The famous ‘Crete Senesi’, abbeys, castles and hills of vineyards are some of the ingredients of this tour. We are in the south east of Tuscany where the panorama is periodically changing: from the green of the meadows in spring, to the yellow of the wheat in summer, and the red of the leaves in autumn. Every day you will reach places or villages of historical importance, such as the abbey of Monte Oliveto, where you can visit the cloister with its famous frescos, Montalcino, where you can taste a glass of excellent wine, Sant' Antimo, which is decidedly the most beautiful Benedictine Abbey of Tuscany, probably founded by Carlo Magno, Bagno Vignoni, thermal resort since Middle Age, San Quirico d' Orcia and Pienza. In the second part of the tour you will reach Montepulciano, the most important village of the Val di Chiana. You will be able to taste its "noble wine", famous all over the world, in the historical city centre wine cellars of the 16th century. The city is a jewel of architecture with its majestic palaces, alleys and colourful buildings.

• The visit of Siena, Montepulciano and Pienza

• The villages and fortresses of the Crete and Val d’Orcia: Ripa d’Orcia, Montalcino, Bagno Vignoni, San  Quirico d’Orcia, Monticchiello

• The abbeys of Monte Oliveto Maggiore and San Antimo

• Itineraries in one of the most beautiful Italian landscapes

Visit of the city and, in the late afternoon, transfer by train to Buonconvento (with your own luggage) (departure from Siena at 06:37 pm - arrival at 07:02 pm). Dinner and overnight stay in hotel

Pieve a Salti – Monterongriffoli –Monte Oliveto’s Abbey and back to Buonconvento with private hotel means of transport. Trekking among the famous “Crete” (Clays) to reach the Abbey of Monte Oliveto, where you can visit the cloister with its renowned frescos. All along the itinerary you’ll reach the Monterongriffoli’s castle and the tiny village of Chiusure. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel in Buonconvento.

Buonconvento – Villa Castelrosi – Villa la Torre – Bibbiano – Badia Ardenga – Montalcino and back to Buonconvento with public bus (14 km/9 mi). Trekking through the wonderful hills covered with the famous Brunello’s vineyards, pass over some beautiful private villas and cellars; when in Montalcino, after tasting a glass of excellent wine, you can visit the Priori’s Palace, the Loggia, The Sant’ Egidio’s church and the Rocca, a pentagonal defense fortress built in 1361 and forerunner of the Tuscan fortresses of the Medicean Age. Dinner and overnight stay in hotel in Buonconvento.

Private hotel transfer to S. Antimo (23 km/14 mi) Itinerary: S. Antimo - Castelnuovo dell’Abate - Ripa d'Orcia - Bagno Vignoni - S. Quirico d'Orcia and public bus transfer to Montepulciano (30 min.)From S. Antimo, definitely one of the most suggestive Benedictine Abbey of the whole of Tuscany, presumed to be founded by king Charles the Great, we cross the Crete region enjoying a magnificent suggestive view, and then reach the castle of Ripa d’Orcia, from which you’ll see the amazing panorama above the Orcia river, Castiglione and Rocca D’ Orcia. Finally arriving in Bagno Vignoni, thermal resort since the Middle Age, characterized by the stunning thermal bath right in the centre of the village, pass over Vignoni, a little village with a medieval atmosphere, to reach San Quirico D’Orcia. Public bus to Montepulciano. Free dinner and overnight stay in hotel ***.

Montepulciano – Monticchiello – Pienza. Pienza, thought and planned thanks to the Pope Pio II who wanted it as his temporary residence, it’s the ideal Renaissance city. Monticchiello is a charming medieval village remaining fairly preserved during the centuries. You can discover it by losing yourself in its streets, its stunning houses made of stones, little squares and towers. Montepulciano, the biggest town of the Chiana Valley with its famous : “Vino Nobile” that you should taste in the 5th century cellars in the ancient city centre. The town is an architectural jewel with its magnificent Renaissance palaces, narrow streets and brick buildings. Public bus to Montepulciano (20 min). Free dinner and overnight stay in hotel in Montepulciano.

Public bus transfer to Pienza (20min). From Pienza across the typical “Crete Senesi” landscape, among he ups and downs of the hills, reach S. Quirico d’Orcia located on the Francigena’s Way, where the pilgrims walked on their way to Rome and which contributed to the considerable economic growth of the town. Transfer to Montepulciano by public bus. Free dinner and overnight in the hotel.

Trekking along the hills of the famous “vino Nobile” to get to Montepulciano, the biggest inhabited centre of the Val di Chiana with its famous wine that you can taste in one of the 5th century cellars in the town centre. After lunch, luggage transfer from the hotel to the Montepulciano bus station, where you could go to Siena, Florence (changing in Siena) or Chiusi by public bus (see details below).

Single supplement - $330

• Accommodation A - in hotel*** or B in hotel **/***, in double room with private facilities

• Halfboard in Buonconvento (dinners of day1-2-3)

• Bed & Breakfast in Montepulciano (day 4-5-6)

• Luggage transport

• Transfer with private vehicle as detailed in the program

• Detailed information on the program and itinerary.

EXCLUSIONS -  The insurances, the transfers from and to the airport, journeys to and from Siena and Montepulciano, entrance fees, tickets of public buses, the drinks, the lunches, the dinners on days 4-5-6, items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry or anything not specifically mentioned as included. .

If you arrive by plane: Florence or Pisa airport, then you can continue by train to Siena, there are connections with trains between these cities. Check the timetable on www.trenitalia.com

If you arrive by train: You can leave your luggage at the luggage deposit at the train station, in the afternoon transfer to Buonconvento by train.

If you travel by car: You can go directly to Buonconvento (you can park your car in front of the hotel, unguarded parking spaces in the street).

You can take the public bus to come back to Siena or Buonconvento. There is bus Line 112 (Montepulciano – Buonconvento – Siena). starting from MontepulcianoAutostazione at 09.00 AM, stopping in Buonconvento at 09.55 and in Siena train station at 10.35. Nextbus is at 14.10 PM from Montepulciano bus station, arrives at 15.05 in Buonconvento and at 15.45 inSiena train station.

Train from Siena to Buonconvento

Private vehicle of the hotel from Monte Oliveto to Buonconvento and from Buonconvento to San Antimo.

Public bus:

• Montalcino – Buonconvento,

• S. Quirico d’Orcia – Montepulciano,

• Pienza – Montepulciano,

• Montepulciano – Pienza and S. Quirico d’Orcia – Montepulciano,