Are you born cyclists? Active walkers, or lovers of relaxing in the hot thermal waters?  Then this is the place for you!

The province of Siena has more than 4800 km of paths that are travelable by bicycles or on foot. The most famous are the Via Francigena, the Via della Bonifica della Valdichiana and the Via Lauretana…… You will be spoilt for choice, as many of these pathways start right in Chianciano Terme.  

 If you don’t have your bicycle with you, this is not a problem as there are cycle hire shops in the town.  We also offer the facility of washing the bikes, a safe parking for them and a laundry for washing sports gear.  We also have clear information from road assistance, right through to environmental guides. Walkers can also find the same information, of walking pathways, transport timetables, and everything necessary to help plan their journeys. 

After sport, comes the necessary relax time…… and the thermal spas are almost obligatory here in the area!

The THEIA thermal pool and spa, with its hydromassage bath, is immerged in nature. In the Sensory spa you can spend relaxing hours with music therapy, cromotherapy, river bed walk, and ‘emotional’ showers.   The SILLENE spa provides massage facilities, and thermal mud treatments….. This is what Chianciano offers! 

Moving away only a few kilometres, and you will find the Montepulciano spa and Bagni San Filipo spa – where you can bathe in the natural thermal forest spa waters, and view the famous ‘White Whale’.  There are also Bagno Vignoni, San Casciano dei Bagni spas, and slightly further afield is Rapolano Terme

Surroundings

Montepulciano

One of the Tuscan renaissance symbols, many of the noble families from the Medici court had their summer residences here.
Time seems to have stood still, so as not to spoil the splendour of the town. It has many elegant palaces, powerful churches, and lovely alleys, as we climb up the hill to Piazza Grande, the main square.
Here we admire the Duomo, with the works of Taddeo di Bartolo, the Town Hall, programmed by Michelangelo, the large Palazzo Cantucci, by Sangallo and the old city Well “dei Grifi e dei Leoni”.
Just outside the city walls is the San Bagio church which was constructed by Sangallo and considered one of his most important renaissance works.
Walking in the town we also find some of the historic wine cantinas (almost all underground) , artisan shops and small boutiques. It’s worth stopping at one of the cantinas to sample some of the Montepulciano Vino Nobile, the famous wine in this area. The wine was prized by the nobility in the area (hence the name), it was declared by Francesco Redi in the 17th Century as being the king of Tuscan wines.

Pienza

The architect who designed the village, in the renaissance period,
wanted the ‘ideal city’….† Pienza is a little royal jewel.

Named from Pope Pius II, in this small and tranquil village, in the
Duomo square there stands his palace at the side of the Duomo.

Behind the Duomo, magnificently visible, by walking along Santa Caterina or stopping at Casellom, the Val D’Orcia and its scenery in front of the imposing Mount Amiata.

The words of a local song: “…. spread along a sweet hill/crowned by cypress trees/armoury of a† queen/of the sentimental beauty.

Montalcino

Situated on the west side of the Val d’Orcia , the town is built on a hill, it held a strategic historical point, with a large fortress holding impressive views. The fortress, walls and towers, are fascinating and give an air of past times.
Don’t forget the Olives and local wine here – the Brunello. It is said by those who know their wines to be like the Ferrari of the automobiles!

Cortona

This was one of the 12 most important Etruscan confederation cities, which now has come fine renaissance and medieval palaces. In the Etruscan Museum there are many lovely works including the Cortona lamp, and the “Musa Polimnia dating from the roman times. In the Dioscean Museum there are works of the Cortonan painter Luca Signorelli, and the lovely “Annunciazioni” of Beato Angelico. The most important churches are San Francesco and San Domenico, there is the medieval Palazzi Casali, the the renaissance churches of S. Maria Nuova and S. Niccolò. The Celle convent was founded by San Franceso and is one of the impressive places of the town.

Chiusi

Chiusi had its period of maximum splendour during the reign of Porsenna. There are some important archaeological sites in the area and there is the National Etruscan Museum. In front of this is the 12th century Duomo, which was re-structured in 1585. At the side of the Duomo is the Museum Cattedrale with precious religious relics.
Around the Chiusi area were found some of the most important Etruscan tombs, such as the Scimmia, del Leone, Pellegrina etc. From the beginning of Christianity there are also the catacombs of Santa Mustiola and Santa Caterina in the area, along with the labyrinths which, underground, brought water to the cistern of the city in the lst century AD.

Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore

The Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is located in the province of Siena. Built in 1319 by John (Bernard) Ptolemies, by Patrizio Patrizi and Ambrogio Piccolomini, has occupied the Benedictine Congregation Olivetana. One of the oldest abbey was that of hospitalization. The Via Francigena, which passed close to the Abbey, which was crossed by travelers could stop and find shelter, comfort, couch, dining and even cure diseases and purchase of medicines.