When we first started driving through Italy it wasn’t what we expected, albeit i’m not sure exactly what we did expect but it was much more built up than the idealistic images you see online would suggest. The roads were congested and compared to France it felt much less relaxed.
When we got to Tuscany I was expecting cypress trees, wineries and rolling hills but again, we didn’t see any of that. The sat nav took us straight to our accommodation with barely a cypress tree or vineyard in sight.
Not one to be deterred and after a day or so of finding our feet in the local area I started looking online for the best driving road in Italy… and exactly where we could find those illusive sweeping Cypress tree lined drives.
Research took me to the below route, 23KM along the SP146 from San Quirico d’Orcia to Montepulciano, stopping at Pienza along the way. 23km of pure bliss. This is where our holiday went from good… to WOW.
The route takes you through the heart of the Chianti region, known for breathtaking scenery and world class wine production.
The drive will take around 30 minutes and there’s plenty of pull in places along the way to stop for photos, so give yourself plenty of time.
You’ll pass some of the finest looking wineries in the region, most open to the public serving wine by the glass (specific recommendations to follow on another post).
As it turns out the entire Chianti region is absolutely beautiful, we’d just spent the first few days of our holiday looking in the wrong place!
Some photos to wet your appetite..
Just look at those trees… like a scene from the movies.
Feeling on top of the world…..
So what are you waiting for? Start exploring the best driving road in Italy.