Buonconvento, Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy (part 2)

March 25, 2019

Buonconvento, Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy (part 2)

After arriving in Monteroni d'Arbia and exploring on Friday, we were up early Saturday morning and ready for our tour! We headed south on SR2 to Buonconvento.

Buonconvento means "happy, lucky place" and we were so happy and so lucky to be there!
It is located where the Arbia and Ombrone Rivers converge and has for centuries been a stop for travelers along the Via Francigena. It is also part of the area known as Crete Senesi (Sienese clays) - which are made by "mattaione", a sediment of marine origin with a high mineral content, and are very distinctive of this area.

Buonconvento was an important center for trade and ironically, we arrived on market day! Booths of typical products from the area, clothes, and home goods lined a strip along the wall.
The construction of its walls began in 1371 and finished 12 years later - and we're rushing Trump to finish his wall!? 12 years guys! And this one is made of mighty stone!!! Not to mention the 8" door made of solid wood with iron reinforcements!

Inside the walls, we traveled back in time. Historic buildings line the street - so clean and so well kept! There are gorgeous streets with brick archways, narrow passageways, greenery, flower boxes, palaces, and civic buildings with Guelph battlements on them. Via Soccini is the main shopping street in the historic center, with boutiques, stores, restaurants and coffee bars to enjoy. The palazzi, houses and public buildings feature Gothic arched doorways, coats of arms, towers and other Middle Ages decorations. While it may be small and quickly explored, it filled our hearts BIG time!!

Photos below before heading to Montalcino... (part 3)