Val d’Orcia drive

A circular tour sweeps past medieval villages, cypress groves, Romanesque churches, and hills topped by craggy castles or isolated farmhouses. Medieval insecurity accounts for the cluster of castles built to watch over the Orcia valley. A drive linking the hill-top hamlets runs from San Quirico d’Orcia to Rocca d’Orcia and Castiglione d’Orcia south to Vivo d’Orcia and Campiglia d’Orcia. Both hilltop Castiglione and Rocca d’Orcia boast medieval castles which survey the valley, down to the tiny spa resort of Bagno Vignoni. Views abound, taking in Monte Amiata and even the mountains around Abetone. If lucky, you’ll catch the summer Val d’Orcia Festival (July-August) which showcases music, dance and cinema in castles, churches and spa resorts.