Discover the Magic of Val d’Orcia on Foot: A Walking Tour Through Tuscany’s Timeless Beauty
Tuscany is a dream destination for many travelers, but if you're looking for an authentic...
Cycling this route is much more than a physical journey—it’s a deep dive into the soul of Tuscany.
From the moment you leave Siena, every turn of the pedals brings a new panorama: rolling hills dotted with cypress trees, medieval villages perched on ridges, and vineyards stretching as far as the eye can see. The climb to Montalcino challenges your legs but rewards you with sweeping views and the proud fortress town, where Brunello wine has shaped centuries of tradition.
As you continue through San Quirico d’Orcia, the landscape opens into the UNESCO‑protected Val d’Orcia, a place where nature and human history blend seamlessly. Bagno Vignoni offers a rare pause, with its thermal waters and unique piazza built around a steaming pool—a reminder that Tuscany’s beauty is not only visual but also experiential. Pienza greets you with Renaissance harmony, its streets filled with the scent of pecorino cheese, while Montepulciano crowns the ride with steep climbs and grand piazzas, echoing with the legacy of Vino Nobile.
This route is demanding yet deeply rewarding: a perfect balance of effort and wonder. Every village tells a story, every climb reveals a new horizon, and every descent carries you deeper into Tuscany’s timeless charm. It’s not just a cycling adventure—it’s a living tapestry of culture, history, and landscape, where the journey itself becomes as memorable as the destinations.
The route is partially on unpaved roads, suitable for gravel and mountain bikes, there’s a also the option to cycle in all paved route.
5 days
200km
starting from € 900
Difficult: Medium
Start your morning in Piazza del Campo, the heart of the city, and climb the Torre del Mangia for sweeping views. Visit the stunning Siena Cathedral (Duomo) with its intricate marble floors, then stroll through the medieval streets to soak in the atmosphere. Pause for lunch with local specialties like pici pasta, and spend the afternoon exploring hidden alleys, artisan shops, and the city’s historic contrade. End your day with a sunset walk along the city walls for a perfect Tuscan panorama.
The journey from Siena to Buonconvento will be a ride to the taste of the rural Tuscany, leaving Siena by the beautiful, panoramic road of Ville di Corsano, and all the way to Murlo, you will find open landscapes of grain with changing colours, fields of sunflowers, farmhouses with production of local cheese and olive oil, passing through the medieval Radi and Murlo which offers wooded hills and a glimpse of Etruscan heritage. Buonconvento is a charming medieval village in the Crete Senesi, south of Siena, enclosed by 14th‑century walls and celebrated as one of Italy’s most beautiful towns.
After leaving Buonconvento you have to climb until you arrive to the impressive Montalcino and its famous vineyards. It will be a ride of nearly 22km almost unpaved with more than 600 m of elevation gain. The ride intensifies as you ascend to Montalcino, surrounded by Brunello vineyards. The panoramic views reward the effort, with the fortress town perched high above the Val d’Orcia. Continue through rolling hills to San Quirico, a charming medieval village with gardens and stone streets that embody the UNESCO‑listed landscape.
The special ride of today will last in your memories for ever and you will enjoy every second of it. From San Quirico all the way through Montepulciano, will be a delightful immersion in the Val D’Orcia, the impressive landscapes of this area inspired many artists with its medieval castles, rolling hills, avenues of cypresses leading to amazing villas and farmhouses, Abbeys, vineyards and olive groves.
The extreme beauty of Val D’Orcia is now protected as natural and cultural park and recognized as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The beautiful gems of San Quirico, Bagno Vignoni, Pienza and Monticchiello will be your main stops. It will be a ride of nearly 31 km that will take you about 4 hrs and will consist of quiet roads, and open mountain riding across the most scenic landscape in Tuscany.
Montepulciano is renowned for its wine, the town’s steep streets and grand piazzas mark a triumphant finish to the journey. Take your time to visit the ancient underground cellars and tast the Vino Nobile. From there, you can easily explore Lake Trasimeno, Cortona, and Arezzo, or travel on to Florence and Rome via highway or train.
Tuscany is a dream destination for many travelers, but if you're looking for an authentic...
Are you an avid cyclist, young people or a middle age couple, a bike lover...