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Montalcino And Abbazia Di Sant’Antimo Day Trip From Siena Including Wine-Tasting
Leave central Siena and travel with your guide to the beautiful Val d’Orcia region in the Tuscan countryside – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Prime winemaking territory as well as a beauty spot, the region is home to the medieval hill town of Montalcino where one of the world’s greatest red wines is produced – Brunello di Montalcino.
Hear the history of Montalcino as you travel, learning about its rich wine, and then stop in the town to enjoy roughly one hour of free time. Its enoteche (wine shops with bars) are unrivaled in Tuscany, so, if you’re hoping to buy wine to take home, then this is the place to do it. Alternatively, the town’s views are equally divine, so perhaps pay a visit to its 14th-century Fortezza; entry is at your own expense, but once inside you can climb the ramparts and soak up vistas of the emerald fields that abound. It even has its own enoteca, too.
Meet your guide at the pre-arranged time and travel the short distance to Abbazia di Sant’Antimo – a resplendent Romanesque church, built with local Travertine stone. Set in a gloriously secluded valley, the abbey would have once been a must-visit spot for Christian pilgrims following the Via Francigena – a road that (supposedly) linked Rome to Canterbury in England.
Head inside with your guide to marvel at the abbey’s 15th-century frescoes and the stone animal sculptures that adorn the pillars. Admire the sunlight streaming in through the open windows, bathing the altar in an ethereal glow, and – if you’re lucky when you visit – you might get to hear some Gregorian chanting by the resident monks.
Hop back aboard your coach and travel to a nearby winery to wind your tour up on a high note, sampling Brunello di Montalcino, plus other selected Tuscan wines. Tour the cellars and vineyards, learning about the sangiovese grapes that are grown in the area, and then sit down for a wine-tasting session with your guide.
Travel back to Siena in the early evening, finishing your tour back at the start point.
