Wines
Wine connoisseurs will be in seventh heaven in this area. One of the larger towns in the area, Montepulciano, is renowned for its wines, which can be tasted in the bodegas around the town or at wineries in the surrounding countryside. The town itself is most definitely worth visiting on its own merit; the narrow cobbled streets within its high walls climb steeply to the Renaissance palazzo on the square at the top, rewarding you with incredible views.
Also not far away lies Montalcino, whose vineyards (of predominantly Sangiovese grapes) produce the famous Brunello wines. Taste a few and buy your favourite to enjoy with dinner on the terrace!
Festivals
The main annual event in Cetona is the ‘Corsa delle Brocche’, a series of races where the participants carry big vases through the square and around the town walls, a reference to the struggles of the past and specifically how water was transported by hand. The festivities are launched during a weekend in mid July, with the races themselves taking place in the last weekend of July or first weekend of August.
There is also ‘La Sagra del Bico’, a festival in honour of the local speciality, a type of bread cooked in a wood oven. As well as tasting the ‘bico’, there is live music and a bar and this takes place in Località Piazze, to the south of Cetona, over the last weekend of June and the first weekend of July.
Nature and views
Just to the north, beyond Sarteano, the protected natural reserve of Pietraporciana offers opportunities for walking and enjoying nature. The reserve covers 340 hectares, and rises to nearly 850m at its highest point. There are many birds to spot, including woodpeckers, and some rare plant species, one of which is the belladonna with its poisonous blue fruit! Within the park, the hamlet of Castglioncello sul Trinoro offers a breathtaking view of the Val d’Orcia from its hill setting.
Lakes and beaches
Lake Trasimeno lies 30km to the east, just over the border into Umbria whilst Lake Bolsena is only 60km to the south in the province of Lazio. Italy’s fourth and fifth largest lakes respectively, both offer public beaches, boat trips, water activities and plenty of lakeside restaurants, and make for a lovely day out.
It is also feasible to visit the coast, at about two hours away. The Maremma region around Talamone is home to some of the best beaches in Tuscany, mostly long natural beaches gently interrupted by secret coves and the odd nature reserve with some of Italy’s best bird watching. The exclusive resort towns of Porto Ercole and Porto Santo Stefano, their marinas busy with private yachts, are contrasted by rural walks with fabulous views over the stunning Monte Argentario headland. In the summer you can board a boat out to the small islands of Giannutri and Giglio. Coastal activities available here include scuba diving, surf sports, stand-up paddle, sailing, also fishing trips and dune buggy tours.
