Walking in Tuscany | Circular walk in and around Montefollonico and Il Tondo

Walking in Tuscany | Circular walk in and around Montefollonico and Il Tondo | Anello Montefollonico

Just across the border of the Val d’Orcia, but still within the spectacular panoramic scenery of this World Heritage site, lies the medieval village of o Montefollonico. From here you can walk through the overwhelming scenery of the Val d'Orcia towards Montepulciano, but a shorter alternative is this circular walk around the village, passing by the beautiful ruins of Monastery Santa Maria and the magical place of Il Tondo with great views on Montepulciano and the Val di Chiana. From here we return to our fortified quiet village Montefollonico.

We start our itinerary at Bar Sport on Via Pianelli, a good spot for a coffee, a snack or a refreshing drink. Here the locals watch tourists passing by. A lunch in one of the two excellent restaurants (Ristorante La Chiusa and Osteria La Botte Piena) in Montefollonica is to be considered.

Podere Santa Pia is an exquisite holiday home in southern Tuscany, writing about Tuscany


		Circular walk Montepulciano - Montefollonico - Il Tondo
In front of Bar Sport, you can enter the historical medieval center of Montefollonico through Porta del Pianello (also called Porta Nuova) but we will explore the narrow streets and beautifully kept houses at the end of this itinerary. We turn right on Via del Pianello and walk towards the Chiesa del Triano‎, with its bell tower in brick. The church is partly built in stone, partly in brick. The bell tower is topped by columns supporting a domed roof.

Montefollonico, Porta del Triano	Chiesa del Triano, Montefollonico	Campanile Chiesa del Triano, Montefollonico
Behind the church a path leads us downhill. Arriving at Strada dei Colli, we turn left (0,6 km). We pass by the beautiful ruins of the Monastery of Santa Maria (1170) ( (1,9 km) and the hiddden secret of Montefollonico, the unique garden of Il Tondo (4,1 km). A magical spot with great panoramic views of Montepulciano and the Val di Chiana. [You can discover the Il Tondo and walk around the hill in several loops. For this extended itinerary download Montepulciano-Montefollonico (Il Tondo).gpx] From Il Tondo walk down following Via dei Frati towards Montefollonico (you walk around Residence Sangismondo), then left on Via dei Frati and again left on Via dei Giglio. On Via dei Pianelli you can enter the old center of Montefollonico climbing the stairs in front of you, or walk towards Bar Sport (right) where we started our walk. Approximate distance: 6 km Time: 1 hour Total climb 199 m \| Total descent 199 m

Galleria fotografica Montefollonico

Montefollonico, Porta Del Triano	Montefollonico, San Leonardo, fasciata	Montefollonico, Oratorio di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria
Galleria fotografica Montefollonico \| Ruderi del monastero di Santa Maria

Ruderi del monastero di Santa Maria, Montefollonico. Vista da sud-est	Basamento della torre campanaria	Ruderi del monastero di Santa Maria (Montefollonico, Torrita di Siena)

Ruderi del monastero di Santa Maria, Montefollonico. Particolare del portale che si apre sul muro perimetrale (visto dall'interno).	Particolare della cornice di uno dei pilastri quadrilateri delle archeggiature di valico.	Parco Il Tondo Montefollonico
Immerse yourself into the rhythms of la dolce vita on an unforgettable journey through the Val d’Orcia, explore the winding cipress roads and architectural wonders around San Quirico d’Orcia, Pienza and Montalcino with our Hiking suggestions.
Pienza Annello Pienza - Capella di Vitaleta \| 10,26 km Circular walk Pienza (Porta al Prato) - Spedaletto - La Cappella Vitaleta \| 21,74 k Circular walk Pienza, Cappella Vitaleta and Bagno Vignoni \| 27 km Val d 'Orcia Anello La Foce – Riserva Lucciola Bella – Castelluccio \| 12,5 km Castiglione d 'Orcia Circular walk Bagno Vignoni, Vignoni, Ripa D’Orcia and Rocca d’Orcia \| 17,5 km Montalcino Anello Abbey of Sant'Antimo \| 7,53 km Anello Montalcino - Abbey of Sant'Antimo \| 24,07 km Walking from Montalcino to San Quirico d'Orcia \| 13,07 km Val di Chiana Walking from Montepulciano to Montefollonico, the Ruins of Santa Maria and Il Tondo \| 17 km Circular walk Montefollonico \| 6 km

Walking from Montalcino to San Quirico d'Orcia	Circular walk Pienza (Porta al Prato) - Spedaletto - La Cappella Vitaleta	Anello San Quirico d'Orcia - Capella di Vitaleta

Anello Pienza - Bagno Vignoni	San Quirico d'Orcia, Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta	Cypress trees in the Val d'Orcia
Trekking Val d'Orcia
Podere Santa Pia is an exquisite holiday home in southern Tuscany. Located on the outskirts of Castiglioncello Bandini, Podere Santa Pia is one of the best places to slow travel in southern Tuscany. The country house comprises approximately 450 sqm of a splendid main house, 1 hectare of land overlooking the entire valley and situated in the middle of 2.000 hectares of unspoiled land. Enjoy the exquisite art, museums, and churches in the nearby cities, then relish the cuisine and epic countryside. Podere Santa Pia highlights the best of the quintessential Italian region. Hidden secrets in Tuscany Tuscan farmhouses \| Podere Santa Pia

Podere Santa Pia	The first bee hive in the garden What should you do if you see a swarm?
Restaurants in Montefollonico Ristorante dei 13 Gobbi Via Lando di Duccio, 5, 53040 Montefollonico Osteria La Botte Piena Piazza Dionisa Cinughi, 12, 53040 Montefollonico \| www.labottepiena.com Relais La Costa Via Coppoli, N. 11 al N. \| Centro Historico, Montefollonico \| www.lacosta.it La Costa was the old village farm and was owned by the Marquis Scipione Bargagli, the Prime Minister under the Tuscan Grand Duchy Pietro Leopoldo II, as attested in numerous documents preserved by the present owners. The farm played a primary role in selecting and preserving the products of the various "estates", plots of land with a house alongside and run by a family of sharecroppers or mezzadri (the traditional Tuscan manner of running an estate: half the harvest to the owner and half to the worker), there being as many as 30 in the 18th century, under the surveillance of a "bailiff" (a man trusted by the feudal lord-owner) as well as offering work for farm workers and, if needed, protection for the inhabitants of Montefollonico. Ristorante La Chiusa di Dania Masotti Via della Madonnina, 88 - 53040 Montefollonico (SI) "La Chiusa" is located in a former oil-mill. Dania Masotti is one of the 2 owners and chief of the kitchen of this famous restaurant in Montefollonico. Together with author Yvonne Tempelmann Dania Marotti has published 2 cookbooks with culinary specialities of the Italian kitchen. Al Botteghino Localita' Osteria Delle Noci 25, 53049 Montefollonico

Podere Santa Pia, view from the terrace. To the south is the little isle of Montecristo (on the left), the name of which captured the imagination of Alexandre Dumas. On a clear day you can even see Corsica (on the right), 250 km away
Een bericht gedeeld door Podere Santa Pia (@poderesantapia) op 24 Okt 2015 om 5:32 (PDT)
Montefollonico, viale e antica porta medievale, Porta del Triano @poderesantapia
[1] Photo by Rein Ergo.