The Nature Train, Treno Natura, is back in an autumnal edition. On September 13th it kicks off with two different trips. The morning one, leaving from Siena at 8.15 am, is the “Spa Train” and will cross the Crete Senesi, the area of Montalcino’s Brunello and the Val d’Orcia Park to arrive at Asciano at 9 am. Here the train picks up other passengers and moves onto Monte Antico, with some stops in between for photographs. With a round trip it gets back to Asciano at 11.30 where passengers will be boarded on a bus and taken to the spas of the Terme di Rapolano. Here one can enjoy the benefits of the thermal waters until 5.30 pm when the bus picks everyone up and takes them back to the train. Arrival in Siena at 6.40 pm.
Another train leaves on September 13th from Asciano at 12 pm. This one promises “The sweet beauty of ancient landscapes” and will transport passengers through the Crete Senesi, the Brunello vineyards and the Val d’Orcia, with strategic stops for shots, until Monte Antico where everyone can capture the typical Tuscan landscape with cypress trees and vineyards. On Sunday 20th September there will again be two trains. At 8.15 am one train leaves Siena to explore the moonlike scenario of the Crete Senesi, with Asciano and Trequanda as destinations, while the other leaves Asciano at noon taking passengers to an appointment with a trekking tour at Monte Antico and Torrenieri. On the 27th, instead, a train leaves Siena at 8.50 am directed to Buonconvento, and more specifically its Valdarbia Festival, where passengers will have 5 hours to visit the stalls and taste some of the local products as well as roam the medieval village’s streets and visit both the Museum of Sacred Art and that of Sharecropping.
On October 11th a train leaves Siena at 8.50 am for Mount Amiata where at Vivo d’Orcia visitors will participate in the Porcino Mushroom Festival. There will be many delicious local dishes to taste and also the possibility of a nice visit of this lovely village. Another visit to Mount Amiata will be on October 18th. This time passengers will be taken to visit Abbadia San Salvatore where they can stop over at the Mining Museum, visit the old town centre and the abbey and also go to the Autumn Party and taste some roasted chestnuts doused with red Tuscan wine.
The Nature Train on Sunday 25th October will be leaving Siena at 8.50 am and travelling to Asciano where the Autumn market will await visitors. There will be 5 hours at disposal to visit the town, see its towers and nose around the market stalls offering a wide selection of organic products from nearby farms as well as local handcraft. On November 8th, instead the train will be smelling of truffles as it leaves Siena at 8.50 am and reaches San Giovanni d’Asso at 11.40 am, after various stops for photographic shots. Here passengers will visit the Truffle Fair, the town castle and also have the possibility to taste other local produce on show. This visit will also be repeated on the 15th, since the White Truffle Fair is traditionally held on the second and third weekend of the month of November, but this time leaving from, and returning to, Grosseto.
In December, the train will be leaving Grosseto for Siena on the 6th to visit its “Mercato nel Campo”, the market held in Piazza del Campo. Here it will be possible to taste some of Siena’s local products and dishes as well as see its handicrafts. The last Nature Train of the season leaves Siena for San Quirico d’Orcia on the 8th. Here the Olive Oil Festival will be awaiting visitors with various events and obviously some olive oil tastings.
Certainly an Autumn full of Nature’s best sceneries, products and flavours.