Land of Brunello: Pienza, Montalcino, Temple of Brunello wine and Sant'Antimo Abbey with Gourmet Lunch and Wine Tasting

Do you keep seeing postcards of Tuscan landscapes with rolling golden hills and rows of high cypress trees but you are not sure of where to find them? Do you have a passion for wine and dream about tasting the best ones while in Italy? Then why not join our full-day trip to Val d’Orcia to get the chance to finally travel over the most iconic Tuscan countryside and to enter the astonishing Temple of Brunello wine in Montalcino.

Let’s meet in the heart of Florence with your expert multilingual escort and sit back on our fully-fitted GT Coach. Just relax and get ready to start the adventure as you leave the city center heading south. Look how the landscape outside of the window changes quickly from the noble palaces of the Cradle of the Renaissance to the untouched nature of the valley of the river Orcia, a World Heritage Site since 2004.

The first stop of the day is the town of Pienza, around one hour and a half from Florence. Enjoy some free time to explore the first “ideal city” of the Renaissance period that dominates the valley from up above, giving you an incomparable sight of the surrounding hills. Start the tour from the heart of the historic center: Piazza Pio II with its honey-colored buildings, the Duomo of Santa Maria Assunta, and Palazzo Piccolomini. Keep going past the apse of the Duomo and take the pedestrian street: you’ll be stunned by the incredible dreamy sight that will soon open just in front of your eyes. If you selected the option while making the reservation, you will also have the entrance ticket to Palazzo Pubblico included in your visit, the then residence of the Priors that now hosts the town hall. Before getting back on the bus, you definitely cannot miss the plenty of local botteghe scattered around the main street: browse around and have a taste of local delicacies or even bring something home to never forget Pienza.

Then you will head to Montalcino, the Medieval town par excellence dominated by its massive fortress. In just about thirty minutes you will reach the hometown of Brunello and you will have some free time to explore the most authentic borgo of Val d’Orcia. Breathe in the peaceful atmosphere and step back to the past while taking a stroll down its steep alleys. Think about having a coffee in Piazza del Popolo to recharge your batteries before visiting the Temple of Brunello. Next up is a unique experience inside the monumental complex of the former convent of Sant’Agostino, which now houses the Temple of Brunello: an interactive museum where you can unveil the secrets of Montalcino's famous red wine and its hometown through an immersive path. Start a multi-sensory journey through local history and culture to discover the pillars of the production of one of the most renowned wines of Italy, Brunello di Montalcino. But that’s not all! Top off the visit tasting the famous Tuscan Brunello to finally understand why it's addressed as the King of Sangiovese wines. You will find waiting for you in the cloister of the Temple a sumptuously laid table, so get ready to taste a delicious lunch made of gourmet dishes accurately paired with three glasses of local wine. Let the chef’s creativity inspire you as the explosion of flavors perfectly combines with the richness of the best Tuscan wines.

The final stop of your adventure will be Sant’Antimo Abbey, just a few kilometers away from Montalcino. You will get to a scenic clearing surrounded by wheat fields and ancient olive trees through a panoramic country road among the vineyards. At its right center lies the charming Sant’Antimo Abbey, a Benedictine church founded, according to the legend, by the great Charlemagne in the IX Century. After a quick visit, it’s time to eventually get back to Florence, but only after one last toast. Let’s raise a glass to the unforgettable day you just experienced and say goodbye to the smooth rolling hills of Val d’Orcia all around.