Lucignano d'Arbia

Lucignano d'Arbia is a beautiful fortified village, which has carefully kept much of its original medieval architecture. You're greeted at the Porta Senese, the gateway into town, by the old brick water well, where residents drew their daily water for centuries.

The tall solid brick tower, the Torre del Cassero, dates to the 13th century, as does the beautiful church of San Francesco; the church has a Gothic portal and frescoes by Bartolo di Fredi. The Pieve di San Giovanni Battista is Romanesque, with stone vaults and paintings.

Lucignano d'Arbia is compact and a pretty village to wander. Surrounding it are the postcard-like images of the Tuscan countryside with grape vines, rolling hills and cypress trees. Lucignano d'Arbia is south of Siena, on the road toward Buonconvento.