A Perfect Weekend Getaway Discovering Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love living in Florence, however every once in a while I desperately crave some time outside of the tourist filled, busy city (with a serious lack of trees and nature I might add). This past week I finally had enough of the crowds and seemingly incessant winter rain, and realized that I needed a little vacation from my beloved Firenze! Therefore, I decided to pack my bags and treat myself to a Tuscan getaway filled with nature, hiking, hot springs, and relaxation.
Where I Stayed
I actually picked where I was staying based on which place looked the cutest on Airbnb (of course I did). Since my primary goal was to get away from touristy things and have a relaxing weekend where I didn’t feel the need to “tourist” (aka frantically run around a city for a weekend and try to squeeze in as much as possible) I was mostly looking for someplace relaxing, cosy, and quaint. When I discovered the “Artists’ Refuge” or Refugio degli Artisiti apartment on Airbnb, I knew I found exactly what I was looking for.
I absolutely love Airbnb because it is so helpful when looking for unique places to stay like the Refugio degli Artisiti. Its contemporary and trendy decor was a welcome change from my much less exciting apartment in Florence. The beautifully designed interior, queen sized bed, working fireplace, and yes, even art supplies that guests are free to use, all made the refuge feel like home. I was more than excited to be staying there all weekend. Don’t be fooled by the apartment’s modern look, I was staying in the heart of the medieval center of the town San Quirico d’Orcia.
San Quirico d’Orcia
San Quirico d’Orcia is a beautiful town with a population of around 2,500. The town is situated in Val d’Orcia, an area of Tuscany famous for its beauty long before its appearance in many Renaissance paintings. Today, Val d’Orcia is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The bus ride there from Siena was gorgeous, as the route passed through rolling hills, other quaint Tuscan towns, fields, and olive groves. All in all the trip took just over 3 hours by bus from Florence, and I thoroughly enjoyed the view along the way.
My favorite thing about San Quirico d’Orcia was how peaceful it was. After living for months in one of the most touristy cities in Italy, it was nice being in a town that felt authentically Italian. I spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the historic city center and grocery shopping for the weekend.
The historic city wall is on the left, with original medieval buildings to the right.
Historic Sites
It didn’t take long to see the city’s major sites, such as the 12th century church of San Quirico as well as a few other churches in the historic center.
The town was so peaceful-all of the churches in Florence are packed with tourists!
I also had the chance to see Horti Leonini, a classic Italian garden that originated in 1581 and is still maintained. The gardens lead to the city’s wall, providing a view of the outskirts of San Quirico and the surrounding countryside.
Gorgeous Views
I chose to end the evening watching the sun set over the Tuscany. The city was even more beautiful at sunset, as all of the reds and oranges seemed to glow with the setting sun.
It was incredible watching the sky change colors against the landscape of mountains and hills. I would love to return to this area during summer, or even fall, as I am sure the colors will be even more vibrant!
To Do Nearby
San Quirico d’Orcia is located within an easy drive or bus ride of several other Tuscan towns worth visiting such as Montepulciano, Montecino, and Pienza to name a few.
Bagni San Filippo
I would highly recommend checking out the Bagni San Filippo, natural hot springs just a bus ride away. I spent the afternoon there and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life. (Click here to find out why!)
I could have spent forever in this personal thermal bath.
Bagno Vignoni
Also worth visiting is Bagno Vignoni. (Read all about my visit here!) Though you aren’t able to go into the historic Thermal bath, the views of the hot spring are amazing! I hiked there from San Quirico (a 6 mile hike round trip) and thought the trek was well worth it, though I enjoyed my time at the Bagni San Filippo more if I had to choose between the two.
All of the thermal waters had me thinking I was in Yellowstone, not Italy!
Though I am sure that these sites get their fair share of visitors during peak tourist season, I noticed that the visitors around me were all primarily Italians, off for the weekend, taking a day trip with their families or loved ones. It affirmed my belief that I had seen a glimpse, if only for the weekend, of typical Tuscan life outside of Florence.
The weekend was just what I needed-a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city complete with tranquil hikes, beautiful views, and relaxing (and free!) thermal baths.
What is your dream Tuscan getaway?
