Walking in Tuscany | Walking From Montepulciano to Montefollonico

Walking in Tuscany | Walking From Montepulciano to Montefollonico and Il Tondo

Just across the border of the Val d’Orcia, but still within the spectacular panoramic scenery of this World Heritage site, is the walk from Montepulciano to Montefollonico and Il Tondo, an interesting panoramic stop.

Montepulciano is perched on a hill and the entire town slopes at a steep gradient culminating in the magnificent Piazza Grande which houses the Communal Palace and the main cathedral. The town offers many interesting medieval and Renaissance churches, and buildings to explore along with narrow side streets and alleyways that take you to magnificent viewpoints of the surrounding countryside. If you start hiking from Piazza Grande, go down following Via Ricci until you get to an intersection of three streets. Turn left under an arch where you should see a sign, “San Biagio”, and keep walking down, straight ahead as your road zigzags down to an arch, one of the former city gates.
A steep 20-minute downhill walk from Porta dei Grassi takes you to the photogenic Tempio di San Biagio, a travertine Renaissance church designed by Sangallo in the XVI century. From here you walk through the overwhelming scenery of the Val d'Orcia towards Montefollonico.

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Circular walk Montepulciano - Montefollonico - Il Tondo

There is good parking for cars or campervans near the Church of San Biagio. Starting your hike here is a good option (and the directions of our gpx file). If you prefer to start this itinerary from Montepulciano’s Piazza Grande, enter the city through the main street of Montepulciano, the Via di Gracciano nel Corso which stretches for 11.5 kilometers from the Porta al Prato to the Piazza Grande at the top of the hill.

One of the highest of the Tuscan hill-towns, Montepulciano is built along a narrow tufa ridge, with a long main street and alleys that drop away to the walls. The Piazza Grande is built on the highest point of the ridge.
Start in Montepulciano’s Piazza Grande and take the panoramic path to Porta dei Grassi, where you will encounter the Tempio di San Biagio. Then take the Via dei Canneti until you reach the intersection with Via delle Colombelle. The path follows the mountain ridge and leads you through the Nobile vineyards to the oratory of Sant'Anna in Via dei Colli, in the foothills of Montefollonico. Stop in Montefollonico for lunch.
This track also passes the wonderful ruins of the Monastero di Santa Maria, and the magic picnic spot of Il Tondo, east of Montefollonico.

[You can discover Il Tondo and walk around the hill. 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 (to the right).
Bar Sport on Via Pianelli is a good spot for a coffee or a refreshing drink. Here the locals watch tourists passing by. In front of Bar Sport, you can enter the historical medieval center of Montefollonico through Porta del Pianello. A lunch in one of the two excellent restaurants (Ristorante La Chiusa and Osteria La Botte Piena) in Montefollonico is recommended.

Approximate distance: 17 km
Time: 3,5 hours

Total climb 651 m | Total descent 542 m

Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Biagio

The unusual Basilica di San Biagio built by Sangallo in the XVI century [Photo, Josep Renalias]. From Piazza Grande, go down following Via Ricci until you get to an intersection of three streets. Turn left under an arch where you should see a sign, “San Biagio”, and keep walking down, straight ahead as your road zigzags down to an arch, one of the former city gates.
Montepulciano

San Biagio, Montepulciano, foto storica	Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi, Montepulciano	Teatro della Società dei Concordi
Chiesa di San Biagio

San Biagio, esterno	San Biagio, cupola	Chiesa di San Biagio, interno
Galleria fotografica Montefollonico

Montefollonico		Montefollonico, Porta del Triano

Montefollonico, Porta Del Triano	Montefollonico, San Leonardo, fasciata	Montefollonico, Oratorio di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria

Montefollonico, Porta Nuova	Chiesa del Triano, Montefollonico	Montefollonico, Porta Del Triano
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

Archeggiature di valico sostenute da pilastri quadrilateri	Ruderi del monastero di Santa Maria, Montefollonico. Arco del portale che si apre sul muro perimetrale.	Ruderi del monastero di Santa Maria, Montefollonico. Particolare della cornice di uno dei pilastri quadrilateri delle archeggiature di valico.
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 Ristorante La Chiusa di Dania Masotti Via della Madonnina, 88 - 53040 Montefollonico (SI) Al Botteghino Localita' Osteria Delle Noci 25, 53049 Montefollonico
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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 Photographic impressions \| Montepulciano / Walking Back To Montefollonico
Hidden secrets in Tuscany Tuscan farmhouses \| Podere Santa Pia

Podere Santa Pia	Podere Santa Pia	Montalcino, i cipressi di Casaltina

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 2 Apr 2017 om 5:28 PDT
La pace e il panorama della mattina a camminare. Ogni tanto ci vuole proprio. Foto da @purple_first_lady
[1] Photo by Rowan Heuvel insolitus, licensed under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal license. Links Walking From Montepulciano to Montefollonico; ETC \| Walking_From_Montepulciano_to_Montefollonico_ETC-Montepulciano_Tuscany.html



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