THE SIENESE CRETE

This is an interesting journey through one of the most celebrated landscapes in the province. The Crete are a sea of greyish waves not  softened by woods or trees to be found just outside Siena when driving towards the south. Here, along the via Cassia, overlapping the ancient via Francigena, we find the XIVth century  beautiful walls of Buonconvento known for an interesting Sacred Art museum  and a museum dedicated to sharecropping . From here we climb to the Abbey of  Monte  Oliveto Major dramatically set at the edge of a steep slope of clay. This is one of the most well known and visited monuments in Tuscany thanks to its artistic heritage. The frescoes in the chiostro grande , the inlaid choir or the library are something not to be missed. San Giovanni d’Asso is the capital of truffles. The village castle is now the first museum in Italy  dedicated to these noble bulbs. Asciano is the most important town in the Crete area with its interesting Romanesque church and Archaeological and Art museum. Going back to Siena we drive through the via delle Crete to take with us the last but most intriguing  and magic view upon such an extraordinary territory:  all but neglected.