Art & Culture
Churches, Cloisters & Medieval Sites
The countryside around Villa Cetinale is rich in small churches, abbeys and medieval landmarks that are easy to miss when travelling between Siena, Monteriggioni and Chianti. They are not full-day excursions, but they add depth to a morning or afternoon spent exploring the area.
The cloister at Torri is one of the most rewarding nearby stops. Set within a quiet village, its Romanesque arcades, carved capitals and peaceful courtyard offer a rare example of medieval monastic architecture on a small, intimate scale. It is particularly well suited to a short visit before continuing on to Monteriggioni or Colle Val d’Elsa.
San Leonardo al Lago is another worthwhile detour, hidden in woodland not far from Siena. Once part of an Augustinian hermitage, the church is known for its frescoes and secluded setting, giving a sense of the religious communities that once occupied the countryside outside the city.
Pieve di San Giovanni Battista offers a more modest but equally local perspective, with simple stone architecture and a setting that speaks to the long history of parish life in this part of Tuscany.
Also nearby is Badia a Isola, an ancient abbey on the Via Francigena pilgrimage route, closely linked to the movement of pilgrims, merchants and travellers through the region. Ponte della Pia, a small medieval bridge associated with local legend, can also be included as part of a scenic drive through the surrounding countryside.
These places are best visited as brief but meaningful stops, combined with a hill town, a vineyard lunch or time spent exploring the quieter roads around Siena.
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