Max and Cara

The property of La Foce lies on the hills overlooking the Val d'Orcia, a beautiful and miraculously intact valley in Southern Tuscany. Midway between Florence and Rome, it is also within easy reach of Siena, Arezzo, Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto. Renaissance and medieval gems such as Pienza, Montepulciano, Monticchiello and Montalcino are only a few miles away.

The house is built on three levels, following the lie of the hill, and is surrounded by the now famous gardens created by Iris Origo and the English architect Cecil Pinsent – a 'labour of love' lasting many years. Parts of the garden are open to the public on certain days (strictly guided tours – see below), though the garden by the house and the pool remain private. The interior is full of old-world charm, not showy, but with beautiful antique furniture, comfortable beds, and lots of lovely rooms which offer both privacy and opportunities for family gatherings. There is free wi-fi throughout the house.

The garden grew gradually, between 1925 and 1939. The house is surrounded by a formal Italian garden, which is divided into geometrical ‘rooms’ by box hedges with lemon trees in terracotta pots. Travertine stairs lead to the rose garden and a winding wisteria-covered pergola bordered by lavender hedge. Gentle informal terraces climb up the hill, where cherry trees, pines and cypresses grow among wild broom, thyme and rosemary, and a long cypress avenue leads to a 17th-century stone statue.

From North:
take the motorway in the direction of Florence and take the A1/E35 in the direction of Rome. Exit “Chiusi/Chianciano Terme” then follow the SP 146 till Foce street. 

From South:
take A1 in the direction of Florence and exit “Chiusi/Chianciano Terme” then follow SP146  till Foce street. 

Nearest towns: Chianciano Terme 6 km; Montepulciano 12 Km. 

Other towns: Siena 66Km; Pienza 19 Km; Val d'Orcia 12 Km; Trasimeno Lake 35 Km. 

Nearest Airports:

- Florence 150 km

- Pisa 220 km

- Rome Fiumicino (FCO) 200 km.

We recommend hiring a car from the airport to give you more flexibility.

There are many car hire options in Pisa, Florence and Rome airports.
Below you can find car hire comparison sites that may be useful to find the type of vehicle you prefer. The usual companies are available such as Hertz, Europcar and Avis.
We recommend you bring or hire a sat nav/GPS or use your mobile phone for navigation as although there are signs to the main towns/attractions, some of the places you will want to visit will be slightly off the beaten track.

Price comparison websites:

www.rentalcars.com
www.holidayautos.com
www.autoeurope.co.uk
www.travelsupermarket.com/en-gb/car-hire/italy/tuscany/pisa/

Please check the opening times of your chosen car hire airport desk, most in Pisa are open until 23:30 but still worth checking against your flight.

Please contact our concierge service for any travel related questions. This department is at your disposal to arrange private transfers from/to airports and to other destinations you may need. Contact:

maxandcara@sposiamovi.it

Vintage Tours is a rental and organization tour company, with fabulous vintage transportations, located in Pienza. Available Vespa, Lambrette, motorcycles and vintage cars, to offer customers a unique and exciting, simple and authentic service,  observing closely all the wonders of the territory.

Spending a day like this will be romantic and will make you go back in time. It will give a different sound to your stay!

In Montalcino you can attend at different kind of tours:  
• Free guided tour of the farm with tasting. Historical cellar of aging with medieval museum and Etruscan tomb at the Underground City.  

Via Gracciano nel Corso, 80-82. tel. +39 0578 716764 

• Half a day together with a truffle maker while searching for white truffle.

• Funny experience in the company of a truffle maker, a member of the Ercolani family, and his dogs looking for black truffle Scorzone or white truffle through the countryside, woods and truffle's reserves around Montepulciano.
Duration: about one hour search
Rates: from €20 to €60 per person.

The territory of Montalcino is one of the most famous concerning the wine experience! The Brunello wine is now a worldwide symbol of quality "Made in Italy".

The position permits ideal sun exposure which ripens the grapes perfectly for a product that is particularly suited to long periods of aging with a superior flavor, fragrance, and appearance.
The wine growing region of Montalcino covers 24,000 hectares.

Before heading straight to the vineyards, you want to stop by the "Museo della Comunità di Montalcino e del Brunello".

Carved out of an old stable on the farm of Fattoria dei Barbi, this museum will guide you through the story of not just the wine, but the community, the people, their culture and their traditions.

This tour through time will give you a new perspective with which to access the scenery, the vineyards, and the locals as you tour through their homes.

The Museum of Brunello needs an advance booking:

info@museodelbrunello.it  

t. +39 (0)577 841111

If you feel adventurous and you would like to explore the Tuscany nature with the final hot breeze of summer, bring a comfortable pair of sneakers, a jacket and a camera and start a beautiful walk in the landscape of the Val d'Orcia area. 

There are several trails that lead you to Pienza or Monticchiello - absolutely one of the most amazing Borghi in Tuscany, a must-visit place! - through breathtaking routes, surrounded by nature in absolute tranquility.

If you would like to taste the Nobile di Montepulciano wine, Cantine Fanetti is perfect! The very name of the wine stems from years of recognition by poets and nobility such as ”the perfect wine, of noble men” and “of all wines, is the king”.
The base is the same grape that you will find in Chianti Classico and in Brunello di Montalcino: Sangiovese grapes, called “Prugnolo Gentile”.

The father of Vino Nobile "Farinetti" opens its cantina all year round. A visit to where it all began, where they still use traditional methods to create their wines. Three generations with award-winning wines.

The Sant'Agnese Estate offers visitors the opportunity of tasting its produce in the Fanetti wine cellars.

The tasting room, where the estate's wines and olive oil can be sampled.

They are open every day, from 10.00 am to 6 pm.

Banfi was founded in 1978 thanks to the will of the Italian-American brothers, John and Harry Mariani. 

The Castello Banfi estate extends to the south of Montalcino, to the borders of the Val d’Orcia. Of the 7,100 acres of land, about one third is under vine in a constellation of single vineyards.

One of the more antique names in the area, the brother and sister team at Bartoli Giusti are carrying on a tradition for over 100 years, with only Sangiovese grapes.

Bartoli Giusti is one of the most ancient family of Montalcino and cultivates vineyards from centuries.

The vineyards are situated at the heart of the Brunello area.
Today the company is run by the brothers Gino Antonio and Anna Maria Focacci, keepers of an ancient traditions and also promoters of great technological innovations.
The handpicked grapes are carefully rigorously selected both in the vineyard and in the cellar.

You can visit their store in the center of Montalcino at via Ricasoli 19, in the antique grain warehouse of the family.

The ideal city exists!

Pienza is a small jewel set in the rolling hills of Val d'Orcia, with its beautiful square, its palaces steeped in history, the streets and the glimpses full of romance and Tuscany.

The panoramic terraces, the alleys, the famous pecorino cheese and many other surprises to discover.

Known all over the world thanks to the famous Brunello, one of the best red wines in the world. Montalcino, however, is not only wine, it is also a beautiful town rich in art and history.

A medieval town of military facility crossed by narrow and steep streets. To visit the fortress from which dominate the about 3000 hectares of vineyards, the Tower of the Town Hall, churches and museums that host rich collections of paintings and sculptures.

Siena is one of the most popular and visited places in Tuscany, a place extremely rich in history and art and with strong local traditions tied to its 17 districts called “Contrade” and to the famous Palio di Siena, the biggest annual event that takes place twice each summer in the city.
A day in Siena is certainly not enough to experience the city in all of its many sides, nor to visit all of its treasures. 

Montepulciano is one of Tuscany's prettiest towns in Tuscany. It is surrounded by walls and fortifications designed by Antonio da Sangallo il Vecchio. Montepulciano is well known for its Renaissance buildings and lovely churches, but is especially renowned for the “Vino Nobile” Montepulciano wines.

Montepulciano is classy - it is romantic and rural at the same time, surrounded by idyllic cultivated hills. Piazza Grande is the town's living room, where civic events occur, where people meet. It has been the municipal and religious headquarters for centuries. Climb the tower for a fantastic view over the Tuscan countryside. The spartan unfinished Duomo is the cathedral, and its uncompleted facade is oddly out of place in a town with such rich beauty on all the other buildings.

Montepulciano is famous for its noble wine called Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. This fantastic wine is made from Tuscan sangiovese grapes, and there are plenty of wineries where you can sample it.

Ristorante Daria is located on the main street of the characteristic medieval village of Monticchiello, between Pienza and Montepulciano, in the heart of the wonderful Val d’Orcia.

Daria’s cuisine represents the timeless identity of her land in a simple and natural way. Quality and territory are the keywords. Ingredients are carefully sourced from local producers, and in these noble lands some of the best wines in the world are born, such as Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Chianti.

Via San Luigi, n.3, 53026 Monticchiello, Pienza, Italia +39 0578 755170

Osteria La Porta is located near the entrance of Monticchiello, a pretty medieval village near Pienza and Montepulciano.

With its few seats (better to book) it offers a space, furnished with class and elegant simplicity in rustic Tuscan style.

The kindness and professionalism of the owner, are essential for the choice of dishes and pairings with wines. Food available for celiac disease.

Via del Piano 1, 53026 Monticchiello, Pienza, Italia +39 0578 755163

La Fonte is the restaurant of a farm. This restaurant is in a unique position, where seasonal colours welcome you throughout the year. Dishes are served while you can enjoy this breathtaking landscape. The owners are proud to prepare dishes which have their roots in the simple food of their ancestors. The kitchen is supplied exclusively with local ingredients, fresh produce carefully sourced in Tuscany. It is either produced by the owners of La Fonte Farmhouse, other farms or small home producers. Their craft beers together with a varied wine list accompany the menu which, with their friendly family and the elegant but relaxed atmosphere are sure to make a meal here a special occasion.

Località Fonte Bertusi di Sopra 73, 53026, Pienza, Italia +39 0578 749142 

Latte di Luna is a family management's trattoria in the center of Pienza. 

They propose many traditional dishes like pici all’aglione, tagliatelle with beef ragù, rabbit, pumpkin ravioli.

They also have many wine bottles from Tuscany, more known labels and wines from small farms around the area.

To book a classic table in this typical trattoria:
By phone: 0578 748606 

Address: S. Carlo street, 2, 53026 PIENZA SI, ITALY

If you would like to try some modern dishes, La Grotta is the place that you are looking for! 

La Grotta creates a balance between traditional Tuscan cooking and a passion for culinary innovation. David and Cristina, the brother and sister team who run the restaurant, enhance the renowned local produce with the creative flair and rigour of dedicated artisans.

The style and menu of La Grotta broaden the horizons of the local food and wine heritage, allowing the restaurant to make its own mark, seducing the palate and creating new taste experiences.

The dishes at La Grotta take the diner on a journey, exploring ingredients, traditions and seasons.