SURROUNDINGS AND ACTIVITIES

Pienza
Pienza its history is closely linked to that of Pope Pius II aka Enea Silvio Piccolomini born in Pienza on 18 October 1405. Pius II was a great humanist and wanted to transform Pienza (Corsignano) from the small medieval village (the old Castle of Corsignano is known since 828) in a papal residence in the Renaissance style, the ideal Renaissance City. The original design of the 1459 thought and designed by Bernardo Gambarelli called il Rossellino (student of Leon Battista Alberti) remain many palaces of 1400 mostly along Corso Rossellino and Piazza Pio II, which are the heart of the village, on which overlook the beautiful Cathedral and the most important historical buildings of Pienza.


Bagno Vignoni
Bagno Vignoni Bagno Vignoni is one of the most picturesque and best preserved medieval villages in Tuscany. It is located in the Val d'Orcia, in picturesque surroundings and is part of the municipality of San Quirico d'Orcia. This town is famous throughout the world for the Spa, dating back to Roman times. the peculiarity that distinguishes Bagno Vignoni is a singularity because the urban Inns, homes and the Church of Saint John the Baptist grew around the tub in which flow from the original thermal spring waters, volcanic soil.

Montepulciano
Montepulciano is of Etruscan origin and according to legend founded by Porsenna, Chiusi Lucumo; Some documents and artifacts found in the fortress, they trace the existence in the fourth century BC. By the early fifteenth century to the mid sixteenth century, Montepulciano had its golden age, marked by political stability, cultural prestige, artistic flowering. In Montepulciano worked architects such as Antonio da Sangallo the elder, Jacopo Barozzi said Vignola, Baldassarre Peruzzi, Ippolito Scalza who built lavish mansions, beautiful churches and different points of the city center were embellished. Of particular interest is the beautiful Cathedral which dominates the Piazza Grande, the sanctuary of St Agnes, the Temple of San Biagio, the Church of St Agostino, the Church of Gesù.


Torrita di Siena
A short distance from Villa Rocchi we can visit the old town of Torrita di Siena, a town that was the birthplace of Ghino di Tacco, the robber that raged in this territory in the thirteenth century. The gentleman bandit, known for robberies and pride was born in Torrita by the noble family Cacciaconti Monacheschi Pecorai and took to a life of robberies, as a base in Radicofani.

Torrita di Siena surrounded in part by walls of 1100, has preserved its medieval appearance in the old houses, in the characteristic arches, alleys that reveal at every turn unexpected views on the beautiful surrounding hills and the Chiana Valley.
Illustrious past and the strategic role of Torrita, Siena preserves an imperishable memory in the heart of one of its most significant monuments.
The village of Torrita is immortalized in the "Battle of the Val di Chiana" the fresco that adorns the Globe room in the Palazzo Pubblico of Siena, the work of Lippo Vanni to celebrate the victory in 1363.
Details are the access gates to the old town: Porta Gavina, Porta a Pago, Porta a Sole. A fourth gate, Porta Nova, was opened in the stretch west of the 800 walls.
To visit the Romanesque church of Santa Flora and Lucilla, which preserves valuable works of art, including marble lunette low relief "The blood of the Redeemer" attributed to Donatello.

The heart of the town is Piazza Matteotti with the ancient cistern, which overlooks the thirteenth-century Palazzo Comunale, the ancient seat of the city government that stands up the Tower by the double row of battlements reminiscent of the Torre del Mangia in Siena.

Next to the Town Hall is the Municipal Theatre of the Oscuri created by the will of the homonymous Academy in the eighteenth century and in which you can see the bust of the famous opera singer Giulio Neri, whose Torrita gave birth in 1909 and that keeps alive the i remember among his fellow citizens.


Cortona
Lucumonia ancient part of the twelve Etruscan, on a hill about 500 meters above sea level. Between the eighth and seventh century BC, it became an important Etruscan town Cortona. Most likely, Cortona was a very powerful city because of its strategic location, allowing extensive control of the territories that were part of lucumonia. Cortona is rich in history and art, in particular, we are: the hermitage Le Celle, the Basilica of Santa Margherita, the Duomo, the Etruscan Museum, the Diocesan Museum, the Church of San Francesco.

Siena
The city of Siena offers a beauty and a wealth of unique art works in the world.
Will charm the magnificent historical center with Piazza del Campo, the Cathedral with its Baptistery, the Art Gallery, the Public Palace with frescoes by Simone Martini, the museum complex of Santa Maria della Scala, the churches of St. Francis, St. Dominic, Santa Caterina.


San Gimignano
medieval city famous for its numerous towers, called the "city of a hundred towers" with a beautiful landscape.


Monteriggioni
fortified town mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy: "... however, that as the Monteriggion round wall is crowned with towers ..."


Colle Val d'Elsa
The town, famous for the production of glass objects with a beautiful old town.


Volterra
A superb example of architecture of the '400 and birthplace of Rosso Fiorentino, Volterra is also famous for the production of alabaster objects.


San Galgano
A beautiful Cistercian abbey and medieval chapel known for its legendary sword in the stone.


Tuscan Food excellence and cellars
We can arrange a food and wine holiday, make you visit the most prestigious wineries to taste the finest wines in the following areas: Montepulciano, Montalcino, Chianti, San Gimignano.


Outlet
- Valdichiana Outlet Village (15 minutes) of major brand stores: Bourbonnais, Gant, Broks Brothers
- The Mall (40 minutes) important brands: Prada, Gucci, Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Sergio Rossi, Valentino, La Perla, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Ralph Lauren.


Well- being
Tuscany is also very famous for its numerous spas, many of them very close to Villa Rocchi: Bagno Vignoni, Rapolano Terme, Chianciano Terme, Bagni San Filippo, Petriolo