Free walking tours in San Quirico d'Orcia and what to see

Must-sees

San Quirico d'Orcia is a walled village in the Val d'Orcia, the landscape of hills and cypresses in the province of Siena, and one of the stages of the Via Francigena. Its jewel is the collegiate church of Santi Quirico e Giulitta, a Romanesque church with three carved portals, one attributed to Giovanni Pisano. Next to it is Palazzo Chigi, now the town hall.

Close by are the Horti Leonini, a mid-16th-century Italian Renaissance garden with geometric hedges and a holm oak grove. Continue along the main street to the church of San Francesco and the small church of Santa Maria Assunta, and look for the remains of the Cassero tower. A few kilometres away, Bagno Vignoni has a great pool of thermal water instead of a square, and the chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta lies on the road to Pienza.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours in San Quirico d'Orcia: the village is small and easy to explore on your own. Civitatis offers a private guided tour combining San Quirico and Bagno Vignoni. Winery visits and walks along stretches of the Via Francigena are also popular in the area.

How long to spend

Two or three hours are enough for the village, the collegiate church and the gardens. If you add Bagno Vignoni, allow half a day. Ideally stay two or three nights and use San Quirico as a base for Pienza, Montalcino and Montepulciano, which are close by. The best light over the hills is first thing and at sunset, so it is worth staying in the area.

Where to stay

Inside the walls there are small hotels, guesthouses and apartments, with everything within walking distance. Bagno Vignoni has hotels with thermal pools, a good option if you want to relax. If you have a car, agriturismi among vineyards and olive groves are the most typical way to stay in the Val d'Orcia, with views and silence.