The beautiful Val d’Orcia

-

The weather was really starting to change now -becoming a bit more grey and blustery (but thankfully not storm Babet) as we headed back into southern Tuscany, to explore the beautiful and enigmatic Val d’Orcia region. The area is iconic Tuscany, and known to have inspired artists of the Renaissance. The landscape is enchanting, and changes with the seasons.


Val d’Orcia

Early morning mist 

Beautiful landscape


Agriturismo Il Rigo, just outside of San Quirico d’Orcia, was our base for a few nights - a lovely old farm building renovated as a guest house, run by an extended family for over 30 years. A few nights of luxury for us 😃 We actually stayed in their second house Poggio Bacocaon the hill opposite.


Il Poggio - a truely Tuscan scene

Relaxing 😎 

Ruby very much feeling at home 😃

Early morning mist at Poggio Bacoca

Il Rigo - lined by the famous Tuscan Poplars

Resident dog 🤣


Il Rigo was a great base from which to explore Val d’Orcia. We set off on our bikes, ended up in Pienza - a beautiful village known as the ‘ideal city of the Renaissance’   Birthplace of Pope Pius II who transformed this village into what is considered the Utopian City 😃

Enchanting musician in Pienza

Blustery views looking out from Pienza


Eating at Il rigo was a delight - the typical 4 course Italian dinner - antipasti, followed by primi pasta course, followed by secondi meat course, and finished with dolci and coffee. Ingredients are mainly sourced from the farm, so fresh and seasonal 👍 A few of our favourites below 😃


Roast pumpkin salad - one of our favourites 😃

Homemade pasta and ragu

Antipasti board - delicious 😋 

Braised chicken & peppers

Pre dinner drinks

Flower Garden - used in much of the cooking


Close to Il Rigo is Bagno Vignoni - a stunning village where the central square has a pool filled with hot spring water, believed to have therapeutic qualities. You can’t actually access this pool, but there are various other natural pools and channels around the village that you can freely use. Dave and Ruby went swimming in one, and I soaked my feet in another (they felt wonderful afterwards) 🤣

Bagni Vignoli

Bagni Vignoli

Bagni vignoli 

Rejuvenated feet 😃

Rubes enjoying her swim 👍


Sunday was my birthday - still finding it hard to believe I am now 60! I always thought I would feel grown up at this stage - but I can’t say that I do! The weather wasn’t great but we decided to head to the San Filippo hot springs close by. For just a 2 euro entrance fee we were able to lounge around in the sulphur hot springs - and Ruby too! But interestingly, for a dog who is totally obsessed with water, she didn’t seem to like the springs - maybe it was the sulphur, or just too hot for her 😟


Relaxing 👍

Not sure Ruby really liked this 😞


Later called into San Quirico d’Orcia, our closest town, for a bit of birthday lunch at a local organic bodega - lovely 😃 


Birthday lunch 


Our visit to Val d’Orcia was brief - and the weather not great. But still able to experience this amazing region of Tuscany - and in awe of the constantly changing light and colours of the landscape - totally beautiful 😍 


On the Tuscan road 😃

Arrivederci 😃




Comments

  1. Anonymous31 October 2023 at 03:32

    Belated Happy Birthday Jane ! 60 is a great age to enjoy la dolce vita and you are certainly doing that ! I know this area of Italy and love being taken back there. Still cannot believe that that weather is warm. When you return, I will lend you the book, "War in Val d`Orcia " which is a war diary written by Iris Origo whose descendants still own the beautiful house and gardens called La Foce ...maybe you visited it? What continuing fantastics sights, tastes , walks and rides you are both having. Sono molto gelosa!xxx Sarah R

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane31 October 2023 at 10:45

      Thank you 🙏 Yes would be interested to read the book - Val d’Orcia was magical 😃

      Delete
  2. Marie1 November 2023 at 00:49

    Aww Happy Birthday Jane 🎂🎉 gorgeous photos - love from us both xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous12 November 2023 at 03:51

    Hi guys, sorry missed your 60th Jane. But what a way to spend it! Lots of love to the 3 of you. Andy and Anna.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reggio Emilia - The home of Tortellini

-
Image
With a couple of days to spare before we were due in Luigiana, we headed for a fabulous Agriturismo, La Razza, just outside of Reggio Emilia - this experience was all about food 🤣 The farm was huge, had various accommodation options, including a camper van parking area - but the main attraction was the highly recommended restaurant onsite. Knowing that Emilia Romagna is particularly famous within Italy for its food, we couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity 😃  Agriturismo La Razza Our camp for the night I don’t know how many times Dave phoned the restaurant, or pitched up at their door to try to secure a reservation- each time the answer being sorry, fully booked - but do try again later 😃 Persistence paid off though, and miraculously a table for 2 was found! The restaurant was beautiful, housed in the old stables, decorated with old family photographs and curios. We were in for a treat 😃 Nibbles of pork scratching were brought while we perused the menu - not my favourite, bu...
Read more

Working our way back home ❤️

-
Image
Leaving Val d’Orcia our plan had been to head up to Finale Ligure on the Italian riviera for Dave to do some mountain biking, before heading home. Sadly though the weather had really changed now, and torrential rain forecast. This was no good for biking as the trails would be closed and the biking shops not doing uplifts. Unfortunately it also looked like rain in most places for the week ahead, so with sadness, we decided to start our journey home, slowly, and hope to pick up some dry weather somewhere on route.  Our first stop was just north of Florence, where we took he opportunity to get Rubes seen by the vet for her return home. This then freed us up to take the journey flexibly, and stop when we wanted to. Also a bonus that the cost was less than half the price we usually pay in France 😃 Weather looked to be good around Susa, just west of Turin, so we stayed the night. A really interesting small town with much Roman heritage and remains. The weather had turned quite cold now,...
Read more