How To Spend a Weekend in Tuscany

Extended from the hills south of Siena to Monte Amiata, Val d’Orcia is a dreamy destination, perfect for slow traveling your way through the Tuscan style of living. Driving on its winding roads, up and down the gentle hills, and through a sequence of fields, meadows, and little villages, is truly a special experience, cherished by Italians and foreigners alike. Here, Nature fills your eyes, flavors fill your senses, and people fill your heart.

To help you make the most of the experience, here’s a short guide on how to spend a weekend in Val d’Orcia- from where to stay to what to see and what to pack.

Located in the heart of the Val d’Orcia region, the luxury country resort Locanda in Tuscany is the perfect place to stay if you want to live a true Tuscan hospitality experience, while also exploring the area at your own pace.

Run by a passionate local family, this unique place has made Luxury and Love part of the same reality. In fact, the project of Locanda in Tuscany is built on the idea that the most luxurious thing to hold is love, and the most luxurious feeling to experience is to be loved. Driven by this idea, Claudia and Luca have injected their charming farmhouse with warmth, creativity, care, and hospitality, so that they can offer their guests much more than breath-taking views and a good location. Those are great of course, but it’s that other special feeling that will make you want to come back.

The villa is set on a very quiet hill, boasting incredible views of the Tuscan countryside with its endless fields and neat cypresses lanes. The atmosphere is private and peaceful, with nine cozy rooms finely furnished to offer harmony and relaxation: think wooden beds handcrafted by local artisans, traditional bathtubs, and charming original features such as brick fireplaces and pebble stone walls. The gardens, however, are what will truly win your heart: a green smooth stretch, interrupted only by the vibrant blue of the panoramic pool looking onto the surrounding hills. Locanda in Tuscany also has its own restaurant, or taverna to be precise, where you can enjoy traditional Tuscan cuisine. It has the appeal of a typical old inn and it serves seasonal dishes cooked with passion, using only quality ingredients coming from local producers.

In 2020, Locanda in Tuscany also embarked on the special project Amore Toscano, aimed at enhancing the territorial heritage of Tuscany and Val d'Orcia, establishing collaborations with partners active in different production areas- from catering to wellness, from art to local craftsmanship. We at Mirta have been thrilled to join in on the project, bringing to the Locanda some of our handcrafted products. In the rooms of the resort you can now find our beautiful cashmere blankets, Sheffield by Biancoperla and Cabourg by Opificio dei Sogni.

If you’re up for a true Tuscan experience and interested in booking a stay at Locanda in Tuscany, you can use the code LOCANDAXMIRTA for 30% off the standard rate. And now, buon viaggio!

Your packing list for a weekend in Tuscany should definitely include lightweight garments, a couple of bikinis, and accessories that scream summer. Opt for breathing fabrics such as linen and organic cotton to keep cool in the heat, and make sure to protect yourself from the sun with big straw hats and layers of SPF.

The Val d’Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park is a very interesting area of Tuscany. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, it’s great for losing yourself both in incredible nature and lively picturesque villages. We suggest renting your own car to move around easily and to experience the thrill that comes from driving up and down the softest hills, green or golden depending on the season.

Among the main towns to visit there’s definitely Pienza, a Renaissance hamlet built to be the perfect ideal city. It’s charming and cute, with narrow pebbled streets, the famous Pecorino cheese, and suggestive views all around. From here you can drive down to San Quirico d’Orcia, an old Etruscan village set amongst vineyards and olive groves. Make sure to walk through the Horti Leonini, an exemplary model of the Italian Garden. On the road between Pienza and San Quirico, stop at Cappella di Vitaleta, a solitary chapel that offers the best glimpse of the area and some picture-perfect material. Pay a visit to Bagno Vignoni too, an enchanted small town built around a big water basin. You can also have a look at the old thermal baths, just outside the historical center.

Other centres not to miss are Montalcino, famous for its Brunello red wine and rich in local inns; Castiglione d’Orcia, with its majestic Rocca di Tentennano; and Montepulciano, medieval village reknown for its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, one of the oldest Italian wines. If you have time for a stretch more south, don’t miss Bagni San Filippo, an incredible natural thermal destination.