San Quirico d’Orcia is a quaint hilltop village located in Val d’Orcia, Tuscany. Although it’s one of the area’s smaller towns, it often remains unnoticed by many visitors. If you have a few hours to spare, this charming destination is worth a visit.
Interesting Facts about San Quirico d’Orcia
San Quirico d’Orcia sits in Val d’Orcia, a region renowned for its stunning landscapes featuring rolling hills, winding cypress tree lines, serene lakes, vineyards, and a variety of hilltop towns.
Other notable towns in Val d’Orcia include Pienza, Montalcino, and Radicofani. In 2004, Val d’Orcia was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The town is named in honor of Saint Quiricus. It lies along the Via Francigena, a historical pilgrimage route that linked Canterbury, England to southern Italy.
The list of activities in San Quirico d’Orcia is short, which is one reason we were charmed by it. Walking through town, exploring the vibrant Via Dante Alighieri, and enjoying lunch were our top experiences.
Best Things to Do in San Quirico d’Orcia
Stroll along Via Dante Alighieri
Via Dante Alighieri is the main road that runs through San Quirico d’Orcia. This colorful street is lined with cafes and quaint shops. Measuring just over 400 meters from one end to the other gives you a sense of just how compact this town is.
Branches from Via Dante Alighieri lead to smaller side streets that unveil charming residences and picturesque views over Val d’Orcia.
Via Dante Alighieri
Via Dante Alighieri
Piazza della Liberta
Piazza della Liberta is the main square in San Quirico d’Orcia, surrounded by cafes, shops, and the Chiesa di San Francesco. This church, also known as the Chiesa della Madonna, is dedicated to Saint Francis and features a statue of the Madonna sculpted by Andrea della Robbia.
Piazza della Liberta
Chiesa della Madonna
The view from Chiesa della Madonna. InTralci, the restaurant where we had lunch (mentioned later in this guide) is the blue building in this photo.
Collegiate Church of San Quirico d’Orcia
This church, also known as the Collegiate Church of Saints Quirico and Giulitta, dates back to the 8th century. It has undergone several renovations and expansions over the centuries, resulting in multiple architectural styles.
It is believed that Giovanni Pisano, who contributed to the construction of the Siena Cathedral, crafted one of the church’s doors in 1288.
Collegiate Church of San Quirico d’Orcia
Horti Leonini
Horti Leonini is a public garden located just a short walk away from Piazza della Liberta. This Italian garden features numerous statues, including one of Cosimo III de’Medici.
Climb the steps at the far end of the garden for a breathtaking view of the garden and the rooftops of San Quirico d’Orcia, along with the rolling hills of Val d’Orcia.
Horti Leoni
The view from Horti Leonini
Have Lunch or Dinner
One of the best experiences in any Tuscan hill town is enjoying the local cuisine and wine.
In Val d’Orcia, you’ll find several excellent dining options. We had a memorable lunch at InTralci Wine Bar where we savored local dishes and wines, making it our favorite experience in the area.
InTralci is located on Via Dante Alighieri, near Piazza della Liberta. The restaurant has a few outdoor and indoor tables, and the daily menu is written on a chalkboard. Following the owner’s suggestion, we enjoyed various bruschetta, arancini, and pici pasta. The food, wine, service, and ambiance were all fantastic.
Lunch at InTralci
Other well-reviewed restaurants include Ristorante Fonte alla Vena and Trattoria Toscana al Vecchio Forno (both are Michelin-starred), Ross o Vivo Pizzeria Verace (said by some to have the best pizza in town), and La Bottega di Cacio (a specialty food shop).
Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta
This small church built in the 12th century features a bell tower and vestry, and is located at the end of Via Dante Alighieri.
Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta
How Much Time Do You Need in San Quirico d’Orcia?
To take a leisurely stroll along Via Dante Alighieri, visit the garden and the Collegiate Church of San Quirico d’Orcia, and enjoy lunch or dinner, plan on spending about two to three hours here.
How to Get to San Quirico d’Orcia
The best way to reach San Quirico d’Orcia is by car. Very few tours include this town in their itineraries, as they usually focus on the more popular destinations such as Pienza and Montalcino. Having a car allows you to visit several renowned viewpoints in Val d’Orcia as well.
Driving distances and times from nearby locations:
- Pienza: 10 km, 15 minutes
- Montalcino: 15 km, 20 minutes
- Montepulciano: 24 km, 30 minutes
- Florence: 120 km, 2 hours
- Siena: 47 km, 55 minutes
Things to Do Near San Quirico d’Orcia
Several scenic viewpoints in Val d’Orcia are a brief drive from this town.
Cappella della Madonna di Vitaletaa is a charming chapel that serves as a popular photo spot in Val d’Orcia. While you can admire it from afar on Strada Provinciale 146 in Chianciano, getting a closer look requires driving along a gravel road, parking nearby, and then taking a 10-minute walk to the chapel.
For a glimpse of the famous circle of cypress trees, known on Google Maps as Cipressi di San Quirico d’Orcia, it takes just a five-minute drive from San Quirico d’Orcia. A small parking area is located on SR2, and it’s a 5-minute walk to the viewpoint. Our pictures were taken in September, when the land is freshly tilled; for lush, green photographs like those on postcards, consider visiting Tuscany in May.
You can also combine your visit to San Quirico d’Orcia with nearby towns such as Pienza, Montalcino, or Montepulciano.
Cipressi di San Quirico d’Orcia in September
From the Cipressi di San Quirico d’Orcia viewpoint, if you walk further along the gravel road, you can spot this ring of cypress trees.
Where We Stayed
We enjoyed a three-night stay at Villa le Prata, conveniently located a short drive from San Quirico d’Orcia. This villa proved to be an ideal base for exploring Val d’Orcia. During our time there, we experienced the charm of a Tuscan villa, particularly special during the harvest season in late September. Each evening, we savored delicious meals paired with local wines, and participated in vineyard tours and sunset tastings.
Staying in a villa is an unforgettable experience in Tuscany. While numerous villas are available in the region, we chose Villa le Prata due to its exceptional reviews, and we can confidently say it exceeded our expectations. Our stay here was one of the highlights of our time in Tuscany.
More Information for Your Trip to Tuscany
FLORENCE: Check our Florence Bucket List for top attractions and our 2 Day Florence Itinerary for planning your visit. We also provide information on visiting the Florence Cathedral, the best rooftop bars, viewpoints, and accommodations.
TUSCANY: Start with our guide to the Best Things to Do in Tuscany, followed by our Tuscany Itinerary with sample plans for three, five, or even seven days in the region.
TUSCAN HILL TOWNS: Explore in-depth guides for Siena, Montepulciano, Pienza, Montalcino, San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Lucca, Volterra, Arezzo, and Cortona. For a comprehensive list of activities, check our article on the Best Things to Do in Tuscany.
If you have questions about visiting San Quirico d’Orcia, feel free to leave a comment below.
More Information about Italy
ITALY ITINERARIES: If you’re just starting to create your Italy itinerary, you might find our 10 Days in Italy Itinerary helpful, featuring five different plans. There’s also a detailed 10 Day itinerary covering Rome, Florence, the Cinque Terre, and Venice. For those with more time, consider our 14-day itinerary that encompasses the highlights of Italy.
BEST OF ITALY: In our guide to the Best Places to Visit in Italy, we present 25 beautiful destinations to consider for your next Italian adventure.
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ROME: Discover the top experiences in Rome through our article on the Best Things to Do in Rome. Organize your activities using our 2 Day or 3 Day Rome Itinerary, and check out our guides on the Best Views of Rome, the best Rooftop Bars, and where to dine in the city.
We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, covering Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, the Dolomites, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, Basilicata, and Puglia.
