A hamlet amongst the hamlets

Torrita di Siena: the center of Valdichiana

You are in Tuscany, scattered among the hills wisely modeled by the Etruscans, immersed in unspoiled nature, smells and colors that only these lands can offer. You are in the native region of the Great Poet, in a fascinating place full of vitality, activities, curiosities and events located on the border with Umbria. This land is the Valdichiana Senese, an area at the center of which is the village of Torrita di Siena, a pretty medieval origins village set on a gentle hillock, surrounded by unspoiled nature and places to visit. A land of passage for merchants and pilgrims from Tuscany, Umbria and Marche, who used the ancient Via Lauretana to move between these three regions in the stretch that extends from Siena (and therefore also connects to the famous Via Francigena) to Cortona, up to Perugia, Assisi and, ultimately, Loreto. Torrita has therefore always been a territory of passage between the regions thanks to its position, a must stop-by for travelers of the past and present who do not want to miss this splendid village.

We are talking about a country with centuries-old history

Torrita is an ancient fief and bulwark of the Republic of Siena, of fundamental strategic importance in the ancient wars against Florence, Perugia and Montepulciano fought to gain control over the Valdichiana, coveted precisely for its strategic position by these various powers during the Middle Ages. The Castle of Torrita di Siena is a symbol of the ancient power of the village, of its centrality in the battles between knights and armies, which remained faithful to Siena until its annexation to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany by the Medici. Despite the urban evolution it has undergone over the centuries, the old hamlet still has its original “gates”, the only transit points in medieval times, which have remained unchanged over the course of time. The historical importance of the village is reflected in its artistic richness: the churches of Santa Flora and Lucilla and the Collegiate Church of Saints Martino and Costanzo, a bas-relief on a lunette attributed to Donatello, or the Oratory of the Madonna delle Nevi which is recognized as a “small Sistine Chapel” with vivid colors and an enchanting atmosphere. History, art and nature contribute to make Torrita a unique village, full of nuances and curiosities.

Traditions tell us about the hamlet’s longevity

The longevity of Torrita di Siena is also reflected in its traditions and folkloristic events that animate the community every year and bring the hamlet back to its origin. It is worth mentioning the Palio dei Somari, the festival par excellence of the Torritesi established just over 40 years ago but with ancient flavors, during which the walls of the old town show the soul of the village during the second half of the fifteenth century: the Renaissance returns to live in all its splendor, the clothes of the participants show off colors and shapes of other times, the flags wave following the rhythmic rhythm of the drums, all in front of the crowd of contradaioli who animate the event with passion and involvement. We can also mention the more modern and contemporary Torrita Blues Festival, which every year welcomes some of the most important leading figures of this genre and stands as one of the most important reviews of the aforementioned music scene.

A jewel amongst jewels: Montefollonico

To embellish the town of Torrita even more is the famous jewel hamlet Montefollonico, a small pearl surrounded by vivid nature on a hill located between Torrita di Siena, Montepulciano and Pienza. The village still retains its ancient walls, marked by the signs of history, a witness to battles and changes due to the small peasant communities that gradually settled inside the castle and abandoned the nearby towns and ancient curtis. The jewel village, so named for the care and fidelity to the original structure and appearance, directly overlooks the Valdichiana Senese and the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO heritage area, offering a breathtaking view of both the valleys and the villages of Torrita di Siena, Montepulciano and Pienza. Montefollonico is still today connected to Torrita di Siena through a 7km long path that “tells” the story of the two villages and medieval personalities, including the stories of the famous Brigante Gentiluomo Ghino di Tacco, born from a lineage of nobles from Torritesi and told by Boccaccio in the Decameron and also mentioned in Dante’s Purgatory. There is no shortage of historical and artistic curiosities here either!

A land for everyone

This territory therefore has a lot to offer and is able to satisfy all palates and the various needs of tourists and non-tourists: hiking trails for trekking and routes for bike lovers, unspoiled nature to admire, study and feel, precious works of art and priceless, places of worship and pilgrimage while the landscapes of the Valdichiana and Val d’Orcia always remain in the background, visible from different angles from the jewel village of Montefollonico and perfectly reachable even by hiking.

All this makes Torrita di Siena perfect for a stay in search of peace and relaxation, but also of activities and curiosities, in a village surrounded by history, art and culture. From here you can easily reach the UNESCO heritage village Pienza, the original town of Pope Pius II and modeled on the idea of the Renaissance “ideal city”, or you can easily reach Montepulciano, defined as the “pearl of the sixteenth century” and land of the precious Vino Nobile of Montepulciano. Both are close at hand, about 10 minutes by car, well connected by modern road networks. Staying in Torrita and Montefollonico also makes it possible to easily visit the entire Valdichiana Senese and the lands of the Etruscans and their tombs in Chiusi, an ancient Etruscan city that still perfectly preserves the testimonies of this people; from Torrita and Montefollonico it is also possible to reach the thermal baths of Chianciano Terme and San Casciano dei Bagni. Outside the Valdichiana, thanks to the Torrita di Siena station, it is possible to quickly reach the provincial capital, Siena, and the fantastic Crete Senesi, or it is possible to stop at the Chiusi-Chianciano Terme station and reach Perugia, Castiglion del Lago, Assisi and many other places in the Umbrian lands, very close to Torrita and the Valdichiana Senese.

Torrita is waiting for you to offer you all this and much more; you will find everything you need in the Torrita Living portal, from where you can also book your stays and visits!

Note:

Reaching Torrita is simple! You can take the train from Siena and arrive at Torrita di Siena station, or you can take the Siena-Perugia highway. Otherwise, you can also exit at the Valdichiana tollbooth in the Rome-Florence motorway section.