Hotels in Val d'Orcia

Undulating hills unfurl like rumpled green velvet, punctuated by cypress trees standing sentinel over medieval villages that Renaissance painters couldn't improve upon. In Pienza, the perfect Renaissance town, wander to the magnificent Cathedral before sampling pecorino cheese that tastes of the very landscape. Montalcino's fortress offers panoramic views, while wine shops pour revered Brunello vintages. The Chapel of Vitaleta sits in splendid isolation, drawing photographers at dawn and dusk. Palazzo Piccolomini's gardens frame seemingly perfect views. For the full experience, join a truffle hunt with local experts whose dogs work with the focused intensity of diamond cutters.