Podere Pievevecchia

If you’re planning to book a tuscan vacation rental, then why not visit the charming village of Piancastagnaio in Siena province whilst you’re here and take part in a famous chestnut festival that is celebrated here in late October every year! It is the oldest and most important festival in the Monte Amiata area and has been held in this lively little village since 1967!

There are some gorgeous luxury villas in Radicofani, a nearby town to Piancastagnaio if tourists want to stay close to the action! Radicofani is a beautiful Orange Flag awarded town that is well worth a visit in itself!

Held in the main square of Piazza Belvedere, the chestnut festival originated because of the importance surrounding this staple food in the area. High up in the mountains, the ground was fertile but the climate was too cold for some vegetables and grains to successfully grow.

The Amiata region of Tuscany is a vast kingdom of nature! It’s brimming with meandering streams, forests and beautiful lakes.

Gaze upon the majestic height of Monte Amiata and challenge yourself to a scenic trek through these lands.

Enjoy a mesmerising stay in the Amiata area by booking a superb five star villa with swimming pool in Buonconvento. Here you can easily explore the area which the following legend talks about!

The Amiata region is a perfect setting for a legendary story of two lovers which goes as follows. It begins with the story of a gentle young woman called Gherarda, the countess of Cana who frequently came to this area and stayed with the monks of the abbey of San Salvatore. She loved going out on rides through the nearby forests and immersing herself in the peacefulness of nature.

A fascinating legend to learn about on your holiday to Tuscany could be the one that originated in the hills of the Amiata in the south of the region. There is a fine selection of luxury villas with swimming pool available all across the south Tuscany area for visitors to spend a few days exploring the area and learning about the famous image of the Virgin Mary.

One version of the legend tells the story of a shepherd who herded his sheep in the Amiata hills and one day found a large fallen branch that seemed to be in the shape of a parent holding their child. He felt inspired to carve a statue of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus as he watched over his sheep during the long days and nights.

But as time passed, he became discontented with how it looked and eventually threw it into the fire in annoyance. You can imagine his shock when he heard a female voice crying from the fire, ‘Please don’t burn me, please!’ He hurriedly quenched the fire and ran towards the nearest village to tell them what had happened in the belief that Mary had spoken to him and wanted the carving to be preserved.

In the southern area of Tuscany in the province of Siena, there is a stunning mountainous place called Mount Amiata. It faces the scenic Val d’Orcia on the northeast and the Maremma region on the eastern side. Tourists wishing to stay here for a few days have a lovely choice of accommodation. Why not book into a pretty villa for rent in Campiglia D'orcia, which boasts spectacular views of Mount Amiata.

Thousands of years ago, Mount Amiata was a volcano, but it’s now dormant. It stands at 1,736 metres tall making it the highest existinct in Italy! There is an abundance of activities to engage in around the area including; mountain biking, hiking and horse riding trails around the sleeping volcano.

Monte Amiata is now known for its hot springs, lush scenery, hearty cuisine and fresh air but it was formerly the most important ski resort in southern Tuscany. While it is no longer famous as a winter hotspot, it is still home to good skiing, cosy cabins and delicious dishes that are typical of the locale and holiday season. One of the most important of these dishes is a typical dessert that originates from the area and is typically made over the Christmas period: La Ricciolina.

It is a decadent tart that is made of two crumbly shortcrust layers with a thick Nutella filling and a generous handful of dried fruit inside and covered in a gentle puff of meringue on which you can draw squiggles of chocolate, from which the dessert takes its name.

Just find a vacation rental in Monte Amiata and try the real deal in Tuscany this holiday season! For now try out this recipe and get planning your trip.

Abbadia San Salvatore is a stunning commune in the province of Siena, situated in the Monte Amiata area. It’s a very popular summer and winter resort due to the many tourist attractions in the area and the skiing opportunities when snow falls heavily on the mountains. Its main economy was local metal mining in the area, namely mercury ore.

Stay in a pretty villa rental in Radicofani, only eight kilometres from Abbadia San Salvatore and explore your stunning surroundings for a few days!