Tuscany

Today, it’s your turn to be captivated and seduced by Tuscany’s stunning landmarks: let them lovingly lead you to the discovery of our cultural and natural heritage. By staying at Badia di Pomaio, you will be able to discover everything Tuscany has to offer. At the end of your day, the resort will be here to welcome you back for a relaxing evening.

Florence

86 Km from Badia di Pomaio

Route: Highway exit Firenze.

The first traces of the existence of what would later become Firenze date back to the IX century b.C. when the Etruscans inhabited this region.

What to visit: the Church of Santa Maria Novella, close to the station; the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, the Brunelleschi Cupola, the Battistero and Giotto’s bell tower. Piazza della Signoria, at the centre of which stands the famous Fountain of Neptune; opposite the fountain, there is Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia dei Lanzi.

The Uffizi Museum, where some of the most important masterpieces of Italian Art are hosted; Ponte Vecchio; the cathedral of Santa Croce. San Lorenzo Market, the largest and oldest open markets in Firenze. Piazzale Michelangelo, with its magnificent panoramic view of the city; Pitti Palace; Santo Spirito Square; Boboli Gardens.

Food/Wine: Lampredotto, Fiorentina T-Bone steak.

Siena

75 km from Badia di Pomaio

Route: Highway exit Valdichiana, Speedway to Siena.

Siena dates back to a period between 900 and 400 b.C.

What to visit: Piazza Salimbeni, which houses the main offices of the Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, one of the oldest banks in the world; Banchi di Sopra and the famous Piazza del Campo; Fonte Gaia (the beautiful marble fountain), the town hall and Torre del Mangia; the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which has one of the most beautiful and elaborated facade floors in the entire world, and its Museum.

Food/Wine: Crostini neri.

Perugia

82 Km from Badia di Pomaio

Route: Highway exit Valdichiana, Speedway to Perugia (make a stop at the Trasimeno lake!).

Perugia dates back to the VI century b.C. but the main nucleus of the city as you see it now was built between the Middle Age and the Renaissance.

What to visit: Palazzo dei Priori, which hosts an extensive collection of Umbrian art, starting from the XIII century; the Gothic Cathedral and the city’s main square, Piazza IV Novembre, at the centre of which stands Fontana Maggiore; the Etruscan Arch (or the Arch of Augusto) and the semi-circular arch of Porta Marzia, which is the entrance to the Rocca Paolina.

Food/Wine: Torta al testo.

Assisi

109 Km from Badia di Pomaio

Route: Highway exit Valdichiana, Speedway to Perugia, then follow the directions to Assisi.

Assisi is famous for being the place of birth of San Francesco. The Etruscans founded it and then the Romans conquered it.

What to visit: Santa Maria degli Angeli, the beautiful church at the foot of the hill before Assisi; the Cathedral dedicated to San Francesco where frescos about his life are displayed; the remnants of a Roman temple dedicated to the goddess Minerva in the main square of the city; up high on the slopes that overlook the city, the Rocca Maggiore offers a panoramic view of Mount Subasio and of the valley.

Food/Wine: Tartufo Nero di Norcia.

Chianti

70 Km from Badia di Pomaio.

Route: FAST/ Highway exit Valdichiana, Speedway to Siena, exit Castelnuovo Berardenga.

SLOW/From Arezzo road to Bucine, Ambra to enter the Chianti region.

Only a few regions can offer such a beautiful and rich panorama as Chianti Classico: green hills sketched by miles and miles of vineyards and olive groves, ancient walled villages, panoramic curvy roads and historic castles and fortresses. Chianti Classico spreads from Florence to Siena and includes the municipalities of Greve, Panzano, Radda, Gaiole, Castellina and Castelnuovo Berardenga.

Food/Wine: Chianti Classico wine

Montalcino

77 km from Badia di Pomaio

Route: drive through the most iconic landscape of Tuscany, that of Val d’Orcia.

Montalcino, famous for its Brunello wine, is an authentic Tuscan village dated back to the early Middle Age (9^th century).

What to visit: In the main square, the Palazzo Comunale, also known as Palazzo dei Priori, and its incredibly tall medieval tower. Near it, there is ‘La Loggia’, a Renaissance structure characterized by six rounded arches. The walls and the Castle are also points of interest within the town. The latter, especially, presents visitors with a dazzling view of the Val d’Orcia. Ten minutes from the town, you can find the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, whose oldest parts date back to 4^th century.

Food/Wine: Brunello di Montalcino wine.

Pienza

64 km from Badia di Pomaio

Route: drive through the most iconic landscape of Tuscany. Roughly 15 minutes from Montepulciano, plunged in Val d’Orcia, rises Pienza.

Pope Pius II founded this town in 15th century. UNESCO declared its historic centre a Human Heritage Site in ’96.

What to visit: the small centre of this well preserved Renaissance hamlet (walk through the narrow streets, stop to taste some pecorino cheese in one of the numerous shops); the square dedicated to Pio II; the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (in front of it, you’ll find the Palazzo Comunale, ancient residence of the Priori); Palazzo Borgia, home to the Museo Diocesano D’Arte Sacra (Museum of Sacred Art); and Palazzo Piccolomini, whose Renaissance garden overlooks the whole valley.

Food/Wine: Pecorino cheese.

Montepulciano

56 km from Badia di Pomaio.

Route: Road to Cortona, then follow the directions to Montepulciano. A charming road through gently sloping hills, olive branches, vineyards will lead you to the top of the hill where Montepulciano is located.

What to visit: This medieval town with beautiful Renaissance palaces has lot of points of interest, such as Piazza Grande, Palazzo Comunale (an old palace that looks quite a bit like Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio), the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Medicea Fortress at the highest point of the town. Down the hill, near the town, pay a visit to the temple of San Biagio.

Food and wine: Vino Nobile (wine).

Cortona

36 Km from Badia di Pomaio.

Route: drive through the small villages on the outskirts of Arezzo and then pass Castiglion Fiorentino. Drive up the bends of the hill of Cortona, coasted by beautiful olive trees.

Cortona is of Etruscan origin (7^th Century b.C.) and part of its ancient walls is still intact. Located at the top of the hill, the view of the Valdichiana and of the Trasimeno Lake in the distance is simply stunning. Cortona is a lively hill town with lots of places to enjoy food and wine and to shop, especially in the main street, Via Nazionale.

What to visit: Piazza della Repubblica and the town hall; the San Francesco church; the MAEC – the Etruscan museum – and its archaeological site; the small Museo Diocesano, where Beato Angelico’s Annunciazione is exhibited; Santa Margherita church and the Girifalco Fortress; ‘Le Celle’, one of San Francesco’s monasteries.

Food and wine: Syrah Cortona wine and Chianina steak.

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