Crete Senesi

This landborder is among the most photographed of Tuscany, because of the originality of the landscapes but also because of the presence of splendid historical and architectonic testimonies. The dominant colour is gray which assumes shadings and various glares that dominate an expanse of argillaceous hills nearly completely deprived of vegetation of high stalk. Fascinating for the particular landscape, but also for the medieval villages, pievi, castles and abbeys, the zone of Crete senesi is enclosed within five villages: Asciano, Buonconvento, Monteroni D'Arbia, Rapolano Terme andSan giovanni D'Asso.

The medieval village of Asciano is one of the main centers of the territory and once it was inhabited by Etruscans. Still today we can admire the rests of walls that they encircled the village, the medieval narrow lanes and the ancient palaces. Are really important also the Museum of Sacred Art and Archaeological Civic Museum, with paintings and sculptures from Siena school of 1300 and 1400. this last museum has an archaeological section, with etruscan founds coming from Ombrone valley. You can't miss a visit the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, near to the village.

Among the typical products we can find: pecorino cheese of Crete senesi, obtained from the famous one milk from Asciano; valuable white truffle, which grows in big amount along the water courses that furrow the argillaceous land; the artichoke of Chiusure which is cultivated thanks to the microclimate of the zone; finally the honey produced in the zone of Montalcino, where the meadows of the hills offer many varieties of aromatic flowers and essence. The wine Brunello di Montalcino does not have need of presentations, among the more valuable wines of the world, and is worth of drinking also a little bit of the optimal grappa produced with grapes of Brunello.