Slow trip

4 slow days of art and history: Montalcino

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4 days based in Montalcino, in October, built around art and history. Montalcino gets 4 days, with San Casciano dei Bagni, Castelnuovo Berardenga and Montepulciano nearby.

4 days · October · art & history-first · moderate walking

Montalcino

Montalcino, 4 days

Base yourself in Montalcino and make these your day trips.

4 towns · qualifying pool of 8 from 83 candidates

Hill towns in the province of Siena. Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Chianti Classico DOCG, TCI Bandiera Arancione, and wine territory.

Getting around

Rent a car for this corner. Only 1 of the 4 towns has a railway station; the day trips assume driving.

Your timing

October sits in this corner's best window: open, temperate, and short of the crowd months.

While you're there

  • Montalcino · Sagra del Tordo, OctoberLast weekend of October medieval festival since 1958 with archery contest between the four quarters, Brunello tastings and historic procession.

Day 1 · Arrive in Montalcino

Settle in. Montalcino is your base for the next 4 days. Take the afternoon to walk the centro, find your bearings, eat something local.

Montalcino

Province: Siena

Montalcino

A walled hill town at 564 meters above the Val d'Orcia, the last fortress to hold out for the Sienese Republic and the birthplace of Brunello.

Picked for:art and history · hill town · Sagra del Tordo, October

Day 2 · Day trip to Montepulciano

First outing. Head to Montepulciano for the day. Take the slow road, leave time to wander, be back in Montalcino for dinner.

Montepulciano

Province: Siena

Montepulciano

A Renaissance hill town at 605 meters on a limestone ridge, aging its Sangiovese-based red in vaulted cellars beneath the palazzi.

Picked for:food and wine · hill town

Day 3 · Day trip to Castelnuovo Berardenga

Out again, this time to Castelnuovo Berardenga. Same rhythm: leave after breakfast, return for evening in Montalcino.

Castelnuovo Berardenga

Province: Siena

Castelnuovo Berardenga

A commune of 351 meters, the last castle Siena built against Florence, in 1366.

Picked for:food and wine · hill town

Day 4 · Day trip to San Casciano dei Bagni

Last day trip in this corner, to San Casciano dei Bagni. Make a day of it, then back to Montalcino.

San Casciano dei Bagni

Province: Siena

San Casciano dei Bagni

A hilltop borgo at 582 meters above 42 hot springs that produced the largest Etruscan bronze hoard of the last fifty years.

Picked for:art and history · hill town

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About this plan

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