the progress of the battle and the disposition of the troops episodically across the wall; it is a graphic chronicle of the event rather than a naturalistic reconstruction, with cities carefully labeled and the armies identified by the heraldic flags of their leaders.

 
   
   

Trekking in the Val d'Orcia and the crete Senesi

Trekking in Trequanda | Anello Trequanda – Petroio – Montisi – Montelifré  | 18 km - 3h 39m

Circular walk Montisi - Montelifrè  | 10 km - 2 hours

 

Photo album Van d'Orcia

 

   

Galleria immagini Crete Senesi


Galleria d'immagini




   
Cretesenesi panorama   San giovanni d'aaso panorama   Pieve Santo Stefano a Cennano 08

Crete Senesi (laghi tra Castello Leonina e Vescona, Crete Senesi, Asciano)

 

 

San Giovanni d'Asso

 

 

Pieve di Santo Stefano a Cennano. Absidi

 

Monastero di Sant'Anna in Camprena   Crete Senesi Monte Oliveto  
Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Campanil

Monastero di Sant'Anna in Camprena

 

 

Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore

 

 

Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Campanile

 


 
   

View Crete Senesi in a larger map

 

Walking in Tuscany | From Castelmuzio to Pienza

 

Solitary cypresses or lining in long rows ancient country roads, vineyeards which follow the ups and downs of rolling hills, streams overshadowed by trembling poplars, oaks and holm-oaks woods, strawberry trees and brooms growing on the banks of the roads, they make up the landscape which can be enjoyed on approaching Castelmuzio, the old, suggestive medieval village in the heart of Tuscany.

Follow the road from Castelmuzio to Pienza which goes among beautiful country houses and sides the ancient Benedictine monastery of Sant'Anna in Camprena, a sacred place even at the time of Pope Pius II. Its enchanting refectory painted by the famous '400 century painter Sodoma is worth a visit. This suggestive site has also been the setting to the famous film The English Patient by Anthony Minghella.

When you reach the SS146 to Pienza, you can follow the next walk (Walking around Pienza, marked blue) In both directions you finally reach Pienza.

 


On a hill opposite the medieval fortress of Castelmuzio is the picturesque abbey of Santa Anna in Camprena

 

Walking around Pienza

 

The walk takes off at Piazza Dante Alighieri, through the Viale S. Caterina, direction Pieve di Corsignano.

Map

 

   
Montisi - Castelmuzio
 
 
The itinerary is along old tracks, tarred in parts, otherwise gravel and grass.
   
 

 

 

   

Maps: Multigraphic Val d'Orcia, Kompass nr. 662 Lago trasimeno and Kompass nr. 653 Pienza-Montalcino-Monte Amiata.

 

WALKING IN THE VAL D'ORCIA

The best itineraries in the Val d'Orcia

 



   
     
Located on the outskirts of Castiglioncello Bandini, Podere Santa Pia offers the quiet tranquility of a private retreat, with numerous attractions and gorgeous small hillside villages, beautiful beaches and nature reserves only a short drive away.
One of the best places to slow travel in Tuscany is the Val d’Orcia, with its exquisite art, museums and churches in small hillside villages, its cuisine and epic countryside. We suggest a panoramic tour of the valley, so that the trip becomes a unique experience among the colors and atmospheres of this unique Tuscan landscape. Explore the medieval hillside villages in the Val d'Orcia and the crete senesi on your way to Siena, try some Vino Nobile wines in Montepulciano, where the refined beauty of the squares and churches blends perfectly with the ancient traditions of its white wines.

Hidden secrets in Tuscany | Holiday home Podere Santa Pia

 

 

 

Tuscan Maremma

Podere Santa Pia is a peaceful retreat, perfect for relaxing with a magnificent panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea up to the islands of Montecristo and Corsica