Wonderful Tuscany - The "Crete Senesi"

The "Crete Senesi" is a hilly area on the south-east of Siena (Tuscany), ideal for holidays. The Crete Senesi landscape are one of the most unique and fascinating of Italy. These hills are between the towns of Asciano, Buonconvento, Monteroni d 'Arbia, Rapolano Terme and San Giovanni d' Asso. The slow process of erosion has carved the landscape, digging "calanchi" and "biancane": elevations dome-shaped on which appears the color of sodium sulfate. In this "lunar" scenary passed the ancient Via Cassia built by the Romans and renamed via Francigena at the end of the eighth century, when the Franks defeated the Longobards.

Since the Middle Ages, the area of the Crete Senesi was known for the Desert "Accona". With less than 600 mm of annual rainfall, and even cultures like olive trees are rare. The area of the Crete Senesi was painted in some frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, in the hall of the Council of Nine in the Public Palace in Siena. At that time the area of the Crete Senesi was very wild, as it was chosen as the venue for the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, founded as a hermit destination. Near Asciano there is the Leonine Mamelon, limestone hills that are close to the ex fortified villa of the Marquis Chigi of Siena, and it is one of the most beautiful landscapes of Tuscany.