Welcome to the Val D’Orcia, one of the most beautiful and magical areas of Tuscany, and to the relaxed, easy Italian style of life. Even if this is your first visit, you, like those who have been drawn here before you, will step back in time and re-discover the timeless pleasure of small things, the simple essence of life that is the recipe for happiness today as it was in the past. (That spe
cial feeling of belonging to a land where nothing seems to change). Winding roads, flanked by cypresses and ancient oaks, and flowered gardens and vineyards, will lead you to the same towns, villages, hamlets and monasteries that attracted travelers for hundreds and thousands of years. The ring of distant bells, reminders of times past, announce it's time for lunch. Local goat cheese, or pecorino, and fresh, crunchy bruschetta, glistening with local olive oil, are all you could ask for as you sit in the sun and lazily gaze at the golden horizon of sunflower fields waiving gently in the soft breezes which carry the aromas of herbs, flowers and contentment. The powerful smell of rosemary and sage envelopes you as you walk on the pebbled paths and dirt roads, while the shrill cry of a lonely pheasant cuts the air. When the sun begins to set, nature seems to quiet down, colors fade as luminous shades of orange brighten up the valley and are reflected by the scattered small lakes below. The shadows of the night settle in and the dark sky brightens up with a myriad of stars. As you enjoy your candle lit-dinner of freshly made tagliatelle, juicy tomatoes and vegetables fresh from the garden, you look out onto the valley, where an occasional light can be seen, and feel at one with the unspoiled world that surrounds you. If the stones could talk, they would tell of days long gone that attracted artists, kings, saints, soldiers, bandits and merchants from far-away lands to the Val D’Orcia. Here they drank the good wine, ate the pecorino, bathed in the spas, fought and died for their lords, created art for the ornate palaces, built monasteries, reached sainthood. Under the archways of the loggias they fought duels, at the windows of their loved ones they passionately sang serenades, in the dark alleys lined with cold stone walls they conspired against their enemies. Stop and hold your breath … you will hear the echo of bygone days. You will discover traditions and cultures of this ancient land, and even if you only spend a few days here, you will still have the chance to embrace a new style of life and turn this visit into the most rewarding experience ever. Spellbound, you linger under the clear, lavender sky and the special sunlight that is so unique of this region. Now is the time to explore the scented white dirt roads that lead to lonely , far away chapels, to courtyards enclosing ancient wells shaded by timeless cypress trees, where silence is broken only by the trees dancing in the breeze, to lively alleys in the bustling towns and to a world that, although timeless, feels very natural
