Tuscan treats in the vicinity of Borgo Lucignanello

With its panoramic country roads, twisting their way through gently undulating landscapes dotted with cypress trees and tiny medieval villages, the Tuscany surrounding Lucignano d'Asso is best explored by car. From Borgo Lucignanello, Siena, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Bagno Vignoni, Pienza and Cortona are all less than an hour's drive away. Whichever town you plan to visit, we will be pleased to recommend a few restaurants: the same restaurants in which we ourselves regularly dine, and where you can expect to eat the finest Tuscan fare.

Siena, the ultimate in medieval splendor

The magnificent medieval city of Siena is less than an hour's drive away from Borgo Lucignanello. The beautifully conserved medieval streets and alleyways of the historic center all seem to lead to Piazza del Campo, the immense square where the city's famous Palio horse race is run each July 2nd and August 16th. Not to be missed: the Cathedral, one of the finest works of Italian Gothic architecture, and the Museum of Santa Maria della Scala.

Recommended restaurants:

• AL MANGIA
  Piazza II Campo 42
  Tel. 0577 281121
• L'OSTERIA DEL BIGELLI
  Piazza del Campo, 60
  Tel. 0577 42772 - Closed Wednesday
• ENOTECA I TERZI
  Via dei Termini, 7
  Tel. 0577 44329 - Closed Saturday
• COMPAGNIA DEI VINATTIERI
  Via delle Terme, 79
  Tel. 0577 236 568
• LA TAVERNA DI S. GIUSEPPE
  Via G. Duprè, 132
  Tel. 0577 42 286 - Closed Saturday
• DA DINO
  Via Casato di Sopra, 71
  Tel. 0577 289036

• OSTERIA BOCCON DEL PRETE
  Via S. Pietro, 17
  Tel. 0577 280 388 - Closed Saturday
• OSTERIA LA SOSTA DI VIOLANTE
  Via Pantaneto, 115
  Tel. 0577 43774 - Closed Saturday
• L'OSTERIA
  Via dei Rossi, 79
  Tel. 0577 287 592
• TRATTORIA PAPEI
  Piazza del Mercato, 6
  Tel. 0577 280894

San Giovanni d'Asso and its truffles

This delightful little medieval town, only 5 minutes away from Borgo Lucignanello, is famous for its truffles. In the basement of the town's castle, a fascinating museum dedicated to this fragrant underground fungus has been created. In the month of November, San Giovanni d'Asso hosts a festival in honor of the town's most highly prized truffle: the "tartufo bianco " or white truffle.

Recommended restaurants:

• LA LOCANDA DEL CASTELLO
  Tel. 0577 802939 - Closed Tuesday

Restaurants in the vicinity

• ASCIANO
  LA LOCANDA D'ACETO
  Corso Matteotti, 126
  Tel. 0577 719 220 - Closed Monday
• BETTOLLE
  RISTORANTE WALTER REDAELLI
  Via XXI Aprile, 10
  Tel. 0577 623 447 - Closed Tuesday
• CHIUSURE
  IL POZZO
  Piazza del Pozzo, 5
  Tel. 0577 707103 - Closed Tuesday

• SINALUNGA
  LOCANDA DELL'AMOROSA
  Tel. 0577 67721 - Closed Monday
• TREQUANDA
  RISTORANTE CONTE MATTO
  Tel. 0577 662 079 - Closed Tuesday
• TREQUANDA
  OSTERIA CAFFE' CIRIERA
  Piazza Garibaldi, 23
  Tel. 0577-662054 - Open lunch time only

Montalcino, Tuscany's wine Mecca

The town famous for its Brunello di Montalcino, one of Tuscany's finest wines, is just a 20 minute drive away from Borgo Lucignanello. After touring one of the many wineries where Brunello is produced, holidaymakers should be sure to visit Montalcino's historic center, dominated by its 14th century fortress. Lining the narrow streets of the town, you'll find any number of artisans' shops which, in addition to wine, sell an excellent chestnut honey and the town's delicious walnut and almond biscuits, known as "ossi di morti" or "dead men's bones"!

Recommended restaurants:

• PORTA AL CASSERO
  Via della Libertà, 9
  Tel. 0577 847196 - Closed Wednesday
• AL BACCANALE
  Via Matteotti, 19
  Tel. 0577 847163 - Closed Wednesday

• BOCCON DIVINO
  Loc. Colombaio Tozzi, 201
  Tel. 0577 848 233 - Closed Tuesday
• Il GIGLIO
  Via Soccorso Saloni
  Tel. 50577 848 167 - Closed Tuesday

San Quirico d'Orcia and the thermal waters of Bagno Vignoni

A day in Vall d'Orcia, UNESCO World Heritage site, might easily commence in the pretty little town of San Quirico d'Orcia, once an important stopping point on the Via Francigena (the ancient pilgrim route which from Canterbury lead all the way to Rome), and continue with a trip to Bagno Vignoni: a hamlet centered around a large pool of thermal water. No visit to the Bagno Vignoni can be considered complete without having first bathed in one of the hamlet's steaming hot springs.

Recommended restaurants:

• SAN QUIRICO D'ORCIA
  TRATTORIA OSENNA
  Via Dante Alighieri, 42
  Tel. 0577 897541 - Closed Wednesday
• SAN QUIRICO D'ORCIA
  RISTORANTE DEGLI ARCHI
  Via Dante Alighieri, 24
  Tel. 0577 899 085 - Closed Thursday
• SAN QUIRICO D'ORCIA
  TRATTORIA AL VECCHIO FORNO
  Via Piazzola, 8
  Tel. 0577 897 380 - Closed Wednesday

• BAGNO VIGNONI
  LA BOTTEGA DI CACIO
  Piazza del Moretto
  Tel. 0577 887477 - Closed Tuesday
• BAGNO VIGNONI
  OSTERIA DELLA MADONNA
  Via dei Mulini, 18
  Tel. 0577 887 043 - Closed Wednesday

Restaurants in the vicinity

• VIVO D'ORCIA
  TAVERNA DI PIAN DELLE MURA
  Tel. 0577 874 009 - Closed Monday
• BUONCONVENTO
  DA MARIO
  Via Soccini, 60
  Tel. 0577 806157 - Closed Saturday
• CASTIGLIONE D'ORCIA
  LA CISTERNA NEL BORGO
  Via Borgo Maestro, 14
  Tel. 0577 887 280 - Closed Monday

• MONTEPULCIANO
  OSTERIA DELL'ACQUACHETA
  Via del Teatro, 22
  Tel. 0578 717 086 - Closed Wednesday
• MONTEPULCIANO
  LE LOGGE DEL VIGNOLA
  Via delle Erbe, 6
  Tel. 0578 717 290 - Closed Thursday

Pienza, the ideal renaissance city

From Borgo Lucignanello, the beautiful hilltop town of Pienza is just a 20 minute drive away. Famous for its excellent pecorino cheese, Pienza was founded in the 15th century by Pope Pius II, who decided to completely rebuild his humble home town of Corsigano and transform it into the ideal renaissance city.

Recommended restaurants:

• IL ROSSELLINO
  Piazza di Spagna, 4
  Tel. 0578 749064 - Closed Thursday
• TRATTORIA DA FIORELLA
  Via Condotti, 11
  Tel. 0578 749 095 - Closed Wednesday

• TRATTORIA LATTE DI LUNA
  Via San Carlo, 2
  

Restaurants in the vicinity

• MONTEFOLLONICO
  OSTERIA LA BOTTE PIENA
  Piazza Dionisia Cinughi, 12
  Tel. 0577 669 481 - Closed Tuesday

Cortona, on the trail of St Francis

In the heart of the Val di Chiana, almost touching the Umbrian border, the city of Cortona was founded by the Etruscans. You can easily spend a whole day exploring this little city, visiting the Etruscan Museum, the Sanctuary of Santa Margherita and the Girifalco castle. Just outside the walls of Cortona, the Francisan hermitage 'Le Celle' was the first convent built by St Francis, back in 1211. To this very day the convent is inhabited by a small community of monks and visitors can still see the small cell where St Francis is said to have stayed. Cortona is approximately an hour's drive away from Borgo Lucignanello.

Recommended restaurants:

• LA CORTE DEI PAPI
  Loc. Pergo
  Tel. 0575 614109 - Closed Monday and Tuesdays for lunch
• OSTERIA LA BUCACCIA
  Via Ghibellina, 17
  Tel. 0575 606039 - Closed Monday;

Restaurants in the vicinity

• AREZZO
  GASTRONOMIA IL CERVO
  Via G. Carducci, 2
  Tel. 0575 20872 - Closed Monday

Outlets, the luxury of shopping in Tuscany

These days holidaymakers are almost as likely to come away from Tuscany with a Gucci handbag as they are with a bottle of Brunello, thanks to the arrival in the region of a number of outlets selling Italian designer fashions at incredibly low rates.
Less than an hour's drive away from Borgo Lucignanello, you'll find:

• PRADA OUTLET
  (Strada Regionale 69 Fraz. Levanella)
  Montevarchi, AR 52025
  Clothes and accessories by the Prada group at discounted prices.
• BRUNO CUCINELLI
  Piazza Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa
  06073 Corciano, Perugia
  Menswear and ladies fashion made exclusively in cashmere by the Italian stylist, Bruno Cucinelli

• VALDICHINA OUTLET VILLAGE
  Foiano della Chiana
  An impressive retail center where to find bit of everything: designer clothes, accessories, homeware.
• OUTLET THE MALL
  Reggello
  A shopaholic's paradise where to find fashion by Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hogan, Yves Sainte Laurent, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tod's, and Valentino at discount prices.