Tuscany, Siena: farm holiday
Place |
Rooms and Rates |
Surroundings |
Products |
Maps |
THE SURROUNDINGS
for a
rural
cultural
and gastronomic
tourism, in the town and around Siena
- The "Contrade" Museums, where are shown the victories of the Racing Silk of Siena (Palio di Siena);
- The Physiocritish Academy: it manages a rich museum with fossils, minerals and rocks found around Siena (9-13 15-18, no thu p.m., sat and festive);
- The botanic garden, managed by Siena University;
- The italian wine cellar in the Medici's Castle, where you can taste wines producted in the richest Italian province of VQPRD denominations: Chianti Classico, Chianti Colli Senesi, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino;
- The mummificate reliquie of St. Catherine from Siena, Saint of Italy;
- The glorious Chigiana Musical Academy with summery concerts;
- The typical local products: not only Panforte and Ricciarelli, but also "pan co' santi" (bread with saints) and ham of "cinta senese" (= "belt of siena"), an endangered local pig race;
- The Racing Silk (Palio) that runs in Piazza del Campo (= Field Square) on 2nd July and 16st August; for children is better to watch the trial in the afternoon on the two previous days;
- The steam train from Siena through Crete Senesi, mines of Murlo, Orcia valley, covering very fascinous railway lines (for information: Ferrovie della Val d'Orcia - Orcia Valley Railway tel. 0039-577-207413 or 338-8992577).
- The beautiful "Colle Val d'Elsa" Middle Age town, where is made 90% of the italian crystal: you can buy it at very good prices;
- The small and ancient thermal source of 'Acqua Borra', inserited in the historical-thermal park of Monteaperti, place of the storical battle between Siena and Florence;
- The reckless arc of Devout Bridge (Ponte della Pia), from wich starts a path through the forest until the romantic Saint Lucy Hermitage (Eremo di Santa Lucia);
- The remains of ancient Etrurian people: a big tomb near Castellina in Chianti, the necropolis of Fonterutoli and Rosia, the museums in Murlo and Asciano;
- The evocative Crete Senesi, 'the desert that surrounds Siena from midday', with a lot of different forms of country erosion;
- The Alto Merse Natural Park, in the green landscapes of Merse valley and Farma valley (Colline Metallifere = Metalliferous Hills);
- The France way (Via Francigena) also called Rome way (via Romea), a Middle Age path that crosses this country;
- The Terme di Petriolo with an ancient castle on the Farma valley, Bagno Vignoni with the ancient basin in the center of the small town, and Rapolano Terme with the local calcareus rock, favourite destination for termal cure;
- The Cetine antimony mine: a maze of gallery today Mine Park, and the mine museum in Chiusdino;
- The Metalliferous Hills (Colline Metallifere), one of the richest areas of minerals and rocks, with a lot of abandoned mines and active quarry of chalk, kaolin and marble;
- The wonderful and ancient architecture of Certosa di Pontignano, today Conference Center managed by Siena University;
- The mysterious sword in the stone in the Hermitage of Hedges Mount (Eremo di Monte Siepi), near the romantic Saint Galgano Abbey (Abbazia di San Galgano), with its nocturnal concerts and the Bird of Prey Save Center;
- The carnival of Siena, Buonconvento (24 Km) ed Asciano (24 Km). Asciano carneval is burlesque and it is based on Meio, a poor men born in the village at the end of XV century and remembered for its wit and joy. Onlooker the "Meio testament", a text in rhyme that puts in the pillory the local personages. Meio puppet will be burnt at the end of carneval.
- swimming river (Merse, 18 Km)
- horse, tennis, billiards, skating (3 Km)
- swimming pool, sport peach, golf (7 Km)
- airplane tourist flight, go-kart (11 Km)
- baloon flight (28 Km)
- bowling (35 Km)
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