| The 7 most beautiful photography spots of the Val d'Orcia
Explore this beautiful valley in Tuscany
The Val d’Orcia is a valley in southern Tuscany which is included entirely in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. And with good reason! Here, you will find those typical picturesque Tuscan landscapes with cypress trees along winding country roads, idyllic medieval villages, beautiful chapels and abbeys overlooking the vineyards. It is therefore not surprising that the Val d’Orcia is a popular place for photographers. In this blog, we list the most beautiful photography locations in this region.
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About the Val d'Orcia
The Val d’Orcia is a valley in Tuscany that is very popular among photographers. Search the internet for the most beautiful photos of those typical Tuscan landscapes, with cypresses along winding country roads, and there is a good chance that they were taken in this area. It is not without reason that the Italians themselves consider the Val d’Orcia to be the most beautiful region of Tuscany.
The rolling valley takes its name from the River Orcia, which flows through this area. The whole area has been designated a world heritage site by UNESCO.
It has picturesque medieval villages like Pienza, San Quirico d’Orcia and Monticchiello, which all offer beautiful panoramas over the unique landscape. The famous wine, Brunello di Montalcino, is produced in this area, near the beautiful Sant’Antimo Abbey. And in the area, you will find thermal baths that have been in use since Roman times. In the romantic town of Bagno Vignoni, the central square is even one big thermal bath.
Reason enough to put the Val d’Orcia Valley on your travel bucket list, also for a photography tour. But what are the most beautiful photography spots in the Val d’Orcia? Below, we list 7 of them for you.
The 7 most beautiful photography spots of the Val d'Orcia
Bosco di Cipressi
This cypress forest on top of a hill may not look very special at first, but it is a favourite spot among photographers. We experienced this ourselves when we drove by here. At the time, just after sunset, there was no place left for us to park our car right next to the motorway. Google Bosco di Cipressi and you will find beautiful pictures of this place. You can find this site here.
Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta
When most photographers already gathered at Bosco di Cipressi, we were on our way to the Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta, to photograph it at sunset. This small picturesque chapel, with two cypress trees on either side, is one of the most photographed churches in Tuscany for a reason.
When we arrived here, there was also a large group of other photographers who were also on their way to capture ‘the perfect shot’.
Nevertheless, we finally succeeded in photographing the chapel without people in the frame. When we then drove on, we suddenly had a view from the road of the front of the chapel. We quickly stopped the car at this location, so that we could take this photo of the chapel during the ‘blue hour’.
The parking lot where you can reach the back of the chapel can be found here.
Pienza
The classic medieval town of Pienza is also known as the ‘capital’ of the Val d’Orcia. It is centrally located in the valley and is partly known for the fact that parts of the film The Gladiator were shot here. Pienza is also known for a certain type of cheese: Pecorino di Pienza. It is nice to stay here a little longer and to stroll through the narrow streets and squares.
Around Pienza you will find several panoramic views of rolling Tuscan hills, which are well worth photographing. The two best known are Pienza Gladiator point and Pienza viewpoint.
Monticchiello
Just next to Pienza, you will find the medieval hilltop town of Monticchiello. This town is not as well-known as other towns in the Val d’Orcia such as Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, San Quirico D’Orcia and Montalcino. But it does offer some beautiful views of the valley. Monticchiello is therefore also called the terrace of the Val d’Orcia. Two panorama points you really do not want to miss here are Monticchiello Punto Panoramico and Cipressi di Monticchiello.
Agriturismo Poggio Covili
This agriturismo is famous for the many appearances it has on postcards. Photographers are particularly fond of this place because of the long row of cypress trees that mark the road leading to the entrance of this tourist attraction. In order to capture this fully, Agriturismo Poggio Covili is best photographed from a mountain.
The Abbey of Sant'Antimo
This striking monastery near Montalcino is said to have been founded by Charles the Great around the year 800. The church was then renovated around 1100 in this Romanesque style, with the characteristic round arches. Whether you like photography or not, it is one of those typical Tuscan places you really must have seen. Today, monks still live in the monastery, keeping a sober life. You can find the abbey of Sant’Antimo here.
When visiting the abbey, make sure that you have already entered your next destination in google maps (and preferably downloaded the map for offline use), because in the valley of the abbey you have no reception.
Bagno Vignoni
This place is known as one of the most romantic villages of the Val d’Orcia. But it has other special qualities as well, because it is also a village with thermal baths, which have been in use since the Roman times. The central square is even one big thermal bath.
During our tour in Tuscany, a visit to this place was recommended by several locals, but unfortunately, due to circumstances, we did not manage to actually go there. However, the pictures on the internet show beautiful photography spots again, so Bagno Vignoni could not be excluded from this list.
The best time to visit Val d'Orcia
In our opinion, the best time to visit the Val d’Orcia is in spring, around the end of April/beginning of May when the rainy season in this area is already on its return. The fields are then beautifully green and those who get up early have the chance to find the sloping landscapes under a thin layer of mist. Nevertheless, the summer is also special in this area because the landscape turns yellow in this time of year. In autumn and winter, the hills are not covered in vegetation and are therefore less colourful.
Where to stay in the Val d'Orcia valley
Two of the nicest and most centrally located towns of the Val d’Orcia are Pienza and Bagno Vignoni. We recommend you to look for an accommodation that is not too far away from these places. You can compare distances and prices on Booking.com.
During our visit to the Val d’Orcia, we stayed a bit further away, at Country House Art and Garden on Monte Antico. This is also a nice accommodation in a beautiful setting and is about an hour’s drive from Pienza.
Find cheap flights to Tuscany
For cheap flight tickets to Tuscany, we still compare the various offers on Skyscanner. A good starting point for a journey through Tuscany is the regional capital Florence, but more often than not flight tickets to nearby Pisa are cheaper.
Hi, we are Samira & Maurits, a travel-hungry couple with a passion for photography.
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