Going on tours round the most attractive tuscan towns and areas in a wonderful countryside while staying at Erboli Residence. Siena, Florence and Arezzo along with San Gimignano, Volterra, Montepulciano, Pienza, The Crete Senesi and the Val d'Orcia are within easy drive reach. If you spend a holiday at Erboli Residence, you can also drive along the SP 408 road through the Chianti Castle Route and its five itineraries, you can admire castles and fortresses.

Siena is one of the best known city in the world for its Art and Architecture rivalled by Florence. It is very famous for the Palio, which is held twice a year in the wonderful Piazza del Campo. Don't forget Siena for a remarkable production of italian typical cakes, Ricciarelli and Panforte. It's the italian province which boasts the highest number of Unesco Heritage sites.

Florence is one of the best known city in the world thanks to its remarkable works of Art, Renaissance buildings, splendid architecture and magnificent museums, paintings and churches. Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Pitti and the Uffizi Gallery are the most famous sites, to name but the few. Florence is considered to be the birthplace of Renaissance. The city is also renowned for fashion (Pitti Uomo), and for shopping in lots of smart shops in Via Tornabuoni or at stalls (in San Lorenzo). Florence is also perfect for a short break and if you are interested in eating delicious typical tuscan food ("trippa alla fiorentina") and sipping some Chianti red wine: there are plenty of restaurants or "trattorie" to welcome you around every corner of the streets or you can go to some "vinai", popular inns which can be found everywhere.

Arezzo boasts a valuable part of the national heritage related to Art and Architecture, palaces and churches but the town isn't as advertised in the world as it should be. It's a quiet town where tourists will be surprised at the beauty of its historical sights. It also hosts italian biggest Antiques fair which is held monthly. You can get to to Arezzo by car, in around 30 minutes (Motorway A1, SR 69 road) or by train at Montevarchi railway station, in around 30 minutes.

If you are spending a holiday at Erboli Residence, you can drive along the SP 408 road finding out the Chianti Castles Route, taking one of the 5 itineraries trough hills and woodlands, and visit some impressive nearby castles and fortresses. The Chianti region is famous for the production of red wine but you don't have to forget its architectural treasures, historical buildings and churches which attracts thousands of people from all over the world. Some of the buildings you will visit on the Chianti Castles Route have been converted into wineries or agriturismo where you can stop and taste delicious food or buy some wine.

It's not easy to give an accurate description of this typical area near Siena, which seems to be quite like a western setting at daytime or a lunar surface in the evening. All those who love the Crete Senesi special scenery, taking photos or painting, can go on a trip there and to some spa towns (Rapolano Terme) or visit noticeable historical sights (Asciano) and eat some delicious food in San Giovanni d'Asso and Buonconvento.

San Gimignano and Volterra are two of the best examples which represents the beauty of Tuscany in the world thanks to its historical sights and Art. San Gimignano, in the province of Siena, has a enchanting medieval urban structure and attracts thousands of tourists each year. It is in the Unesco heritage listed-buildings project. Volterra is in the province of Pisa and has very ancient origins (Iron Age), You can see typical tuscan "Balze" on the outskirts and buy some charming alabaster pots, handicrafts or chinaware while strolling into town admiring ancient Roman ruins and Etruscan city walls.

Montepulciano and Pienza are two wonderful towns in Val D'Orcia (Orcia Valley) where tourists can spend some time in some soft undulating hills of the lovely Orcia valley. Montepulciano is one of the best known thermal spa near Siena and a famous wine-making area, the vino Nobile (tuscan red wine) and where some movies were shot. Pienza is included in the Unesco heritage listed-buildings project thanks to its architectural structure dating back to the Renaissance. It's a very famous town where you can buy some pecorino cheese. Tourists can be surprised at looking at unusual names of some streets: "Via del Bacio" (kiss sreet) and "Via dell'Amore" (love street).

Cortona is a jewel of a town, it's worth visiting all year round thanks to its historical sights and churches. On August 15th above all, when the steak day is held. Tourists can taste delicious barbecued Valdichiana steak chops at the stalls, drinking some red Chianti wine. The mushroom exhibition is held the weekend after, a must whoever likes excellent cuisine doesn't have to miss. Moreover in Cortona an international Festival with famous Hollywood stars used to be hold and nowadays the town is still a lively cultural centre in Tuscany.

Montalcino is near Mount Amiata, it borders the province of Grosseto and the Orcia Valley. It's a beautiful medieval town worth visiting for its churches and other historical sights, the place where Montalcino red wine has been producing for ages. Have a relaxing day at Montalcino sipping a glass of its famous red wine!. The Rocca, a massive Rock, is an ideal place to go and taking in breathtaking panorama of valleys nearby.

Very peaceful stunning landscape with traditional vineyards and olive groves, undulating hills with cypresses, amazing pure renaissance towns (Pienza and Montalcino): this is the Val d'Orcia, go on a sightseeing trip to this beautiful tuscan area while you are spending a holiday at Erboli Residence: the Orcia valley has always been an ideal place for painters and amateur photographers along with Art lovers.