The Five Municipalities at the Heart of the Val d’Orcia UNESCO Area: A Guide to the Core and Buffer Zones
The History of the Val d’Orcia World Heritage Site and Its Smaller Villages
Did you know that the gentle, unspoilt hills of the Val d’Orcia have a 500-year-old story to tell? The first idea of shaping the landscape to make it so beautiful and geometric dates back to the time of the Republic of Siena.
We Tuscans can consider ourselves fortunate to have seen this landscape remain virtually unchanged over the centuries. Thanks to the foresight of the five municipal administrations, which joined forces in 1999 to nominate the area in Paris, today we have the privilege of living in and photographing the Val d’Orcia UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In the heart of a timeless valley, where the land mirrors the movement of the sea.
FOCUS VAL D’ORCIA UNESCO
How Did the Val d’Orcia Become a World Heritage Site?
A Unique Recognition: The Cultural Landscape
The Val d’Orcia was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004, during the 28th session of the World Heritage Committee. Its official designation is very specific: a “cultural landscape.” This means that it is neither an untouched nature reserve nor an isolated monument, but an entire area of approximately 61,188 hectares, recognized as the result of centuries of interaction between people and the environment.
The recognition of the Val d’Orcia UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrates precisely this exceptional continuity between the landscape, human settlements, and agricultural activities. Its official inscription is based on two criteria:
Criterion (iv): The Val d’Orcia is an outstanding example of how the landscape was redesigned during the Renaissance. The aim was to reflect the ideals of good governance and create an aesthetically harmonious image.
Criterion (vi): The landscape of the Val d’Orcia was celebrated by artists of the Sienese School. It also had a profound influence on the development of landscape representation in European culture.
The international committee recognized the valley as a whole: its hills, farmsteads, villages, and roads. All these elements are the result of a long process of human transformation that began between the 14th and 15th centuries, under the influence of the ideals of the city of Siena.
During this period, the land was organized according to specific principles that combined agricultural productivity, land management, and the aesthetic quality of the landscape. The area was also shaped through water management systems designed to control the fragile badlands, alongside a deliberate pursuit of scenic beauty.
The Legacy of Siena’s “Good Government”
The aim was to embody in the landscape the political and aesthetic ideal of “Good Government” that shaped Sienese culture at the time. For the people of Siena, an orderly, productive, and aesthetically beautiful landscape was the tangible expression of a stable and well-governed society.
This vision has left us a landscape that has survived to the present day, preserving the historic relationship between its towns and the surrounding countryside. The masters of the Sienese School, from Ambrogio Lorenzetti to Giovanni di Paolo, portrayed these hills in timeless images, helping to shape the idealized vision of the landscape in European art and the history of the Western garden for centuries.
Today, this historic landscape is preserved under international protection through the Val d’Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park.
🌄 Want to discover the different landscapes of the Val d’Orcia? Read this article:
The Boundaries of the Val d’Orcia UNESCO Area
From Protecting the Landscape to the UNESCO Nomination
The agricultural model established by the Republic of Siena endured over the centuries. Then, in the 1990s, rural depopulation, industrial development, and increasing urbanization threatened the landscape’s distinctive geometry and harmony.
Faced with the threat of losing the valley’s rural identity, five municipalities in the Val d’Orcia had a far-sighted vision. They decided to join forces to protect and preserve the beauty of a landscape shaped over 500 years.
First, they established the management company Val d’Orcia S.r.l. and entered into a voluntary agreement based on a clear set of rules. They later created the Val d’Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park. In 1999, the Region of Tuscany officially recognized the Park as an ANPIL (Protected Natural Area of Local Interest). Thanks to the strong cooperation between these local administrations, 60,903 hectares of land were placed under strict planning restrictions. In this way, the landscape was protected from property development and the expansion of industrial agriculture during the 1990s.
In 2002, the five municipal administrations decided to take the next step. Working together through the newly established Park authority, they developed the first integrated Management Plan and prepared the documentation required to nominate the Val d’Orcia for inscription on the World Heritage List. The nomination dossier was then officially submitted to the relevant Italian ministries, which forwarded it to Paris for consideration by the international UNESCO committee.
Finally, in 2004, UNESCO reviewed the nomination dossier and officially inscribed the Val d’Orcia on the World Heritage List. This is where an important distinction needs to be made: it was not the Park as an administrative body or institution that received World Heritage status, but the Val d’Orcia itself and its historical significance.
Why Do the Boundaries of the UNESCO Site Match Those of the Park?
To inscribe a property on the World Heritage List, UNESCO requires the area to already be protected by strict conservation and management laws in its home country. When the nomination was submitted, the Park already formed a unified area with protection and management measures officially recognized by the Italian authorities. For this reason, the boundaries of the Val d’Orcia UNESCO World Heritage Site were defined using the territory already organized and managed through the Val d’Orcia Park.
The official UNESCO documentation states that the Park’s territory essentially corresponds to the Core Zone—the central area subject to the highest level of protection.
The Five Municipalities of the Val d’Orcia UNESCO Area: The Core Zones
When these five municipalities decided to establish the Park between 1996 and 1997, they took an administrative and political step that was revolutionary for its time. Instead of competing with one another or passively accepting environmental restrictions imposed by the national or regional authorities, the local administrations chose to impose limits on themselves and join forces, transforming the protection of the agricultural landscape into a powerful economic driver. By coming together to establish the Park, they demonstrated to UNESCO that a unified set of protection regulations and a dedicated management body were already in place.
Today, crossing the historic boundaries of these five municipalities means officially entering the Core Zone: an immense open-air work of art. It is important to note, however, that although the Park and the Core Zone essentially overlap, official sources indicate a small discrepancy of approximately 284 hectares between their total areas.
In UNESCO terminology, the Core Zone is the central area of the World Heritage Site. In the case of the Val d’Orcia, it covers 61,187.96 hectares and contains the landscape features that embody its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). This is where you will find:
- the geometric design and rural layout of the hills;
- the network of farmsteads and scattered farmhouses;
- fortified towns, castles, and historic monumental complexes;
- the network of historic routes, cypress-lined avenues, and the distinctive geomorphological formations of the calanchi and biancane.
This area of the highest level of protection therefore encompasses the entire territory of five municipalities: Castiglione d’Orcia, Montalcino, Pienza, Radicofani, and San Quirico d’Orcia.
The Municipality of Montalcino: Among Vineyards and Centuries-Old Olive Trees
The Municipality of Montalcino occupies the western part of the valley. Covering approximately 310 km², it includes smaller settlements, scattered farmhouses, and tiny historic villages.
When UNESCO recognized the Val d’Orcia World Heritage Site in 2004, the Municipality of Montalcino was considerably smaller. In 2017, however, the former municipality of San Giovanni d’Asso merged with Montalcino, creating a single, much larger administrative area.
The villages and hamlets incorporated into the Municipality of Montalcino as a result of this merger lie outside the boundaries of the Val d’Orcia UNESCO World Heritage Site. For this reason, the difference between the current municipal boundaries and the UNESCO boundaries can sometimes cause confusion when planning a trip to the Val d’Orcia.
Villages Inside and Outside the UNESCO Area
Montalcino has one of the largest municipal territories in Tuscany. Its boundaries extend beyond the Val d’Orcia into the Ombrone Valley, the Crete Senesi, and the Val d’Asso. In addition to the main town of Montalcino, the municipality includes medieval villages, hamlets, and small settlements, and borders the municipalities of Murlo, Buonconvento, Asciano, Trequanda, Pienza, San Quirico d’Orcia, Castiglione d’Orcia, Civitella Paganico, Cinigiano, and Castel del Piano.
As I have already explained, the boundaries of the Val d’Orcia UNESCO World Heritage Site were based on those of the municipalities belonging to the Val d’Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park, at a time when the Municipality of Montalcino covered 243.62 km².
MAIN HAMLETS WITHIN THE UNESCO AREA
- Castelnuovo dell’Abate: Located entirely within the heart of the Val d’Orcia. It is home to the celebrated Abbey of Sant’Antimo, one of the most iconic landmarks in the entire UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Sant’Angelo in Colle: A beautiful fortified medieval village perched on the southern slopes, overlooking the vineyards and the entire Orcia Valley.
- Sant’Angelo Scalo: Located on the valley floor below Sant’Angelo in Colle, close to the Orcia River and along the historic railway line.
- Torrenieri: A historic and important crossroads on the Via Francigena, marking the official eastern entrance to the Val d’Orcia Park within the Municipality of Montalcino.
- Camigliano: A small fortified village of medieval origin.
HISTORIC VILLAGES AND SMALL RURAL SETTLEMENTS WITHIN THE UNESCO AREA
Montalcino’s rural identity has historically included smaller settlements and estates of exceptional historical value, such as Villa a Tolli, Pieve a Salti, Castiglion del Bosco, and the monumental area of Sant’Antimo.
- Tavernelle: A small roadside settlement along the route descending towards Sant’Angelo, which developed on the road connecting Montalcino with the Maremma.
- Argiano: A small medieval village centred around a 13th-century castle and a celebrated 16th-century villa, located in the heart of Montalcino’s southern wine-producing area.
- Poggio alle Mura: A historic village dominated by an imposing 12th-century medieval castle, now known as Castello Banfi. It stands on a hill overlooking the confluence of the Orcia and Ombrone rivers.
- Sesta: A historic rural settlement in the southern part of the municipality, near Torrenieri.
- La Croce: A small settlement located just outside the main town of Montalcino.
- Monte Amiata Scalo: An industrial settlement and transport hub geographically shared with the Municipality of Castiglione d’Orcia.
The villages and hamlets that lie outside the Val d’Orcia UNESCO World Heritage Site but are now part of the Municipality of Montalcino are: San Giovanni d’Asso, Montisi, Lucignano d’Asso, Monterongriffoli, Montelifré, Pieve a Pava, and Vergelle.
The Soul of the Landscape
In this western part of the Val d’Orcia, wheat fields give way to vineyards and intense aromas. This is where you can experience the soul of Brunello, one of Tuscany’s most prestigious wines, known throughout the world. The landscape is defined by endless vineyards arranged in geometric rows, interspersed with centuries-old olive groves and dense patches of Mediterranean woodland. This is the realm of wine, where the landscape has been shaped by masterful agriculture.
Hidden among these valleys of vineyards and olive groves stands the Abbey of Sant’Antimo, a Romanesque gem and one of the most spiritual places in all of Tuscany. Set within a striking natural landscape, it offers peace and tranquillity to solo travellers.
If you would like to discover this side of the Val d’Orcia landscape in greater depth, explore its points of interest, and find practical information on when to visit and how to get there, see the section THE WINE LANDSCAPE OF THE VAL D’ORCIA: BETWEEN BRUNELLO AND CENTURIES-OLD OLIVE TREES.
The Municipalities of Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia: The UNESCO Heart of the Valley
Between Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia lies the most photographed and best-known side of the Val d’Orcia: a landscape of gentle, rolling hills, cypress trees lining white gravel roads, and timeless villages.
The two municipalities lie side by side, facing each other from opposite hilltops, and their entire territories are included within the Val d’Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park.
This is the picture-postcard Val d’Orcia—the landscape everyone imagines, the one that made the valley famous around the world and became the heart of the UNESCO area.
Hamlets and Historic Places in the Municipality of Pienza
The Municipality of Pienza covers 122.96 km² and lies entirely within the Val d’Orcia UNESCO Area. Monticchiello is the only village officially classified as a frazione of Pienza; however, several smaller localities and historic complexes are also found within the municipality. Here is the complete list.
- Monticchiello: My favourite village—a place of authenticity where time seems to stand still, with views towards Pienza and winding roads lined with cypress trees.
- Spedaletto: An ancient fortified castle and granary located along the SP53 road. Founded in the Middle Ages, it once provided a place of rest and shelter for pilgrims travelling along the Via Francigena. Today, it has become one of the valley’s most exclusive hotels while preserving the charm of its medieval architecture.
- Castelluccio: A small medieval castle standing on a hill about 10 kilometres from Pienza.
- Cosona: A castle located in the rural area of the same name within the Municipality of Pienza, along Provincial Road 71.
- Palazzo Massai: A historic palace and castle once owned by the Piccolomini family. Today, it is home to Bottega Verde, a well-known Italian cosmetics company.
WANT TO DISCOVER MORE OF THE VILLAGES OF THE CLASSIC VAL D’ORCIA? READ MY ARTICLE: VILLAGES OF THE CLASSIC VAL D’ORCIA: SECRETS AND INSIDER TIPS.
Hamlets in the Municipality of San Quirico d’Orcia
The Municipality of San Quirico d’Orcia shares the same landscape as Pienza, with gentle hills and panoramic white gravel roads. Its 42.12 km² territory includes the following hamlets and localities, all of which lie within the Val d’Orcia UNESCO Area:
- Bagno Vignoni: An ancient village where thermal waters have carved the rock and shaped the landscape. It is said to have been visited in the past by illustrious figures such as Lorenzo de’ Medici.
- Vignoni (also known as Castello di Vignoni): Perched on a panoramic hill overlooking Bagno Vignoni, this tiny medieval village is now almost uninhabited. It has preserved its ancient fortified layout, a distinctive truncated tower, and the small Romanesque Church of San Biagio.
- Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta: The famous late-Renaissance chapel flanked by cypress trees, set among the clay hills along the rural road leading to Pienza.
The Soul of the Landscape
The landscape stretching between Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia is defined by rolling hills that resemble gentle waves on a calm sea.
This is the most famous side of the Val d’Orcia: the iconic heart of the UNESCO area. Every year, hundreds of photographers and content creators come here to capture its essence in photographs and reels. But it is also the part of the valley that requires the most planning. People imagine exploring a dreamlike destination, yet few expect to deal with crowds, stressful parking, or the difficulty of finding a restaurant with an available table.
If you would like to discover the picture-postcard Val d’Orcia, explore this dedicated section for advice on the best time to visit and the main points of interest: THE CLASSIC VAL D’ORCIA: THE ICONIC HEART OF THE UNESCO AREA.
The Municipality of Radicofani: Panoramic Views and Wild Badlands
As you travel south, the gentle hills and wheat fields give way to wilder landscapes, deep canyons, and open pastures.
This is the most mysterious side of the Val d’Orcia, less familiar to tourists yet incredibly beautiful and fascinating.
The Municipality of Radicofani records very few births each year. Its residents share a strong sense of mutual trust, but unfortunately, it is also becoming a place that many young people leave behind, while more and more homes are gradually being converted into tourist accommodation.
Personally, I think it would be a wonderful place to live—especially for someone like me, who spends hours and hours working at a computer.
Hamlets in the Municipality of Radicofani
The Municipality of Radicofani lies entirely within the Val d’Orcia UNESCO Area. It covers approximately 118 km² and includes just one official hamlet.
- Contignano: A medieval gem set amid wild landscapes. Many people do not know that Pecorino di Pienza originated here, among the pastures and some of the area’s most important cheese dairies near the mountain, where Fattoria di Contignano continues this centuries-old tradition to this day.
Elsewhere in the rural countryside and along the valley floor, you will find smaller settlements, historic staging posts, and former customs stations connected to the historic Via Francigena:
- Casanova, La Palazzina, and Le Conie: Rural settlements and historic farmsteads scattered across the clay hills surrounding the hilltop fortress of Radicofani. They perfectly represent the “agricultural cultural landscape”—isolated farmhouses, white gravel roads, and badlands—celebrated by Renaissance painters and protected today as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Castelvecchio: A very old historic estate located along the valleys of the Formone and Orcia rivers, near the municipality’s northern boundary. Although part of the area is also designated as a wooded nature reserve, it is protected under the conservation measures of the Park’s UNESCO Management Plan.
The Soul of the Landscape
The landscape is defined by deep canyons, wide valleys, and open pastures.
The village of Radicofani stands on a promontory of dark volcanic rock that, 1.3 million years ago, was part of an active volcano.
From its Fortress, you can admire one of the most spectacular views in the entire Val d’Orcia. Exploring this landscape—with its historical and natural treasures, including the village of Contignano, the romantic Bosco Isabella, and the legendary route of the Via Francigena—means immersing yourself in the most authentic and untamed side of the Val d’Orcia.
If you would like to discover all the distinctive features of this area and find out the best time to explore it, see this section: THE PRIMORDIAL VAL D’ORCIA: THE VOLCANIC CLIFF AMID LUNAR LANDSCAPES.
The Municipality of Castiglione d’Orcia: Between River Gorges and Mount Amiata
A landscape of volcanic rock, the gorges of the Orcia River, and wild forests. This is the volcanic side of the Val d’Orcia, shaped by Mount Amiata when it was still active.
The Municipality of Castiglione d’Orcia stretches across the slopes of Mount Amiata and includes several medieval villages, as well as the Ripa d’Orcia Nature Reserve and the Parco del Vivo.
Despite its proximity to the classic Val d’Orcia, tourism here is less intense and prices are slightly lower. The area is also cooler, making it an ideal base for exploring the landscapes between the Val d’Orcia and Mount Amiata.
Hamlets in the Municipality of Castiglione d’Orcia
The Municipality of Castiglione d’Orcia covers an area of 141.7 km², with medieval villages and mountain landscapes.
HAMLETS WITHIN THE UNESCO AREA
- Bagni San Filippo: A historic thermal village surrounded by the forests of Mount Amiata, famous for its sulphurous springs and spectacular natural limestone formations.
- Campiglia d’Orcia: An ancient fortified village perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Val d’Orcia and the western slopes of Mount Amiata.
- Gallina: A small rural settlement along the Via Francigena, historically linked to the passage of pilgrims and travellers on their way to Rome.
- Rocca d’Orcia: A picturesque medieval village dominated by the Rocca di Tentennano, one of the most iconic and panoramic fortifications in the Val d’Orcia.
- Vivo d’Orcia: A mountain hamlet surrounded by chestnut and beech forests, which developed around the springs of the Vivo River on the northern slopes of Mount Amiata.
SMALL RURAL SETTLEMENTS WITHIN THE UNESCO AREA
- Belvedere: A small settlement in a panoramic location on the slopes of Mount Amiata, offering sweeping views across the Val d’Orcia.
- Monte Amiata Scalo: A settlement that developed around the railway station on the Asciano–Monte Antico line, historically an important connection between Mount Amiata and the Val d’Orcia.
- Montieri: A tiny rural settlement in the higher reaches of the municipality, surrounded by the forests of Mount Amiata.
- Poggio Rosa: A rural settlement on the hills south of the main town, characterized by the typical agricultural landscape of the Val d’Orcia.
- Ripa d’Orcia: An ancient fortified medieval village dominated by its castle, overlooking the valley and surrounded by one of the most distinctive landscapes of the Val d’Orcia.
The Soul of the Landscape
While the classic Val d’Orcia was shaped by human hands and erosion, here the main forces were the Orcia River and Mount Amiata, an ancient extinct volcano. This side of the Val d’Orcia is dominated by dense forests, which thrive on fertile soil rich in volcanic minerals.
To find your way around this part of the valley, you need to leave behind the idea of straight roads along the valley floor and adjust to a landscape that unfolds vertically.
Castiglione d’Orcia and Rocca d’Orcia act as vast panoramic balconies, offering spectacular views of the classic hills of Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia from a completely different perspective.
If you would like to discover more about this area, read this section: THE WILD VAL D’ORCIA: AMONG FORESTS, DEEP GORGES AND VOLCANIC ROCK.
The Buffer Zones: What Are They and Which Places Do They Include?
The Val d’Orcia UNESCO World Heritage Site covers an official total area of 66,848.04 hectares. This vast territory is divided into two distinct levels of protection designed to safeguard the landscape and preserve its integrity: the Core Zone, mentioned earlier, and the Buffer Zones.
- The North/North-West Area (Buonconvento Sector): Protects views towards the Ombrone Valley and the northern part of the Crete Senesi.
- The North-East/East Area (Pienza and San Quirico Sector): Safeguards the transition between landscapes and the ridgelines connecting the Val d’Orcia with the Val di Chiana.
- The Southern Area (Radicofani Sector): Includes transitional areas extending towards the slopes of Mount Amiata and the southern boundary of the Province of Siena.
- The Western Area (Montalcino and Castiglione d’Orcia Sector): Protects the wooded slopes and views opening towards the Maremma and the Mount Amiata massif.
Through this configuration, the Buffer Zone serves as a complementary area of protection around the Core Zone, helping to preserve the historic relationship between the agricultural landscape of the Val d’Orcia and the surrounding territory. Its main purpose is to ensure that future changes do not compromise the visual character and integrity of the cultural landscape recognized by UNESCO.
Quali sono i borghi e le aree della Val d'Orcia geografica esclusi dall'UNESCO
- Montenero d’Orcia (Frazione di Castel del Piano – GR): uno splendido borgo che sorge su una collina dominando la riva sinistra del fiume. Condivide la morfologia a calanchi e la vicinanza ai vigneti della vicina sponda protetta del comune di Montalcino. Visivamente è la vera e propria “porta” della valle verso il mare, un avamposto storico che produce la DOCG Montecucco (perfetta gemella del Brunello per clima e terra) ma ignorato da Parigi.
- Montegiovi (Frazione di Castel del Piano – GR): un antico borgo collinare situato a ridosso della sponda grossetana del fiume Orcia. Si sviluppa come una piccola roccaforte medievale immersa negli oliveti secolari e nei filari, un balcone naturale che guarda le colline senesi della Core Zone senza poterne fare parte per motivi burocratici.
- La fascia rurale del Comune di Cinigiano (GR): un territorio agricolo di questo comune accompagna l’ultimo tratto del corso del fiume prima della confluenza nell’Ombrone e quindi è a tutti gli effetti parte della valle dell’Orcia. Questa terra d’argilla e poderi isolati è a tutti gli effetti parte della valle dell’Orcia dal punto di vista naturale e agricolo, ma totalmente esclusa dalle linee di tutela internazionali.
The images, titles, and content are original works by Samantha Travel Designer. They are expressly protected by copyright and may not be copied or reproduced. © 2026 Samantha Travel Designer. All rights reserved.
This article is part of my Val d’Orcia-Lands: A Tuscany Insider’s Guide, where I share the valley through my own eyes. Inside, you will find maps, panoramic coordinates, Google Maps itineraries, villages, landscapes, travel tips, and photography advice. I would also like to point out that almost all the photographs featured on my blog were taken by me during my scouting trips, using a Canon DSLR camera, an iPhone 15, an Honor Magic5, and a DJI Neo drone. For the sake of transparency, I have chosen not to use editing software to retouch them or AI to enhance them. Any images that have been modified are clearly identified, with full details provided both in their captions and in this information section.
Sources and Licenses for the Featured Image
The reference links for the photograph of Castiglione d’Orcia included in the collage are:
- Official file page: CastiglioneDOrciaCampigliaDOrciaPanaroma3.JPG
- Author profile: LigaDue
- International license text: CC BY 3.0 .
- Modification notes: The original work was modified by adding graphic borders and incorporating it into a collage composition.
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