Are you planning a weekend getaway in the tranquility of the Tuscan countryside?
A weekend getaway could be the perfect opportunity to visit the magnificent artistic sites that Italy and Tuscany have to offer. 

Here is our selection of artistic sites that you can find in the surroundings of Gargonza Castle.

Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey

The Benedictine abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is located in Chiusure di Asciano, south of Siena, immersed in the greenery of the woods and the ochre yellow of the Sienese clays. Here, today as in the past, peace and tranquility reign.

It was founded seven centuries ago by Saint Bernard Tolomei, a Sienese nobleman, together with Patrizio Patrizi and Ambrogio Piccolomini. From illustrious families of the city, the abbey rises in the “Desert of Accona” to allow them to live according to the Rule of Saint Benedict.

The Renaissance village of Monte San Savino

Monte San Savino is a village with a fairytale charm, characterized by the castle tower and its charming historic center. The town owes its fame to the Renaissance sculptor Andrea Contucci, known as “Il Sansovino“, and to Pope Julius III, born here. Throughout its history, Monte San Savino has been contested between Florence, Perugia, and Siena.

What to visit in the village of Monte San Savino? Today, the village welcomes visitors with its well-preserved center. It develops along the main street, Corso Sangallo, where the main historical buildings are located. Among these, the Palazzo Di Monte (or Palazzo Del Monte), which houses the town hall. Built in the early 16th century at the behest of Antonio Di Monte, it was designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, who created the facade and the layout.

The palace is a perfect example of Renaissance elegance, with a large Italian-style hanging garden, irrigated by the waters of a 16th-century underground cistern. A visit to the “Cisternone”, as it is called by the locals, is not to be missed: a 400 square meter work, the second largest in Tuscany, was recently restored and open to the public free of charge. Also not to be missed are the Palazzo Pretorio with its Civic Tower and the famous Logge dei Mercanti, the church of Sant’Agostino with the splendid Assumption by Giorgio Vasari, and the church of Santa Chiara, which houses precious glazed terracotta altarpieces by Andrea Sansovino and the Della Robbia. The Cassero, a 14th-century fortress, dominates the village.

Not far from the historic center, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Vertighe, already documented in the 11th century, preserves a table by Margarito and Ristoro d’Arezzo. Do not miss a walk in the Jewish quarter and a visit to the Synagogue of Monte San Savino, which housed a flourishing Jewish community until the end of the 18th century. Finally, you cannot leave Monte San Savino without tasting the famous porchetta, a local gastronomic specialty celebrated since 1964 with a festival that takes place on the second weekend of September.

The medieval village of Lucignano

Lucignano, known as “The Pearl of the Valdichiana“, is a charming village in southern Tuscany that represents one of the most extraordinary examples of medieval urban planning. This village was perfectly preserved over time thanks to its characteristic elliptical shape with concentric road rings. Located in a strategic position on the top of a hill overlooking the Valdichiana, Lucignano has played a crucial role in controlling the historical route between Siena and Arezzo, making it of great strategic importance since ancient times.

This position made Lucignano a medieval castle contested by the surrounding territories for centuries. Between the 13th and 16th centuries, the village underwent continuous changes in jurisdiction between Siena, Arezzo, Florence, and Perugia. The link with Siena had the most significant influence on the urban and architectural development of the historic center.

Today, Lucignano retains the charm of the ancient village intact, offering a peaceful and serene atmosphere. The local agricultural and artisan tradition offers visitors a variety of typical products: from fine extra virgin olive oil to honey, refined ceramics to Chianina, and Cinta Senese meat to salami.

h2 Cortona: the village to discover in a weekend

The small town of Cortona, located south of Arezzo, on the border with Umbria, is a historical and cultural gem of Tuscany. Between the 7th and 8th centuries, it became an important base for the Etruscans, thanks to its strategic position among the hills. Rich in fortresses, abbeys, ancient churches, and historic villas, Cortona offers breathtaking views and lush nature.