Discovering the Formal Italian gardens of the Val d'Orcia

Among the travellers to our territory there are many lovers of nature and gardens. Spring is the ideal time to visit because flowers are at their most beautiful and nature is waking up after the long winter.

One of the most beautiful and famous gardens, located only 10km from Villa Poggiano, is the Garden of La Foce (www.lafoce.com). It is an Italian garden designed by the landscape architect Cecil Pinset between 1925 and 1939. The garden is divided into geometric “rooms" by boxwood hedges, and it is located in front of the historical villa belonging to the Origo family. A path through the forest connects the garden to the family cemetery and it is considered one of the best creations of the architect Pinset.

One of his other creations is the famous road of cypress trees, which has become one of the symbols of Tuscany. Another example of an Italian garden is the garden of Pope Pius II in Pienza, which has an incredible view of the Val d’ Orcia and mount Amiata (www.palazzopiccolomini.it). The square garden is subdivided in geometric forms by boxwood hedges, with a rose garden at its centre. The garden is bordered by a wall with three arched windows with a view of the val’ d`Orcia.

Another small but delicious garden is in San Quirico d’Orcia. Named Horti Leonini (www.comunesanquirico.it), it is a Renaissance garden by Diomede Leoni.