Walking on the Via Lauretana, from Siena to Cortona

Four days on foot on the Via Lauretana, from Siena to Cortona, passing through the Valdichiana Senese

An itinerary that combines history, culture, food and wine and nature. The Via Lauretana Toscana, the ancient Etruscan-Roman route that connects Siena to Cortona, passing through the Valdichiana, seamlessly combines urban and rural and thus reveals the many faces of Tuscany. 

Day 1: Siena

The itinerary begins with a full day to spend in Siena: a full immersion in one of the many beauties that the city of the Palio preserves. A guide will accompany you on a visit to the majestic Cathedral and the Piccolomini Library, as well as the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo e del Facciatone, from where you can enjoy a privileged view of Siena. You will also visit the Crypt and the Baptistery of San Giovanni with the famous baptismal font, a work of inestimable value whose design is attributed to Jacopo della Quercia.

Day 2: from Siena to Valdichiana

From Siena the journey continues towards the Valdichiana. After crossing the lunar landscape of the Crete Senesi, you will see in the distance a village immersed in the green countryside of Siena. Situated on a hill and surrounded by olive trees, stands Scrofiano, an enchanting village in the Municipality of Sinalunga, which awaits you to be discovered. You will walk up to the historic center, an open-air jewel where the buildings made of terracotta blend perfectly with the many details in pietra serena present here. Getting lost in the maze of narrow streets, we assure you, will be a unique experience. You will be fascinated by the Torre del Cassero dei Cacciaconti and the Collegiate Church of San Biagio, both well-preserved buildings.
After the excursion to this village that will make you fall in love, you will continue your journey until you reach a historic farm, where you will have the opportunity to meet the Chianina. You will be able to admire these gentle and elegant white-coated giants in their natural habitat.
From here, saddle up to reach the pearl of the 16th century, Montepulciano. 

Day 3: Montepulciano

Day 3 of the itinerary will allow you to catch your breath and explore the Pearl of the 16th century with the deserved attention. It will be a day of architectural and oenological discovery, inside and outside the historic center of Montepulciano. An in-depth visit to one of the many wineries in the Montepulciano area is a must: here, you will get in touch with the Vino Nobile tradition. You will then wander through the narrow streets of the historic center, among Renaissance palaces, testimonials from the Etruscan era and hidden corners that could become unexpected photographic sets.

Day 4: Cortona

The journey resumes the following day, continuing to cross the Valdichiana to arrive as far as Cortona and the Celle di San Francesco, for an experience rich in culture and spirituality. Cortona, the town of Etruscan origin that legend has it was founded by the courageous Dardano, awaits you to reveal its treasures. Our guide will then take you to the Convento de Le Celle, founded in 1211 by St. Francis of Assisi, an ideal place for a meditation experience. The Franciscan Hermitage is truly a place suspended in time, where harmony reigns supreme. In this place that seems to be a painting, with the convent in the foreground, surrounded by holm oaks and cypresses, with the small river flowing placidly, the order of the Capuchin Friars has been established since 1537. Here religion is intertwined with nature, in a suggestive atmosphere.

Get in touch with us to travel the Via Lauretana Toscana with Valdichiana Living: booking@valdichianaliving.it