Understand
The Val dâOrcia is characterised by gentle, carefully-cultivated hills occasionally broken by gullies and by picturesque towns and villages such as Pienza rebuilt as an âideal townâ in the 15th century under the patronage of Pope Pius II, Radicofani home to the notorious brigand-hero Ghino di Tacco and Montalcino the Brunello di Montalcino is counted among the most prestigious of Italian wines, rated 2007 #1 world wine by Wine Spectator.
It is a landscape which has become familiar through its depiction in works of art from the Renaissance painting to the modern photograph. In 2004 the Val dâOrcia was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
