Private tour in the heart of Val d’Orcia: San Quirico and Bagno Vignoni

Can you picture the typical picture-postcard Tuscany landscapes? The hills, the rows of cypress trees and stone houses? Well, most photographs of this kind were taken right in Val D'Orcia. It is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating areas in all of Tuscany, sporting poetic, beguiling and breathtaking landscapes. So if you decide to visit Tuscany, make sure you don’t skip a stop in this wonderful paradise. But bear in mind that the attraction of Val D'Orcia does not lie solely in its natural beauties. This area offers important testimonies of an equally fascinating and intriguing past. This past reveals itself in two villages in Tuscany: San Quirico D'Orcia and Bagno Vignoni Terme. Choosing our guided tour is the best way to discover all their beauties and spot all the picturesque viewpoints, all seasoned by anecdotes told by expert guides that will make your walk even more engaging.

Located close to one another, these two enchanting villages represented two crucial stages in the route of the Via Francigena pilgrimage, the ancient road that linked northern Europe to Rome and southern Italy. It was crossed by pilgrims headed for Rome but also for the port of Bari from where they could reach the Holy Land. Visiting Bagno Vignoni and S. Quirico will be a bit like going back in time, following the footsteps of pilgrims and medieval wanderers. Thanks to our guides, you will discover in the fascinating buildings of these two villages the traces of the precious relationship between the Via Francigena and the Orcia Valley.

The first stop of our tour will be St Quirico D'Orcia, an ancient village with Etruscan origins that owes its charm especially to its typical medieval appearance: ancient walls, parish churches and picturesque streets. In San Quirico, what is there to see with our guides? They will first accompany you to the Collegiata dei Santi Quirico e Giulietta, an ancient Romanesque church characterized by three portals of different eras. Equally evocative is a visit to the Chiesa di San Francesco called ‘Della Madonna’ because inside there is a beautiful portrait of Madonna attributed to Andrea della Robbia. This beautiful glazed ceramic work typical of the Robbiana school comes from the small and delightful Cappella di Vitaleta, located on the road connecting S Quirico to Pienza. The small chapel surrounded by rolling green hills and cypress trees is certainly one of the most famous and evocative images of Val D'Orcia ... almost the hallmark of the typical Tuscan landscape! A visit to S Quirico D'Orcia cannot fail to include the Ospedale della Scala, one of the most striking evidences of the fact that San Quirico was an important stop on the Val d’Orcia Francigena Route. Here, in fact, shelter was offered to travellers and pilgrims who arrived exhausted from the journey. Also worthy of a visit is Horti Leonini, a splendid sixteenth-century garden with the typical square box hedges. Your S.Quirico D'Orcia guided tour cannot end without having seen S.Quirico Palazzo Chigi, the most important civil building housing the Town Hall and important events.

After the walk in S. Quirico d'Orcia you will move to Bagno Vignoni, where some of the most characteristic and picturesque Val d'Orcia thermal baths are located. Among the many hamlets to visit in Tuscany, from an architectural point of view this enchanting spa town is truly unique. The village was in fact developed all around the spring which also acts as a square, so much so that it is precisely called 'water square'. It is a magical place that thanks to its characteristics, offers a wonderful atmosphere in all seasons. The Loggiato di Bagno Vignoni and the other stone buildings adorned with vases of geraniums create a truly picturesque ensemble. In winter when the air is cold, the heat rising from the water turns into a cloud of steam offering a fantastic spectacle that makes Bagno Vigno look like an enchanted place. The healthy properties of the thermal baths of Bagno Vignoni were known already at the time of the Etruscans, while in the Middle Ages it was an excellent stopping point for the Via Francigena pilgrims. From its waters have benefited such figures as Santa Caterina, Lorenzo de Medici and Federico Barbarossa. If you wish so, and of course we highly recommend it, at the end of the Bagno Vignoni tour you can also indulge in a moment of relaxation and well-being in one of Bagno Vignoni thermal baths. Fancy a little extra to finish off your guided tour of this fairytale village? In addition to the thermal baths in Bagno Vignoni, are you wondering what to see in Bagno Vignoni in the company of our highly knowledgeable guides? The best way is to wander through the narrow streets of the village where you can see lots of little hot water streams and where you can soak your hands and dip your feet in! Thanks to this water, you can visit the wonderful Mill Park of Bagno Vignoni: it is a system of four underground mills where most of the grain produced in Val D'Orcia was ground. The Bagno Vignoni Mill Park is an excellent example of what we now call 'sustainable use' of water: used for its beneficial properties but also as a source of energy.

There are so many things you can discover on San Quirico D'Orcia and Bagno Vignoni with our guides during your visit to the two villages... all you have to do is book this fun activity that will allow you to discover two pearls in the heart of Tuscany. If you want, you can add some extras to satisfy your needs to make your day in Val D'Orcia even more special. You can, for example, take advantage of the transport from Siena or other locations depending on the amount of people you are sharing this wonderful experience with. And since you are in Tuscany, the land of famous food and wine excellences such as wine, olive oil, cured meats and cheeses, if you want you can also request a delicious tasting to try all these delicacies. What more could you ask for: natural and architectural treasures, enchanting landscapes, suggestive hamlets, delicious tastings and relaxation in Tuscany hot springs... all your senses will be delighted and pampered. What are you waiting for? Book the tour, we will take care of the rest!