The Poor Theater of Monticchiello is an extraordinary social project born in the 60s from the need to rebuild the social fabric of the village after the sharecropping crisis and the problem of depopulation. Unique of its kind precisely because its staging is “participated” by all the inhabitants of the village, who very often, in the square, recite themselves.
With the end of sharecropping, the population was drastically reduced, the countryside depopulated and the community had the distinct feeling that the entire cultural identity it had could vanish into thin air. The reaction of the community was therefore to tighten to defend their identity and thus the project for the poor theater of Monticchiello was born.

L'articolo Teatro Povero di Monticchiello proviene da Montepulciano.com.

The real singularity of the place is a stone pyramid with a triangular base in the center of the garden. The Luchini family adhered to a Masonic Lodge and thus recreated a sort of initiatory-esoteric path in the garden, an open-air Masonic temple. Thus some things that seem natural are studied, such as the arrangement of some trees in groups of three, a symbolic number, or the jar buried before the square that recalls the basin of the temple of Solomon used for ablutions, or the two large boulders arranged at the beginning of the path leading to the pyramid, representing the two columns of the Solomonic temple. Continuing, you will discover the circle-shaped Boxwood hedge that represents the eye that oversees and obviously the triangular-based pyramid, the main symbol of Freemasonry.

L'articolo Isabella wood proviene da Montepulciano.com.

A shining example of an Italian garden, where the basins, hedges, fountains, benches blend perfectly with the surrounding nature, the Giardino la Foce is located within the estate of the same name, founded in 1498.

Villa La Foce was born as a hostel to host pilgrims who went to Rome along the Via Francigena. Purchased the Villa from Iris Origo and her husband at the beginning of the twentieth century, after the wedding the woman decided to live in Villa la Foce and to make that area better for the poor and peasants, with reclamation works and founding a sanctuary for children with tuberculosis . The story of Iris unfolds between the 1920s and 1930s, together with that of her garden, designed with great skill by the architect Pinsent that she had seen at work at Villa Medici in Florence.

The first garden, the lemon garden, the rose garden and the lower garden lead to appreciate the great skills of the architect, who was able to exploit the morphology of the land and set this precious place in the splendid scenery of the Val d’Orcia. The view of Mount Amiata that can be enjoyed from the terrace of the Lemon Garden leaves you astonished by the wonder: the perfect integration between human and natural landscape makes you literally speechless.

L'articolo Villa la Foce gardens proviene da Montepulciano.com.

After passing the village going towards Torrenieri, right in the middle of the hill stands this small grouping of cypresses that seems painted. The advice is to park along the road where there is a small rest area on both sides of the carriageway.

Among the most loved and iconic places by photographers in the Val d’Orcia and Tuscany, it is a must on your tour of the Val d’Orcia. One thing that not everyone knows is that there are two cypress groves in San Quirico d’Orcia: the lower one (the most famous and photographed) and the one located higher up, at the top of the hill. The latter, unlike the other, can be reached either on foot from the main road or along a secondary dirt road. Once you get to the top, you can literally enter the famous circle of cypresses.

L'articolo Cypress forest, San Quirico d’Orcia proviene da Montepulciano.com.

The monumental complex of Sant’Anna in Camprena is a former 15th century Olivetan Benedictine monastery, an imposing and sober place but also endowed with profound spirituality. Here are preserved a splendid cycle of frescoes by the painter Antonio Bazzi. Currently the monastery is used as a farmhouse managed by the diocese of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza.

Visit the monastery to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of profound spirituality that pervades it, and take the opportunity to allow yourself a few hours of relaxation. Here in summer you will find concerts inside the church and the monastery every year hosts different art courses: painting, drawing, photography , music. The farm has also collaborated for years with the “Scuola Camprena” School of Italian Language and Culture which is less than 1 km from the Monastery.

L'articolo Sant’Anna in Camprena proviene da Montepulciano.com.

Always a destination for photographers and incurable romantics, this small church is located on a dirt road that leads from San Quirico d’Orcia to Pienza in the direction of Montepulciano. Along the SP146 road, we always remember from San Quirico to Pienza towards Montepulciano) you will find on the right a small sign that will take you onto a dirt road. After about 2km you will have to park the car and finish the last 500m on foot.

L'articolo Cappella della Madonna della Vitaleta proviene da Montepulciano.com.

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Here you will find concerts and Gregorian chant courses, workshops on monastic medicine techniques and courses in writing and making icons.

Hospitality is one of the values ​​that has always characterized the abbey of Sant’Antimo, inhabited over the centuries by Benedictine monks. The abbey is the ideal place to organize days of spiritual retreat for groups of young people and families who can have lunch in the San Benedetto and Santa Scolastica rooms or outdoors in the equipped area adjacent to them. Groups can also take advantage of the self-managed kitchen.

L'articolo Sant’Antimo Abbey proviene da Montepulciano.com.

Not far from Castiglione stands the Rocca di Tentennano, used for a long time as a sentinel over the area. It is said to have also hosted Saint Catherine of Siena who, according to tradition, learned to read and write here thanks to a miracle. Arriving here, you cannot miss this imposing tower that overlooks the adjacent village of Rocca d’Orcia and stands out over the entire valley.
We advise you to climb the Rocca and enjoy the view but we already warn you that the photos will not be able to do justice to such beauty: here you can enjoy a few hours of relaxation thanks to a restaurant and a refreshment point. The tower is open to the public in the summer every day and on weekends almost all year round.

L'articolo Castiglione d’Orcia proviene da Montepulciano.com.

Many of the streets of the Renaissance Pienza bear romantic or evocative names: cross Pienza walking along the main street, Corso Rossellino, which is overlooked by artisan shops, restaurants and flowered balconies.

In the middle of Corso Rossellino opens “Piazza Pio II”, which overlooks the Town Hall. Continue to Piazza di Spagna with its beautiful well, and if you want to enjoy a unique show, take a detour along the very romantic Via del Casello. Here you can admire the whole Val d’Orcia from above: a breathtaking spectacle that you can enjoy tasting the renowned Pecorino di Pienza, perhaps accompanied by an excellent glass of wine.

L'articolo Pienza proviene da Montepulciano.com.