Val D'ORcia

Val D’Orcia holds a special place in the heart of Tuscany that stretches back to ancient times. Situated in the south of Tuscany, this picturesque region stretches from Siena to the north and the small town of Grossetto in the south, following the Orcia River that grants the valley its name. Known for its agrarian history, Val D’Orcia is a place where natural beauty reigns supreme and has been under cultivation since as far back as Republican Rome. Once one of the primary arteries into Northern Italy, an ancient Roman road, the Via Cassia, remained a key route for religious pilgrims going to Rome throughout the Middle Ages, increasing in importance once again with the rise of the merchant elites of the Renaissance.

 

If in the mood for a scenic drive, one can drive along the path of the old Roman Via Cassia from Rome to Siena, tracing millennia of heritage in an afternoon. Throughout the medieval era and the Renaissance, the agricultural bounties of the region drew the eye of powerful communities, prompting them to incorporate the region into their sphere of influence and producing conflict. While not the sole cause of the Florence-Sienna rivalry, struggles to control this region were certainly an element of the now quiescent animosity.

​

​Designed to preserve both that natural beauty of the region as well as the heritage of the communities within, the Val d’Orcia Artistic Natural and Cultural Park now spans large portions of the region and includes many medieval settlements that are still sprinkled throughout the area. The Park covers a vast area, including within it the beautiful towns of Castiglione d'Orcia, Montalcino, Pienza, Radicofani and San Quirico d'Orcia. The size of the park makes managing such a site a challenge, but each of five communities within it have partnered together, committing to joint management of this heritage site.