Small-Group Montepulciano and Pienza Day Trip from Siena
Description
Experience the heart of Tuscany on this guided small-group tour day trip to the charming towns of Pienza and Montepulciano. Travel through the beautiful clay hills south of Siena and take in the idyllic UNESCO protected landscapes of Tuscany's charming Val d’Orcia region. Explore the beautiful towns, enjoy the landscapes and have lunch on a local farm! Numbers are limited to a maximum of 8 persons on this small-group tour, ensuring you'll receive personalized attention from your guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide in front of the church of San Domenico in Siena at 9:30am, easy to find even if you are arriving from out of town with your own car, as there is parking in the vicinity. Travel south out of town on one of the most panoramic roads of Tuscany, through the characteristic moonscapes of the Crete Senesi.
Enjoy brief stops along the Crete Senesi for for photo opportunities before visiting a quaint, non touristic medieval hamlet. Continue along this stunning landscape and reach the UNESCO heritage site of the Val d’Orcia, where you come across some of Tuscany’s most iconic postcard pictures.
Arrive to the beautiful, utopian renaissance town of Pienza, one of the first towns to be entirely planned out on paper by important architects of the time. These were called upon by Pope Pius II, the humanist pope who wanted to renovate his native town and bring it new splendor.
Spend your leisure time exploring the Romanesque church of Corsignano or the ideal, Renaissance Cathedral and walk along the scenic route overlooking the valleys and hills beyond. Browse the pretty streets of this gem of a town or some of its many shops of local crafts and products.
Visit a val d'Orcia dairy farm for a wholesome and refreshing lunch based mainly on the fresh ingredients produced on the farm. Here you can learn about the pecorino sheep cheese making processes, visit the farm animals and learn about the lifestyle of the area. Weather permitting, lunch will be served on a panoramic terrace, overlooking the valley below.
In the afternoon, visit one of the biggest and proudest of the Tuscan hill towns, Montepulciano. This town was first under the dominance of medieval Siena and then became an ally to renaissance Florence: here you can recognize the influences of both Republics in its architecture and art. Located on a steep hill, you can look over the ledge at the the Tuscany - Umbrian border.
Visit the main square, Piazza Grande, and explore one of the many old wineries carved out of the ground below the city, and taste the Vino Nobile that was produced by the many important and noble families that one lived here.After a short walk around town with your guide, enjoy some free time on a second tasting of the Nobile wine or visit the town’s many stores, palaces, churches and streets. As you follow the main road down the hill, imagine how hard the “Bravio delle Botti” town festival must be: a competition between the neighborhoods of the town that race wine barrels from the bottom of the hill, all the way to the top. On some occasions the itinerary might vary a little. In this case, the tour could be slightly modified but will maintain a similar general imprint, of the same duration and with all the same inclusions.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Customers who have not reached Italy's legal drinking age of 18 will not be served alcohol
Reviews(316)
A fabulous day of touring, education, food, and wine. Our guide, Keko, was superb. The beautiful drive through the Val d'Orcia was made all the more memorable by the extensive history and cultural insights provided by Keko. We learned A LOT. Pienza was a pleasant stroll, but the highlight was Montepulciano if just for the views of Tuscany. Definitely a day well spent, made all the more memorable by having a fantastic guide. Well done, Keko!
It was a perfect day with our guide Giorgia. The chosen places were very beautiful, as was the food and the wines. Giorgia was very kind and also helped each member of the group who had different needs or desires. She told the history of Siena, Chiusure, Pienza, Montepulciano, and other villages in a very pleasant way, and it is clear that she knows everything very well.
I recently took the Pienza and Montepulciano Tour from Siena with Tuscan Escapes, and our guide, Juliana, made the entire day unforgettable. She was incredibly knowledgeable, warm, and passionate about the region, bringing the history and culture of both towns to life. Her local recommendations were absolutely spot on..Tip for future travelers: Be sure to bring cash with you for a tip! They do not have an online tipping system, and wonderful guides like Juliana truly deserve it. I highly recommend this tour, especially if you don’t have a car!
Our time in Montepulciano was one of our favorite days in Italy. Giovanni was an exceptional guide and he taught us so much about the wine and the area. We highly recommend Tuscan Wine Tours as they book small wineries. Our delicious lunch was at a dairy farm where we overlooked the gorgeous Tuscan region.
Me and my mom enjoyed our tour in yeahand Pienza. It was a beautiful experience and the views were breathtaking.
This was a great way to see Tuscany if you don’t have a car! I really loved the beautiful little towns we visited, driving through the countryside, and our guide Sandro who was the best. Lunch was tasty and the farmhouse we had it at was really cool. If you’d prefer to be in a small group, rather than a large tour, this one’s for you! We all got along really well, and there was ample time to explore by ourselves if we wanted to, too.
Had an excellent time exploring the countryside, beautiful views, plenty of food and good wine. Worth every cent.
10/10 would recommend. Keko was a knowledgeable and charismatic tour guide. While we drove through the Tuscan countryside, he provided engaging commentary about the history, the landscape, and the local food traditions of the region. If you want to see the Tuscan country, this is the way to do it. I particularly enjoyed the lunch at the farm and tasting the local recipes with ingredients made right there. The time in Pienza and Montepulciano flew by. I would definitely take this tour again.
Overall experience was excellent. The small group to start really worked, Sandro our guide was amazing. He was very knowledgeable and efficient. Did a great job pointing us in the right direction and answering many questions. Would definitely give him a 5 star rating. Piemza and Montepulciano are great towns. We had enough time to go around and the farm lunch was special with a full tour a great food. Would do again.
Excellent all day tour. Wonderful guid that gave great information. Very nice air conditioning van. Wonderful overlooks for amazing pictures. Wonderful wine and cheese tasting! Would do again for sure.
