How to say goodbye to winter in Valdichiana Senese

During the winter season, the nine villages of Valdichiana Senese show themselves in their most essential guise. Wandering through the narrow streets of the historic centers, you will come across the inhabitants who live them on a daily basis, who will be able to give you information and direct you towards the most hidden corners, to be admired in complete tranquility. In February, at sunset, the skies are tinged with shades of pink: a spectacle to be admired on the panoramic terraces overlooking the surrounding countryside of the Valdichiana and the nearby Val d'Orcia. 

What if a downpour surprises you? Well, you can take refuge in the city museums, whose archaeological finds and works of art retain their unchanged charm from season to season. The unmissable stop? Certainly Chiusi, which relives the Etruscan past, between history and myth, in three city museums: National Etruscan Museum, Civic Museum The Underground City and Museum of the Cathedral and Labyrinth of Porsenna. Among the pieces not to be missed are the enigmatic Sphinx of Chiusi at the National Museum and the numerous epigraphs in the underground section of the Civic Museum.

Food and wine is an evergreen in this area, and winter is no exception. During these months, even the preparation of the dishes itself becomes a moment of conviviality. Gather around a table with a local housemaker, perhaps with a fireplace lit in the background, and let her teach you how to "appiciare" (the art of local pasta making): when you finally sit down to taste your pici, you will have known the essence of the Valdichiana Senese. 

A trip in winter is often an opportunity to relax, to escape the chaos and stress of busy months. The thermal baths are therefore a must for anyone who decides to go on a trip in winter: the heat of the thermal waters and the calming power of the wellness treatments are the most suitable recipe for dedicating time to yourself and rediscovering harmony. One of the salient characteristics of this corner of Tuscany is the presence of numerous thermal springs, in three different locations: Chianciano Terme, Montepulciano and San Casciano dei Bagni.