Charming Hotel in the heart of Tuscany
The Surroundings of Siena – Rolling hills with pictoresque contryhouses and quaint villages, where to find real traditions, remarkable people and … genuine cusine: this is the icon of Tuscany, and guides suggest increasing spots off the beaten track and ever more remote to experience that authentic Tuscany. But, if that ideal countryside may be anywhere and all tuscan landscape results from secular farming labour – in our opinion – the real and original features of Siena’s sorroundings are:
The Landscapes – The landscapes around Siena are characterized by the number, quality and variety of its settlements and architecture: in every direction one finds medieval castles, abbeys, churches, country villages, and renaissance villas. Hence the uniqueness of a heritage landscape because of the history that fixed it in time and memory.
The Hilltowns – no other italian city like Siena can pride itself of so many historic and artistic masterpieces in the sorrounding hilltowns. From Siena, located at the crossroads of southern Tuscany, any day trip is a journey through historic panoramas towards unique masterpieces: Pienza, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Volterra …
Today’s Farmers (food&wine) – All Tuscany was profundly changed byt the economic revolution between 1950-60: most of the secular landscapes depicted in the 19th century were altered and the peasant civilization of today’s myths was extinguished. But many areas, like the sorroundings of Siena, were “saved” by the renovation of traditional products like wine, today one of the world’ best. In this recent context, led by a few large companies – guided by techinicians and marketing experts, also many family run firms established themselves. And it is here one can find that ideal equilibrium between economic self-sufficiency and the highly desired style of life in the world’s most famous countryside.
For all the above, Palazzo Ravizza, committed to help travellers discover indipendently local traditions, heritage, food and wine, provides to its guests itineraries and free introductions to private villas and small wine producers, friends and acquaintances collected in time.
Discover our photo itineraries of Siena & surroundings
