In the heart of Tuscany you will find the Val di Chiana, a valley that runs from the northern part of Lazio, up through the provinces of Siena, Perugia and Arezzo.
It’s a nature’s paradise where the famous chianina Tuscan beef comes from.
If you’ve ever had good quality meat in Tuscany, including the famous fiorentina steak, it comes from the cows of this region.
With the arrival of spring (we’re hopeful that it will come!), the Val di Chiana is the perfect place to go hiking and trekking in Italy, or even horse riding and cycling.
If you prefer to err on the lazy side, there’s the Trenonatura train which will take you through some scenic parts of the valley.
The Montefollonico and Montepulciano trek is an easy 6 km walk which can be completed in a couple of hours.
You can enjoy the white paths from the Vinsanto sweet wine town to Montepulciano.
For more hard-core walkers, there’s the “Anello di Pietraporciana” which is 15.
5 km long and which takes about five hours.
It takes you around the Villa della Foce in Pienza, and to the small hamlet of Castiglioncello del Trinoro, near Sarteano.
For more information on the lovely Val di Chiana, see the Terre di Siena tourism website.