Agriturismo in Val d'Orcia with Restaurant, Tastings

The Val d'Orcia is in the province of Siena, between the Crete Senesi and Monte Amiata. Its hills, with farms and fortified villages, have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. The site covers five municipalities: Castiglione d'Orcia, Montalcino, Pienza, Radicofani and San Quirico d'Orcia. Pienza, the ideal Renaissance town commissioned by Pope Pius II, had already been on the UNESCO list since 1996.

Among the farm stays in the Val d'Orcia listed on Agriturismi.it, six in ten have a swimming pool, and almost half have a restaurant and accept pets. About half rent apartments and many are among the vineyards. In their reviews, guests mostly mention the welcome from the hosts, the peace and quiet and the view.

For half board, it is best to choose a farm stay with a restaurant. In Tuscany, farm stay meals are made with the farm's own produce and with Tuscan DOP and IGP products.

WHERE TO STAY IN THE VAL D'ORCIA: in Pienza, home to four in ten of the properties; in Montalcino, with its 14th-century fortress and Brunello cellars; in Castiglione d'Orcia, near the Rocca di Tentennano; in San Quirico d'Orcia, on the Via Francigena, with the Horti Leonini gardens. The page also covers nearby hills, towards Castel del Piano and Monte Amiata.

WHAT TO SEE IN THE VAL D'ORCIA: the square and cathedral of Pienza, built between 1459 and 1462; the chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta; Bagno Vignoni, with its 16th-century thermal pool in the main square; the Abbey of Sant'Antimo, 9 km from Montalcino; the Rocca di Radicofani, linked to Ghino di Tacco; Bagni San Filippo, with the Fosso Bianco.

FOOD AND WINE: Pienza pecorino, saffron, truffles, honey and Terre di Siena DOP olive oil. To drink, Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino, Moscadello, Sant'Antimo and Orcia.

THINGS TO DO: walk the Via Francigena between San Quirico and Radicofani; cycle the Eroica Montalcino, 153 km, half of it on white gravel roads; do the Bagno Vignoni loop or the path between Pienza and Monticchiello; visit the Tempio del Brunello in Montalcino and the Truffle Museum in San Giovanni d'Asso.