The Crete Senesi and Valdorcia: Pienza and Lunch at a Cheese Farm
This day tour will take you to one of the most unspoiled areas of Tuscany. The Crete Senesi is a geographical land formation in the Valdorcia valley that is unique, unusual, and beautiful. In prehistoric times, this area was covered by ocean, but today it is known for its stunning landscape, fields of grain, white truffles and for the Tuscan pecorino cheese that is produced here. It’s easy to see why it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The soft, rolling hills, the rows of cypress trees that line the dirt roads that lead to farmhouses, the woods, and the small lakes will all take your breath away. This natural setting inspired director Ridley Scott for his film “The Gladiator.” Our journey will take us through Pienza, a small pearl of the Renaissance and birthplace of Pope Pius II, and across a landscape that is known for its wine and food traditions that will be explained (and tasted!) at lunch on a farm where the owners produce organic cheese, vegetables, meats, oil and wine.
