Nice and beautiful places to see close or on the Mountain Amiata
Daniel Spoerri
Just 5 km far from the Agriturismo Ombianco there is “Il Giardino di Daniel Spoerri”. It is an art park that covers an area of 16 hectares. It was built by the artist Daniel Spoerri and is managed by the foundation “Il Giardino di Daniel Spoerri – Hic Terminus Haeret”. The park, however, not only includes installations of the artist but also exposes installations of other forty artists. Inside the park you can move freely or follow specific paths. The works tend to be arranged in sparse order integrating and blending themselves into the landscape. For further information: Daniel Spoerri.
Tibetan Centre Merigar Dzogchen
Just 13 km far from the Agriturismo Ombianco there is the center of Tibetan studies Merigar West which is one of the most important. More precisely it is a gar of Dzogchen community. Merigar, which literally means “home of the mountain of fire”, covers an area of 50 hectares on the slopes of Monte Labbro and was established in 1981. The Gonpa, represented in the picture, is one of the main buildings. It opened in 1990 in the presence of the Dalai Lama. For more information on the possibility of a visit you can refer to the official website of the community: www.dzogchen.it .
Mount Labbro
Just 20 km far from the Agriturismo Ombianco there is the Monte Labro or Labbro, is a 1.193 meter high mountain located on the south slope of Mount Amiata, in the center of the Natural Reserve of Mount Labbro and of the Wildlife Park of Mount Amiata (Parco Faunistico). Of great interest is the Giurisdavidic Tower that you can find on top of Mount Labro, built and linked to the figure of David Lazzaretti, preacher, then considered heretical, founder of the Giurisdavidic Church .
Wildlife Park of Mount Amiata
Just 20 km far from the Agriturismo Ombianco there is the Wildlife Park of Mount Amiata (Parco Faunistico). The wildlife park covers an area of approximately 200 hectares and is itself inside the nature reserve of Mount Labbro. The park design is inspired by the model of the Wild Park, with paths inside that allow the observation of the various species living in total respect of the latter. Moreover, it is possible to visit the park through educational activities and tours organized by local authorities. Within this natural area you can observe many species of Apennine wildlife such as roe deer, deer, mouflon, chamois and the wolf. The park also, given the absence of light pollution, is also a great place for astronomical observations. The park is located at Podere Dei Nobili, Arcidosso, phone: +39 0564 966867.
Mount Amiata
The Agriturismo Ombianco lies on the slopes of Mount Amiata, whose top is easily accessible by car in 15 minutes. The Mount Amiata is a mountainous place between the Tuscan Appenine, the Maremma and the Val d’Orcia, between the province of Grosseto and Siena. The Monte Amiata is a massid of vulcanic origins, with typical rocks and lakes, and reaches 1,738 meters. During winter you can ski, while in summer you can walk through its forests of beech trees, trekking, mountain biking along the trails or take a pleasant outdoor picnic.
Montalcino and the Brunello wine
Just 30 km far from the Agriturismo Ombianco there is the town of Montalcino, famous worldwide for its Brunello wine. Still retains an old center and is dominated by a medieval fortress. It can be also possible to visit and eat in the ancient Banfi’s castle of Poggio alle Mura and stop at one of the many wine bars to taste the Brunello wine or the Rosso di Montalcino. Within the municipality of Montalcino, near Castelnuovo dell’Abate, there it is also the important Norbertine Abbey of Sant’Antimo.
Pienza
Just 40 km far from the Agriturismo Ombianco there is the town of Pienza, in the middle of the Val d’Orcia, whose historic center was declared a World Heritage Site in 1996 by UNESCO. The history of Pienza is linked to the figure of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, who in 1458 was elected Pope with the name of Pius II. He ordered the reconstruction of the old town in the form we know today and, although partially realized, due to the premature death of the Pope, represent today one of the most significant examples of urban design of the Italian Renaissance such as the Renaissance Cathedral, the Palace Hall, Palazzo Borgia and Palazzo Piccolomini.
Siena
Siena is a city rich in art with a large historical and artistic heritage and with distinctive medieval streets. It is also known for the famous Palio of Siena which is a horse race in its main square, Piazza del Campo. Its historic center has been awarded by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Siena is located in central Tuscany in the hills of Chianti. There are numerous monuments and places of interest including the aforementioned Piazza del Campo dominated by the Torre del Mangia, the Cathedral, the Church of San Domenico, Palazzo Tolomei, Fonte Gaia, and many others. The Palio of Siena is held on 2 July and 16 August.
Florence
Florence is a city with a great artistic heritage and is probably one of the most known city abroad. Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and is considered as one of the cradles of art and architecture with outstanding monuments and museums such as the Duomo, Santa Croce, Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace but even the Venus by Botticelli and Michelangelo’s David. It was honored by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1982. In the Middle Ages was an important cultural, commercial and financial center. It was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and under the rule of the Medici family assembled the best artists and philosophers of the time, including: Michelangelo Buonarroti, Galileo Galilei, Leonardo da Vinci, Pico della Mirandola, Verrocchio, Sandro Botticelli and Filippo Brunelleschi . It was also the capital of Italy from 1865 to 1871.
Thermal baths of Saturnia
The thermal baths of Saturnia are far a half an hour from the Agriturismo Ombianco. There, it is possible to benefit from the relaxing and beneficial sulphurous water at 37 Celsius degrees. There is both a private facility, called Terme di Saturnia spa and golf resort and a free one, the so-called free thermal baths of Saturnia also called Falls Mill (so named for the presence of an old mill) located a few hundred meters from the paying facilities and fruite with similar waters, but where the access to the pools of natural origin is completely free, more info at: Le Cascate del Mulino.
Pitigliano
Pitigliano is one of the cities included among the Borghi più belli d’Italia, which litterally means The most beautiful hamlets of Italy. Its historic center is known as the little Jerusalem, owing to the presence of numerous churches and a synagogue for the local Jewish community. There are many small monuments and landmarks characteristic as the Duomo, Palazzo Orsini, the Fountain of the Seven Spouts or the seventeenth-century aqueduct.
San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990 for the characteristic medieval architecture of its village of thirteenth century. It is believed that it arises out of a site of Etruscan origin of the third century BC. San Gimignano is especially famous for the medieval towers of which today there are only sixteen. The oldest is the Rognosa tower, which is 51 meters high, while the highest is the Torre del Podesta, of 54 meters. The Duomo on the contrary is an example of Romanesque architecture in Tuscany. The village is almost entirely contained in its thirteenth century walls.
Monteriggioni
Monteriggioni is a village in the province of Siena. The most important structure to see is certainly the Monteriggioni Castle, built by the Sienese people around the 1200. It is possible to climb the walls and walk on two large tracts of it, allowing you to admire the beautiful views of the Sienese countryside. Along the walls there are also 14 towers. Monteriggioni is also part of the Via Francigena of which is the 32 ° stage.
(Source: wikipedia.it)