Sacred art, truffles, the history of sharecropping: all the museums to visit starting from our farmhouse Podere Salicotto
Are you planning your holidays in Tuscany too?
Whether you are planning to return or have never heard of them, the Crete Senesi will leave an indelible mark in your memory. Here you will find a wonderful and unspoiled nature, with lunar landscapes that will make you rediscover the true soul of Tuscany. Postcards in the open air, landscapes painted in such pure colors that, we are sure, you will not easily forget. But the Crete Senesi are not just nature, relaxation and landscapes. Here is a small guide on the most interesting museums in the area, starting from Podere Salicotto, our farmhouse in the heart of the Crete Senesi.
To understand and learn more about the history and traditions of these lands, discover the most interesting museums of the Crete Senesi!
Sacred Art of Asciano: Palazzo Corboli Museum
Our first two stops lead us to Asciano, one of the symbolic villages of the Val d’Orcia and an obligatory stop for lovers of sacred art. In a village where time seems to be suspended, here is our first stop: Palazzo Corboli and its allegorical frescoes are the first wonders to be admired. In the year of its twentieth anniversary, inside the museum you will find a very rich selection of sacred art with numerous sculptures, sacred furnishings and paintings of the Sienese Baroque. In the Archaeological Section the kits from the Etruscan necropolis await you, a population who after visiting the Mediterranean chose this land to settle sedentarily. For more information click HERE.
Cassioli Museum
Also in Asciano, if you are interested in 19th century painting and sculpture, you cannot miss the Museum dedicated to the painters of Asciano, Amos Cassioli and his son Giuseppe. Sketches, photographs of the era, paintings, but also portraits and sculptures: here you will discover the art, life and history of two fundamental artists from the Crete Senesi and Tuscany. For more information click HERE.
Asciano will give you an authentic medieval atmosphere: walk through the alleys and take the opportunity to visit the Basilica of Sant’Agata, the Torre della Mencia, the Church of San Francesco. Finally, treat yourself to a tasty ice cream in front of the beautiful fountain located in Piazza del Grano.
Distance from Podere Salicotto: 20 km
Museum & Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore
One of the most fascinating places in the Crete Senesi that will combine your desire to relax with your love for art and history. To reach the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, walk along the avenue of cypresses and immerse yourself in this oasis of peace and tranquility, where time is marked by the singing of the Benedictine monks.
The church contains great masterpieces, such as the inlaid choir and the splendid frescoes that lead to the CloistersGranaries: they will leave you breathless with their vivid colors and richness of details. The large Benedictine library is worth a visit before entering the Archicenobio hall, which houses artifacts and treasures from a period of about three centuries (1300 AD – 1600 AD). Discover the crucifixes, the Madonnas with child and the exquisite watercolors before stopping at the cellar under the cloisters and tasting the products of the monks.
For more information click HERE and HERE.
Distance from Podere Salicotto: 11 km
Antica Grancia e dell’Olio (Antique Granary and Oil) Museum in Rapolano
Let’s move towards Rapolano, precisely to Serre di Rapolano where you will find another important testimony of the traditions of these lands. The Museum of Ancient Granary and Oil takes you into the world of oil by telling the story of these Granaries, storage centers for local materials (wheat, wine, oil). Built around 1200 AD. to supply the Sienese hospital, the Grancia di Serre shows you the history of the local community with an exclusive itinerary revolving around the cultivation and production of oil. Here you will also find an oil shop where you can buy oil from the main Sienese oil mills.
For more information click HERE.
In addition, upon leaving the museum you can take a nice stop at one of the spas of Rapolano Terme, where you can relax and watch the sunset from the thermal baths.
Distance from Podere Salicotto: 27,5 km
San Giovanni d’Asso and the diamond of the Crete Senesi: Truffle Museum
An exhibition spaced out over 250 square meters where you can learn in depth about the diamond of the Crete Senesi: the precious Truffle of San Giovanni d’Asso, a small and characteristic village nestled among these hills. Discover the legends, the sensory analyzes and the techniques for collecting and using this delicacy: you will be fascinated. Immerse yourself with the five senses in this unique sensory museum, one of its kind in Italy, and don’t forget to visit the hamlet itself to taste the truffles of the territory: Bianco Pregiato (November precious White Truffle), Bianchetto (or Marzuolo, March truffle) and Scorzone or Estivo (Summer Truffle).
Click HERE for more informations.
Distance from Podere Salicotto: 10 km
The story of sharecropping in the Museum of Buonconvento
The last museum on offer is less than 3 km from our Podere Salicotto farmhouse. A museum dedicated to the farming in the area with various old but still working machinery and interactive displays and videos showing old films from the area. Take the opportunity also to visit Buonconvento, one of the most characteristic villages in Italy where you will feel like you’ve stepped back in time: discover the medieval charm of this village while walking around and discover a special atmosphere in the streets full of flowers and craft shops. Find out all about Buonconvento HERE and HERE.
Distance from Podere Salicotto: 2,7km
Come and discover the charm of the Crete Senesi by staying at Podere Salicotto, in the heart of the Crete Senesi. Here you will find a garage equipped for the maintenance of your bikes if you love riding in nature and a fantastic salt water swimming pool, from which to admire the sunset while sipping a glass of wine from our open cellar h 24. Explore Tuscany with our tours, get excited and experience the Crete Senesi with us, we are waiting for you!
Discover our offers HERE.
