Palio di Siena

Palio di Siena

The Palio di Siena, literally “the award of Siena”, is a festival that takes place twice a year, on the 2nd of July and the 15th of August but, actually, it's a lot more! It is a collective theatrical rite over the course of four days with grandiose celebrations, parties and, of course also but not only, a horse race! For this reason, the Palio di Siena is to be lived more than seen. It is worth at least a tour with a local guide from the morning of the race until the late afternoon after the “Carriera”, the actual race. Otherwise, you run the risk of misunderstanding one of the oldest surviving medieval traditions that has remained untouched until today. The best option would be to stay in Siena for three nights. In this way, you could also enjoy the quieter practice runs  in Piazza del Campo, attend a…

Via Francigena, the Great Pilgrim Route

Via Francigena, the Great Pilgrim Route

The Via Francigena is the oldest route that crosses Europe, an artery road rich in beauty and history showing evidence of the different civilizations that wandered along this path over the centuries. Located on the most important pilgrim routes in Europe from Rome to Canterbury, the Via Francigena was the road of expansion for all the regions that it crossed. The city of Siena is known as the “daughter” of the Via Francigena. Some parts of the Via Francigena have been approximated since a road with this name did not exist as a Roman consular road in the Middle Ages. The section towards France or Rome afforded innumerable variable routes for geographical or political reasons. There was no authority that could guarantee a road system of such great expanse. The Via Francigena could not be precisely marked out, instead it was a route with obligatory paths through nature or rest…

Natural Spas & Hot Springs in Tuscany

Natural Spas & Hot Springs in Tuscany

Tuscany is not only rolling hills, good food, and excellent wine: it can also be a totally relaxing stay. In fact, all over our region there are many different kinds of natural hot springs of volcanic origin. Thanks to Monte Amiata, the ancient dormant volcano that dominates the southern horizon, the province of Siena is the richest area in Tuscany for natural hot springs. The great thing is that, in every thermal town, you can go to luxury spas or you can have a wild and free soak surrounded by nature! The following are our 9 best Thermal Destinations in Tuscany... Bagno Vignoni One of the oldest and most popular spas in this area is definitely Bagno Vignoni, a tiny village in the middle of the Val d’Orcia. It is famous for the Roman hot spring pool in the middle of the main square whose thermal waters of volcanic origin…

Eroica

Eroica

Reliving cycling races of the past on bicycles of that era especially along the routes that our ancestors rode is possible today thanks to Eroica, the famous vintage bike race. Originating as a vintage cycling event in 1997 from an idea by Giancarlo Brocci and others, today L’Eroica has become one of the most famous non-professional events in the world where you need an old steel bike and clothing reminiscent of old bike races to participate.  The success over the years has led the organizers to limit the number of participants to 7.000. It is spread over five routes all starting and finishing in Gaiole in Chianti in the heart of the province of Siena in the middle of the famous Chianti hills. Their length ranges from 32 km (20 miles) of the PASSEGGIATA up to 209 km (130 miles) of the long competition through the 46 km (28 miles)…