Flight over the Crete
From Siena to Sant’Angelo in Colle (Montalcino): 67 KM
This itinerary flies, literally, over
the undulating formations of the famous Crete,
one of the zones that best highlights the sensuous
nature of the Sienese territory. Big sky country, land,
flocks of sheep and farms, chapels and “borgos” of stone
that emerge as though islands in the great sea of land.
You’ll navigate on roads that follow unpredictable
trajectories, designing a path in a landscape in
continuous change: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
The same road traveled in different seasons will have
very different aspects, changing colors, light and
atmosphere.
From Siena you will leave straight away in the
direction of Sinalunga-Bettolle. Shortly there
after, at the intersection for Taverne d’Arbia,
you’ll bare right, once over the bridge of the Arbia you will be in the town of Taverne. Welcome to the Laurentana, one of the most spectacular roads in the
province of Siena. This ribbon of road travels almost
constantly on the crest of the hills, caressing the
landscape of the Crete where it’s possible to smell the
perfume of the land the wheat. You will be up high,
flying, before coming down to earth in Asciano, a small
“capital”. Within the heart of this borgo the grand
space of the Land of Siena becomes all of a sudden
smaller and delimited by the opera of mankind.
The small village of Asciano begins with the basilica of Sant’Agata (XI AD with modifications
in the 15th, 16th and 18th centuries) and proceeds with
the museum of scared art which conserves a
collection of art work from the 13th and 14th century,
Taking the main street of Corso Matteotti, the
heart of this small town you will come to the gothic church of San Bernadino (the site of the Etruscan
museum) and the church of Sant’Agostino of
the late gothic period. Beautiful for the essential
style of its architecture is the church of San
Francesco (XIII AD).
From Asciano you will climb back towards the profile
of the hills that herald the upper village of Chiusure
from where, with a slight detour, you may reach the Abbacy of Monteoliveto Maggiore, one of the more
important stops along this trip. The Abbacy is the
spiritual center of this territory whose expression is
found in the supreme and refined art in the frescoed
cloister with works by Sodoma and Signorelli.
Don’t miss the magnificent inlaid wooden choir by Giovanni da Verona.
Back in Chiusure, you’ll continue on until reaching San Giovanni d’Asso, the reign of the white
truffle which is celebrated in the traditional Market
Fair, held every month of November in the Castle that rises from the “Borghetto”, the highest part
of the town.
The church of San Giovanni Battista is worth a visit and in the lower part of town, the
church of San Pietro Villore (XI-XII AD). The
road will now relax and without curves and twists will
continue on in the valley of the Val d’Asso until
reaching the foot of the perfumed hills of the Brunello, where the town of Montalcino rises
from the plains. After a short stretch on the Cassia you’ll turn right and start climbing in amongst the
vineyards until reaching the top, Montalcino.
So, just as one savors a fine wine, so does this
borgo offer itself to meditative visits. There are many
enoteche (wine emporiums) cafès and artisan’s shops to
explore, the time will slip quietly away. The nobility
of Montalcino is there to see, the Palazzo Vescovile,
the churches of Sant’Agostino, Sant’Egidio and San Francesco (all from XIII and XIV AD) as
well as the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Soccorso.
From Montalcino you will proceed towards the Passo del Lume Spento where you’ll cross over the
shoulder of the hill and begin to descend through
vineyards until reaching Sant’Angelo in Colle.
From here you will be looking out over both the Val
d’Orcia as well as the dormant volcano of Monte
Amiata. Our itinerary finishes here but we highly
recommend that you continue on to visit the
extraordinary Abbacy of Sant’Antimo and the
nearby borgo of Castelnuovo dell’Abate.
