After leaving San Quirico d’Orcia, just a few kilometers off the permanent route, a stop at the picturesque Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta, framed by two rows of cypress trees, is well worth it. You’ll be immersed in the famous wheat fields beneath the Pieve di Corsignano, the iconic filming location for Gladiator. Halfway between the medieval village of San Quirico d’Orcia and the splendid thermal center of Bagno Vignoni lies Vignoni Alto, offering breathtaking views of the UNESCO-listed Val d’Orcia. The route descends into Bagno Vignoni, a village built around a large rectangular thermal pool, where warm spring waters have attracted visitors since the Middle Ages, including such notable figures as Saint Catherine of Siena and Lorenzo de’ Medici.

Points of interest: Bagno Vignoni - Parco dei Mulini, Vignoni Alto, Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta.