LA FONTE IS SET IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES IN ITALY
This unforgettable landscape is characterized by the ‘calanchi’- barren clay hills left after the last ice-age. They used to cover more of the area surrounding Pienza but thanks to man’s hard work much of the land may now be used for agriculture. This harmonious landscape changes dramatically according to the season – the intense green in the spring becomes a triumphant yellow in the summer with sunflowers, broom and ripe corn. It really does seem to be worlds apart – flourishing in the spring but parched and arid in high summer. Cypress and olive trees are the most common, immortalized by the great Tuscan painters of the Renaissance and in particular Leonardo da Vinci. The cypresses decorate paths and roadsides while the olive groves with their precious fruit enrich our table with the most important component of the Mediterranean diet – olive oil of an extremely high quality.
Itineraries and 1001 things to see, do, eat and drink
Two kilometers from the farmhouse is Pienza, rich in monuments and works of art, it was home to Pope Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pius II). Pienza sits on a hill at about 500 m above sea level, overlooking the Val d’Orcia in front of Mount Amiata. Nearby are numerous medieval villages which have been perfectly preserved – San Quirico d’Orcia, Bagno Vignoni with its spa pool dating from the time of Lorenzo the Magnificent, Montalcino – famous for its Brunello wine, Monticchiello and its theatre and Montepulciano home to the great Angelo Poliziano. There is also Chianciano where you can take the waters and Mount Amiata with its trails and a myriad of flora and fauna. Then last but by no means least is the city of Siena about 40 km away. Home to great museums and monuments as well as the famous horse race – The Palio, which is run twice a year at the beginning and at the heart of summer.
