Chianciano...not just spas
Straddling the clay-rich Val d'Orcia (which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004) and the fertile Valdichiana, Chianciano is blessed by a particularly fortunate location, nestling between the vine-covered hillsides of Montepulciano and the Renaissance delights of Pienza. It is both a great place to relax and undergo treatments and the perfect starting point for exploring the beauty of the Tuscany region and of the nearby Umbria region.
Montepulciano
This wonderful town has been called the Pearl of the 16th Century, because the palaces and churches built here by the leading architects of the Renaissance remain intact. Unmissable attractions include the Piazza Grande, which has a cathedral with an incomplete facade, and the Palazzo Comunale, which is surrounded by Renaissance palaces. The valley under the town affords an unforgettable panorama and plays host to the elegant Temple of San Biagio. We cannot fail to mention the "Vino Nobile", which has become one of the most internationally celebrated Tuscan wines.
Pienza
As the poet Giovanni Pascoli put it, Pienza – Pope Pius II's "ideal city" – was generated “by a thought of love and a dream of beauty”. In 1458,Enea Silvio Piccolomini decided to transform his hometown into the flagship of the Italian Renaissance. In just three years (1459 to 1462), the new Pienza witnessed the building of the Cattedrale dell’Assunta, which houses works by the leading Sienese artists of the time. The Cathedral is flanked by the imposing Palazzo Piccolomini (where the loggia provides a renowned panorama of Val d’Orcia), the Palazzo Comunale and the Palazzo Vescovile, which includes a museum.
Montalcino
Situated at an altitude of 564m atop an enchanting hill, which plays host to an imposing 14th-century fortress, Montalcino retains intact the appearance and character of a Medieval borgo ("hamlet"). The area around the town, which is part of the Parco Artistico Naturale e Culturale della Val d'Orcia (Val d'Orcia Heritage Park), is covered by vines – which are used to make high-quality wines such as the famous Brunello – olive groves and woodlands, in which holm oaks predominate. It is worth visiting the delightful Palazzo Comunale, the Palazzo Vescovile (which includes the Montalcino museums), the Abbey of Sant'Antimo (an extraordinary example of Romanesque architecture), and the churches of Sant'Agostino, Sant'Egidio and San Francesco, as well as the sanctuary of the Madonna del Soccorso.
Val d'Orcia
Criss-crossed by the Orcia river, from which it takes its name, Val d'Orcia affords delightful panoramic views of the landscape and is home to several Medieval towns. The valley also includes the Val d'Orcia Heritage Park (Parco Naturale, Artistico e Culturale della Val d'Orcia), and since 2 July 2004 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in recognition of the excellent state of conservation of the panorama, which exerted a powerful influence over myriad Renaissance artists. Alongside Val d'Orcia, Pienza and Montalcino, the park also encompasses the towns of Castiglione d'Orcia, Radicofani and San Quirico d'Orcia. Other important local towns and villages include: Monticchiello, Bagno Vignoni, Rocca d'Orcia, Campiglia d'Orcia, Bagni San Filippo, Vivo d'Orcia, Seggiano, Montenero d'Orcia.
San Casciano dei Bagni
This small village, located at the extreme southern tip of the province of Siena, bordering Umbria and Lazio, was already well-known during the Middle Ages. The establishment, and subsequent development of San Casciano dei Bagni, was due mainly to the presence of the thermal waters: 42 spas at an average temperature of 40°C, with a total flow of around 5.5 million litres of water per day – a figure that puts San Casciano in third place in Europe in terms of spa flow.
Umbria
The wonderful landscapes of what has been called "the green heart of Italy" are located just a few miles from Chianciano Terme. Together, the tranquillity of the undulating hills, the soft colours of the landscape, the underlying sense of spirituality and the numerous important works of art and architecture combine to make Umbria a region that has what it takes to satisfy a wide range of tourist requirements.
Some of the other places of interest that are within striking distance of Hotel Margherita include: Lake Trasimeno, Castiglione del Lago, Perugia, Assisi, and Orvieto.
