The Chiana Valley
The Val di Chiana (or Valdichiana) is an alluvial valley in central Italy, which belongs to the provinces of Arezzo and Siena, in Tuscany, and between those of Perugia and Terni, in Umbria. Nowadays, the Val di Chiana is growing significantly as tourist presence. If tourism involves towns as Arezzo, Cortona, Chiusi and Montepulciano, the historic and artistic interest of many other local centers (not only the chief town) has also moved to new destinations. Remarkable fact is the recent tourist influx in Castiglion Fiorentino, Lucignano, Foiano della Chiana, Monte San Savino (and in his famous town’s castle Gargonza), San Casciano dei Bagni, Castiglione del Lago, Sinalunga, Trequanda, Torrita di Siena, Città della Pieve and Monteleone d’Orvieto, which has resulted in a significant increase in hotel establishments. Moreover Castiglion Fiorentino, Lucignano, Montefollonico (in the town of Torrita di Siena), Montepulciano, Città della Pieve Trequanda have been awarded the orange flag from the Italian Touring Club. Tourism is projected into the country side itself. There are so many people who decide to spend one or more days walking outside (trekking), riding a horse (hippo-trekking) and mountain biking. Inevitable also the development of farm houses, holiday homes, apartments dedicated to tourism and becoming numerous in Val di Chiana. In the “Agruturismo†there are a lot of educational, sporting, rural, cultural or recreational activities. All this in order to capture the specificity of the area (food and wine, history, crafts, nature, art, archeology) that have characterized the Val di Chiana for centuries.