Tuscany’s sunlit hills have long called to me, but it was during my extended time at Podere Aiole —a newly restored agriturismo in Castiglione d’Orcia—that I truly fell for the quiet allure of the Val d’Orcia. This isn’t the Tuscany you think you know; this region, nestled in southern Tuscany within the province of Siena, stretches from the Orcia River southward toward the border with Grosseto. Here, winding roads unfold into vistas so breathtaking, they feel like driving straight into the Emerald City from the Wizard of Oz , its timeless beauty inspiring everyone from Renaissance artists to masters of the silver screen.

What truly sets Val d’Orcia apart is its untouched authenticity—and its extraordinary culinary heritage. This is the land of handmade pici pasta, liquid-gold olive oi

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