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Itinerary n. 2 •
Montepulciano (S.Biagio) - Poggio Colombi (SS.146)
Madonnino - Badia Sicille - Trequanda - Montelifrč
Montisi - Castelmuzio - Petroio - Madonnino
Poggio Colombi - Montepulciano (S.Biagio)
A feature
of this route is the continual undulation of the road, with some
climbs rather steep even though short. The critical point is reached
at the end of the steep drop after Montisi. The first 500 meters
of the climb are sufficiently steep to require a 39 x 23 gear, it
then becomes progressively more manageable. On the whole, the route
requires a lot of gear-changing.
Indications for the route:
Leave from the temple of S. Biagio in Montepulciano. Take the SS
146 in the direction of Pienza as far as the junction for Torrita.
After about 3 Kms you can take a detour for Montefollonico and after
another 5 Kms for the ancient monastery of Sicille. Unfortunately
the late romanic church can only be seen from the outside. Returning
to the main route turn right and continue as far as Trequanda, with
its interesting historical center, then continue towards Montisi
which we pass on the left. At the next junction take the road for
Castelmuzio and watch out for the ruins of Montelifre castle. Just
before you reach the town itself, we suggest you take a short detour
to the right towards the romanic church of S. Stefano a Cennano.
Then continue towards Petroio, where it is possible to refill your
water flasks from a roadside spring, then start the uphill climb.
Just before the top, on the right, you will see the ovens which
produce the famous terracotta of the region. At the Madonnino cross-roads
turn right to rejoin the road already covered towards Montepulciano
and, after as total of about 50 kms, back to the starting point.
Environmental and historical features:
The countryside which we cross along this route is clean and attractive
with a large number of sites of historical interest. This hill system
dominates the three valleys of the Chiana, Asso and Orcia. The agricultural
landscape is a balanced combination of olive groves, vineyards and
meadows and sheep and horse-breeding. Chianina beef is also bred
here. There are some beautiful country farmhouses, each telling
its own tale of their "mezzadria" or share-cropping past. Naturalists
will be interested by the Mediterranean scrub found between Castelmuzio
and Petroio, made up largely of holm-oak and stunted bushes. Montefollonico,
Trequanda, Montisi, Montelifre, Castelmuzio and Petroio are the
castles, walled towns and medieval villages. The churches of Sicille,
SS. Pietro and Andrea in Trequanda, with their frescos by Sodoma,
and Santo Stefano a Cennano offer excellent examples of romanic
architecture. After Castelmuzio, looking towards the Val d'Orcia,
there is the wonderful view of the solitary and imposing structure
of S. Anna in Camprena. At the end of your ride you really must
spend some time relaxing at San Biagio, a superb example of Renaissance
architecture.
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