San Quirico d'Orcia is in the heart of Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia region, which is the bit of Tuscany known especially for its gently undulating hills peaked by tall Mediterranean Cypress trees. It is an ancient, fortified settlement, and an old important stop on the Via Francigena, which was the road connecting northern Europe to Rome during the medieval period. San Quirico d'Orcia probably hasn’t grown a great deal since this period; it’s still a charming, condensed collection of narrow streets, medieval walls with grand gates, stone villas and churches — with just the right number of restaurants, cafes and shops. Visitors will find some of the best places to stay in San Quirico d'Orcia within and around the town’s medieval walls, but there are some magically peaceful picks in the picturesque hills just outside town.

San Quirico d'Orcia is very conveniently positioned between perfectly rebuilt Renaissance Pienza, and wine-lovers' dreams Montepulciano and Montalcino. You’re also under an hour away from Siena, and about an hour from Arezzo, making the best places to stay in San Quirico d'Orcia excellent picks for anyone planning to explore the charms of southern Tuscany.

San Quirico d'Orcia is a quintessential Tuscan town. Ideal for foodies, each December San Quirico d'Orcia hosts a regional Olive Oil Festival, and the town has a small but excellent collection of restaurants, perfect for long, leisurely lunches. It is also a wonder for architecture lovers, painters, photographers, and walkers. It is small, though, you can walk between the two Romanesque churches at either end of the town within a few minutes. The best places to stay in San Quirico d'Orcia are really well matched to those seeking an authentic Tuscan escape.

The Best Places to Stay in San Quirico d'Orcia

For a Tuscan Escape

• Il Rigo is a classic example of the Tuscan country house, set on a rounded hill, up a drive lined with Cypress trees. Up close you can see the rosey Tuscan stone, and green shutters, and inside there are exposed wooden beams, terracotta tiled floors and windows overlooking vine-covered terraces. The decor is simple and rustic in the 13 rooms and suites, and in the restaurant and kitchen — where they host cooking classes. The land around the villa is still a working farm and supplies most of the produce on the tables.

For Romantics

• Palazzo del Capitano is 15th century Tuscan palazzo, surrounded by beautiful gardens bubbling with fountains, and set just behind the walls of San Quirico d'Orcia. This is a large villa with 22 rooms and suites, some with spa baths for two, some with mezzanine levels, or four-poster beds. There’s a cosy lounge with a vaulted stone ceiling, and a larger space for the restaurant, which also has a beautiful original ceiling. The hotel has open fireplaces where you need them, and a fantastic wine cellar. Its more contemporary facilities include a spa and a gym. 

Prefer a Private Apartment or Villa?

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Travel Information

• If you’re planning to travel to San Quirico d'Orcia by air the closest airport to look at is Florence Airport, Amerigo Vespucci, which is about an hour and a half away by car or taxi, or about three hours by bus, and four and a half by rail. Pisa Airport is Tuscany’s largest, so it’s also worth considering, it’s around two and a half hours away by car or taxi, about four hours by bus, or about four and a half by rail. Both Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport and Bologna Airport are also worth looking at if you have good local connections at your home end. Both are a bit over two hours away by car or taxi, and four or five hours by public transport. It’s very possible to arrive by rail, and most journeys will route via Florence.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• San Quirico d'Orcia is busiest in early December, when visitors arrive for the annual Olive Oil Festival. It’s a very foodie affair, not just reserved for olive oil these days, but also a celebration of Tuscan produce more generally. Other than that the busiest time to visit San Quirico d'Orcia is during the summer months. In August many Italians take their summer holidays, and many of Italy’s international guests come at the end of June, through to August. San Quirico d'Orcia also hosts a contemporary sculpture exhibition between July and October. It’s hot in summer, though, with temperatures regularly hitting 30°C in July and August. So if you’re not tied into school holidays, our Gurus recommend you plan your visit for the shoulder seasons, May through to early June, or September/October. The tourist season in Tuscany starts in April and runs through until October in most centres. Easter in Italy is always colourful, as is Christmas.

Still not sure where to stay?

• You could expand your search to include all the best places to stay in Tuscany
• Refine by the type of hotel you’re looking for: the best wine hotels in Tuscany, the best hotels in rural Tuscany or the best family hotels in Tuscany
• Consider one of San Quirico d’Orcia’s neighbours: Montepulciano, Pienza, Cortona, or Arezzo
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.