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Wednesday, March 21, 2018

San Quirico d'Orcia - Bagno Vignoni

After our epic walk to Montalcino, we had a rest day even though the weather was okay.  So on our last day we ended up walking in the rain to Bagno Vignoni on the Via Francigena. 

Bagno Vignoni is a tiny village with a natural hot pool for a piazza.  It is quite a sight to see.  Once again in this brave new world every place has to find their niche.  Bagno Vignoni is right above the Orcia River.  So on the fifth day we finally see the river the valley is named for.  Right on the other side of the river, the Via became a track going steeply up Castiglione d'Orcia, given the rain, the mud, and the climb, we turned around, and walked back to San Quirico in the rain.

We had allotted ourselves five nights (a relatively long time for us) in the Orcia valley for walking. we have not been disappointed, in spite of the rain.  The rolling green valley are particularly captivating to us.  The inclement weather made them all the more dramatic.

On our rest day we walked around San Quirico. Nice town. Here's one of the city gates.
San Quirico d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy

The Collegiate Church.
San Quirico d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy

Inside a small church.
San Quirico d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy

In a moment of exuberance I execute a selfie. ;-)
In San Quirico, Italy

The Fortress is now a public garden.
San Quirico d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy

Getting started on the walk to Bagno Vignoni. Yuck!
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

The creative signposts for the Via Francigena give us some cheer.
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

Our goal was the tower in the distance, the Rocca d'Orcia, but we only made as far as the Baths ie the Bagno Vignoni.
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

We spot the baths just below us while the Roca looms on the other side of the valley.
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

There's not another piazza like this in Italy. We had some lunch under the arcaded end, dried off some, and took a zillion pics. ;-)
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

[FYI: @Kathy. you are right. no soaking in the piazza. you can "take the waters" either at the adjacent hotel or at the full-blown spa nestled a few hundred meters out-of-view. PS the waters were warmer than my hand but not as hot as i like my shower....Thanks for the inciteful comment! I should add this exchange to the blog post. -john]

Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

Finally we see the River Orcia raging below - it's the chalk-colored water. The clear pool is not the river.
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

Looking down on the Orcia from the pedestrian bridge.
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

We were able to lower the umbrellas for a few minutes..
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

From just on the other side of the river we had a good look back at the spot where the hot springs fall over the cliff. It was the site of a complex of mills in Roman times.
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

Retracing our route to San Quirico we just had to walk by Bagno Vignoni one more time.
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

This is a good shot of the spa hotel that is right on the piazza.
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

Just about the whole piazza.
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

The walk back and one last look at the Roca.
Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy

Walking to Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany, Italy










2 comments:

Kathy said...

Love the drowned piazza! I take it you can soak in the waters in the hotel but not the piazza??

Glad you are enjoying yourselves despite the weather - sooner you than me. It actually snowed here today - very pretty, lasted about an hour - all melted in nothing flat.

john said...

@Kathy. you are right. no soaking in the piazza. take the waters either at the adjacent hotel or at full-blown spa nestled a few hundred meters out-ot-view. PS the waters were warmer than my hand but not as hot as i like my shower....Thanks for the inciteful comment! I should add this exchange to the blog post. -john

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