"My Crete Senesi"
Tour
Podere Grotta Antica is the starting point for a tour that is pure poetry: the Crete Senesi, with their clay badlands and landscapes that change color with the seasons, are one of the most photographed and beloved places in Tuscany. Here, the landscape is not just nature, but a true work of art to be experienced curve after curve.
The road immediately leads you to one of the most iconic views, the Viale dei Cipressi (Cypress Avenue) that leads to Podere Baccoleno. Looking for it on a map, it seems like a secret place: a winding path of cypress trees that winds through the hills, perfect for capturing at sunset.
Continuing on, the majesty of the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore surprises you amid woods and ravines. Inside, the Renaissance frescoes depicting the life of St. Benedict leave you speechless, combining spirituality and art in a suspended atmosphere.
Descending once again into the hills, you arrive at Chiusure, a small village where the landscape is dominated Calanchi: clay formations sculpted by time, perfect for those who love photography and the stark contrasts of nature.
Don't miss a stop in Asciano, the heart of the Crete Senesi. Its medieval streets and museums of sacred art reveal an intimate and authentic side of this land, while its squares invite you to take a break with a glass of local wine.
Between Asciano and Siena lies a magical place: the Sito Transitorio, an art installation nestled in the hills that provides the perfect setting for admiring the sunset. A place that seems designed to stop time and leave room for wonder.
Finally, the entire road from Asciano to Siena (SP438) is one of the most beautiful to travel, especially at sunset, when the colors of the Crete become gold and pink and the landscape seems to light up with magic.
The Crete Senesi are a journey into the silence and colors of a different Tuscany, more essential and poignant. Every curve, every village, and every glimpse tells of the beauty of a land that needs no words, only eyes ready to be enchanted. Returning to Podere Grotta Antica, you will take with you not only spectacular photographs, but the feeling of having walked through a painting.