The wonderful landscape
The Crete Senesi are a characteristic hilly area that extends to the south-east of Siena.
The particular clayey composition of the soil is due to the fact that in ancient times the entire area was a marine basin.
The subsequent and natural process of water withdrawal meant that irregular layers of clay and sand were deposited on the ground from which numerous marine fossils of various kinds emerged.
The Hills of Crete Senesi
The hills of the Crete Senesi have taken on their characteristic shape thanks to the process of erosion and their characteristic color thanks to the action of the sun’s rays on the sodium sulfate that have bleached the soil. The numerous visible inlets are called “calanchi” and the bleached hills are called “biancane.”
The natural beauty of these hills have made the area one of the most curious and unique landscapes in all of Tuscany. Today the Crete Senesi are still the protagonists of the area despite the fact that farmers have modified its appearance by tracing paths, truffle grounds, vineyards and using the green fields to graze flocks.
The characteristic of this hilly area is the multiplicity of colors that the hills take on with the changing seasons. In spring the hills will be endless green expanses, in summer the wheat will turn gold and in September the land will be worked by the farmer and the plowing will turn the earth bringing to our eyes the typical color of the clay. At this time of year the sky is third and creates a wonderful contrast of colors.
La Via Francigena
The Via Francigena, which winds through the rolling hills, allowed pilgrims in the Middle Ages to reach Rome and for this reason, even today, numerous parish churches, abbeys and farmhouses of ancient origins built to accommodate the pilgrims themselves can be visited.
Via Francigena
