Il Poggino at the centre of it all!
Siena
The city of the Palio, a popular destination for visitors from all over the world. The town’s unique historic centre with its medieval architecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Don’t miss the Cathedral, Torre del Mangia tower, and Piazza del Campo.
Palio dates: 2 July and 16 August
Distance: 26 Km – By car: 25 minutes
Crete Senesi – The Clay Hills of Siena
One of Tuscany’s most dramatic landscapes, formed of expanses of clay and gullies, referred to here as “calanchi” and “biancane”. The area has provided the ideal set for numerous films, including westerns. Among the world’s most photographed landscapes, it is dotted with panoramic spots and is a great place for off-road cycling.
Distance: 15 Km – By car: 18 minutes
Abbey of Monteoliveto Maggiore
Founded by the Blessed Bernardo Tolomei in 1320, the abbey is still the mother house of the Olivetan Order and a popular destination for spiritual visitors and art lovers. Its beautiful cloister, open to the public, features a famous cycle of paintings by Antonio Bazzi, known as Il Sodoma.
Distance: 13 Km – By car: 16 minutes
Town of Pienza
The town’s historic centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally known as Corsignano, it was renamed Pienza when redesigned in the late 15th century by Pope Pius II, who was born in the town under the name Enea Silvio Piccolomini.
The Renaissance town planning concepts of Bernardo Rossellino, a student of the humanist philosopher and architect Leon Battista Alberti, were put into practice for the first time here.
Distance: 31 Km – By car: 30 minutes
The Orcia Valley
The landscape of the valley has been officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A paradise for photographers and film directors, it has provided the natural set for countless well-known films, including The Gladiator and The English Patient.
A number of photographs of the Orcia Valley have become world-famous icons of the image of Tuscany all over the world.
Distance: 20 Km – By car: 22 minutes
Buonconvento
Recently included in the list of “Borghi più belli d’Italia”, the most beautiful villages of Italy, Buonconvento is still surrounded by its 14th-century walls. Emperor Henry IV (Henry of Luxembourg) died here in 1313; the legend has it that he may have been poisoned by one of the local friars, hence the saying: “Buon convento, cattivi frati” (“Good community, bad friars”).
Distance: 6 Km – By car: 6 minutes
Montalcino
The capital of Brunello wine, Montalcino was the last bastion of the Republic of Siena, falling only after a long siege in 1559, four years after the city of Siena had capitulated to the enemy.
Don’t miss the city’s fortress, wine bars and wineries.
Celebrations include the Sagra del Tordo, held on the last weekend in October
Distance: 17 Km – By car: 19 minutes
Petriolo hot springs
These historic sulphurous springs were already known to the ancient Romans, and were frequented by popes and famous personalities such as Lucrezia Borgia in the late Middle Ages. The hot springs are outdoors and freely accessible to the public.
Distance: 27 Km – By car: 36 minutes
The Via Francigena
The ancient pilgrimage route passes less than one kilometre from Il Poggino. The modern-day pilgrimage route has been reconstructed on the basis of the diary kept by the Archbishop Sigeric on his voyage from Rome back to Canterbury in the year 990. Ponte d’Arbia (known as Borgo d’Arbia at that time) was one of the 79 places where the prelate and his faithful mule stopped overnight. The Via Francigena is now a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.
Distance: 0.7 Km – By car: 1 minute
Strade Bianche
This is the name of a classic international cyling race, which professional cyclists call one of the most beautiful cycling routes in the world. The competition starts and ends in Piazza del Campo in Siena.
The race is run almost entirely on gravel roads (referred to in Italy as “strade bianche”), which abound in the area to the south of Siena. The route changes from year to year, but it always goes through our town.