Italy is home to lots and lots of pretty little historic villages and those that are set amongst the rolling hills, lines of cypresses, and vineyards of the Tuscan countryside are especially charming. In fact, the most beautiful villages in the country are officially awarded with this title and can be readily found listed online. However, if you were thinking about booking a luxury villa in Siena and spending time exploring the wider area of the province, then we have a suggestion of one such town to pencil into your plans: the impossibly lovely medieval walled town of Buonconvento.
Get off the beaten tourist track, head away from the more commonplace pit-stops in Tuscany, avoid the tourist crowds and hustle and bustle, and discover something authentic and fresh but no less beautiful with a day-trip to Buonconvento! Located about 25 kilometres southeast of Siena in an area known as the Crete Senesi, it is often spotted by travellers passing through the famous Val D’Orcia as a pretty brick walled structure in the distance and has long since been a stop along the Via Francigena pilgrimage route. Even its name is charming, coming from the Latin “bonus conventus,” meaning a, “happy, lucky place,” and it is easy to see why people want to stop at this joyous spot. Dating to the 14th century, it is a place that feels as though time has stopped and you get the funny feeling that you have stepped right back through history when you enter: with its little paved streets, historic buildings, spots to tie up horses, pretty, old religious buildings, little eateries with outdoor seating, and flags flying above.
There are a few little museums and some architectural gems to take in but, really, what a visit to Buonconvento is all about is having a wander around the utterly picturesque streets, enjoying the slow pace of life, soaking up the historic atmosphere, snapping some pretty pictures, and grabbing a bite and then coffee in one of lovely local eateries. If you’re interested in historic Tuscany without the commercial side of big tourist attractions and in taking it easy while on your holidays, this is a perfect spot to visit.
There are a few little museums and some architectural gems to take in but, really, what a visit to Buonconvento is all about is having a wander around the utterly picturesque streets, enjoying the slow pace of life, soaking up the historic atmosphere, snapping some pretty pictures, and grabbing a bite and then coffee in one of lovely local eateries. If you’re interested in historic Tuscany without the commercial side of big tourist attractions and in taking it easy while on your holidays, this is a perfect spot to visit.
Photo credit: LigaDue / CC BY-SA 4.0
