Your Perfect Location to Explore Tuscany and Umbria
Day Trips from Sussurro in Montagna
While Sussurro in Montagna offers stillness and serenity, it also serves as an ideal launch point for discovery. From this peaceful perch above Cortona, guests can enjoy the quiet beauty of the countryside without sacrificing access to the region’s cultural riches. Here, the gentle hum of the wind through the olive trees pairs effortlessly with the excitement of a new adventure just down the road. Whether you're seeking art and architecture, wine and food, or nature and history, everything lies within reach - without the noise and crowds.
From our door, the storybook towns of Tuscany and Umbria unfold like pages in a timeless travel journal. Spend a morning savoring pecorino in the Renaissance elegance of Pienza, and by afternoon you could be sipping Brunello beneath the ramparts of Montalcino. Discover the sacred tranquility of Assisi one day, and the bold creative energy of Florence or Perugia the next. Each destination is a comfortable day trip, close enough to explore without rush, yet far enough to feel like a world apart. You’ll return each evening to the hush of the hills, with your senses full and your spirit renewed.
This central location is not just convenient—it’s transformational. Rather than unpacking and repacking across the region, you can immerse yourself fully in the rhythms of Tuscan life, waking each day with limitless options. Our guests often remark on the freedom they feel: the ability to design their stay as a blend of rest and exploration, without compromise. One day may be devoted to wine tasting along winding vineyard routes; the next, to wandering frescoed cathedrals or lounging lakeside with a book and a gelato.
At Sussurro in Montagna, you are not simply staying near Tuscany’s treasures - you are dwelling in their very heart. The sun rises over Cortona and sets behind Montepulciano; the road leads everywhere and always home again. It's this seamless balance, of access and escape, adventure and tranquility, that makes your time here so uniquely unforgettable.
Cortona – Just 15-20 Minutes from Sussurro in Montagna
Perched high above the Val di Chiana, Cortona exudes the warmth and soul of a quintessential Tuscan hilltown. Just a short 15-minute drive from Sussurro in Montagna, this ancient Etruscan settlement invites visitors to step back in time along its stone alleyways, ivy-covered facades, and lively piazzas. Its medieval walls wrap around a town where terracotta rooftops, Renaissance churches, and boutique shops all seem frozen in a perfect, golden moment.
Made famous by Frances Mayes' Under the Tuscan Sun, Cortona’s cinematic charm is just the beginning. Inside the 13th-century town hall, local life pulses in the square as residents gather over espresso and aperitivo. Cultural gems such as the MAEC (Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca) and the Diocesan Museum reveal Cortona's layered history, from ancient tombs to works by Fra Angelico. Wander past leather artisans, antique vendors, and local delicatessens offering truffle-infused salami and rich pecorino cheeses, perfect for a picnic overlooking the valley.
As the sun dips low, Cortona’s hilltop perch becomes an amphitheater for unforgettable sunsets. From the scenic terrace of Piazza Garibaldi, gaze out across a patchwork of vineyards, olive groves, and Lake Trasimeno in the distance. Whether you visit for a romantic dinner, an afternoon of shopping, or a slow walk beneath cypress-lined paths, Cortona always feels like coming home to the heart of Tuscany.
Montepulciano – 30 Minutes from Sussurro in Montagna
Montepulciano is a hilltop Renaissance marvel wrapped in vineyards and steeped in elegance. Just 30 minutes from Sussurro in Montagna, this town is best known for its world-class red wine, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, but it offers far more than just a stellar vintage. Enter through the dramatic Porta al Prato and begin your climb through centuries of stone palazzos, artisan wine cellars, and sweeping views that make every step a delight.
At the summit, Piazza Grande commands attention with its perfectly preserved architecture - the Palazzo Comunale, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, and a backdrop that’s been used in films like Twilight: New Moon. Beneath your feet, ancient Etruscan caves now serve as atmospheric wine vaults. Many are open to the public, offering tastings in candlelit chambers carved from volcanic rock. Sip as you listen to the stories of generations of winemakers who’ve tended these hills for centuries.
A visit to Montepulciano isn’t complete without indulging in its regional cuisine - pici pasta with wild boar ragù, local truffle dishes, or a simple platter of pecorino and honey. Whether you’re strolling through the weekly market or joining a cooking class in a vineyard farmhouse, you’ll find yourself swept up in the town’s slow rhythm, where every meal, glass, and view is a celebration of Tuscan life.
Pienza & Val d'Orcia – 1 Hour from Sussurro in Montagna
Pienza, often referred to as the “ideal city of the Renaissance,” is a vision realized in stone. Located just an hour from Sussurro in Montagna, this perfectly proportioned town was redesigned in the 15th century by Pope Pius II to reflect humanist ideals of harmony and beauty. With its honey-colored architecture, cobbled lanes, and panoramic balconies overlooking the Val d’Orcia, Pienza feels like a dream gently unfolding.
The town is most famously known for pecorino di Pienza, a sheep’s milk cheese aged in caves, wine barrels, or walnut leaves. Wander through the main street - Corso Rossellino, and the air is perfumed with hints of cheese, fresh bread, and truffle. Artisanal shops showcase hand-cut linens, olive wood wares, and Tuscan ceramics. Pause for a glass of wine in one of the charming piazzas, or stroll down Via dell’Amore for romantic views across the rolling hills of Val d’Orcia.
The Val d'Orcia itself, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape, surrounds Pienza with picture-perfect countryside, wheat fields, cypress-lined ridges, and medieval farmhouses dot the horizon like a painting come to life. Whether you're driving the winding Strada Provinciale 146 or cycling through sleepy hamlets like San Quirico d’Orcia and Bagno Vignoni, every curve reveals a new marvel. It’s a place that quiets the mind and ignites the senses, inviting travelers to slow down, breathe deeply, and savor Tuscany at its most elemental.
Siena – 1 Hour 20 Minutes from Sussurro in Montagna
Step into a living medieval masterpiece in Siena, just an hour and 20 minutes from Sussurro in Montagna. Famous for its dramatic horse race, Il Palio, and its shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, Siena is a city that wears its history boldly. The moment you enter through its gates, the earthy tones of sienese stone, narrow alleys, and Gothic flair envelop you in a world that feels untouched by time.
Siena’s spiritual and architectural heart is the Duomo di Siena, an awe-inspiring cathedral of striped marble, intricate mosaics, and sculptures by Donatello and Michelangelo. Climb the Facciatone for panoramic views or wander the quieter backstreets to discover local osterias serving hearty dishes like wild boar pappardelle and ribollita. Every turn holds a surprise, an ancient well, a tucked-away courtyard, or an artisan brushing gold leaf onto hand-painted ceramics.
Despite its grandeur, Siena retains a deeply human scale. Locals still belong to centuries-old neighborhood contrade (districts), each with its own identity, flag, and fierce pride. During festival time, drums echo through the stone corridors, and the air vibrates with pageantry. Whether you visit during the Palio or during quieter months, Siena invites you to linger, to listen, and to lose yourself in its layered soul.
Florence – 1 Hour 45 Minutes from Sussurro in Montagna
Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, is a city that lives and breathes art, architecture, and timeless beauty. Just an hour and 45 minutes from Sussurro in Montagna, it offers an exhilarating contrast to the quiet hills, a day trip that whisks you from rural serenity to cultural brilliance. The skyline alone, crowned by Brunelleschi’s red-tiled Duomo, stirs the soul before you’ve even stepped out of the car.
Inside the city’s historic center, masterpieces line every street. Gaze upon Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and da Vinci’s sketches in museums like the Uffizi and Accademia. Cross the Arno via the Ponte Vecchio, a bridge of goldsmiths and history, and ascend to Piazzale Michelangelo for a panoramic view that captures the city's majesty in a single glance. Florence is a place where the past is always present - alive in marble, canvas, and shadowed stone.
Beyond the grandeur, there’s an intimate side to Florence waiting to be discovered. Sip an espresso in a tucked-away piazza, browse hand-bound leather journals or silk scarves made by fourth-generation artisans, or dine in a candlelit osteria where the bistecca fiorentina is grilled to perfection. Whether you come for the art, the fashion, the food, or the feeling, Florence is a city that leaves its mark, elegant, enduring, and always worth the journey.
Montalcino – 1 Hour 20 Minutes from Sussurro in Montagna
The proud hilltop fortress town of Montalcino rises over vineyards like a sentinel of flavor and history. Just an hour and 20 minutes from Sussurro in Montagne, this village is best known as the birthplace of Brunello di Montalcino, one of Italy’s most revered red wines. But its allure runs deeper, with timeless streets, a commanding castle, and a landscape that glows golden under the Tuscan sun.
Begin at the Fortezza di Montalcino, a 14th-century fortress where you can sip Brunello on the ramparts while gazing out across the Val d’Orcia and Crete Senesi. Meander down into the town’s historic core, where enotecas and family-run osterias offer guided tastings and pairings with aged prosciutto, hand-rolled pasta, and earthy mushroom dishes. The wines here are complex, powerful, and meant to age - much like the town itself.
Montalcino is also a center of quiet elegance. Visit the 12th-century Abbey of Sant’Antimo, tucked in a nearby valley, where Gregorian chants still echo in the Romanesque halls. Whether you're touring wineries on sun-drenched backroads or enjoying a long lunch under vine-draped pergolas, Montalcino invites you into a refined rhythm of life, sophisticated, grounded, and unforgettable.
Assisi – 1 Hour 30 Minutes from Sussurro in Montagna
A spiritual beacon on the Umbrian horizon, Assisi is the birthplace of Saint Francis and a town where stone and sky seem to converse. Just 1 hour and 30 minutes from Sussurro in Montagna, Assisi is not only a destination, it is an experience of peace and pilgrimage, set atop rolling hills that glow pink in the afternoon light.
At its heart lies the Basilica di San Francesco, a masterpiece of medieval architecture and devotion, adorned with frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue. As you walk the quiet streets, from the flower-filled Via San Francesco to the Roman Temple of Minerva, you’ll feel an atmosphere of calm reverence. Assisi’s layers reveal ancient Roman ruins, Gothic churches, and secluded monasteries tucked among olive groves.
But Assisi isn’t only for the devout - it’s for anyone seeking beauty, meaning, or inspiration. The town hosts music and literary festivals, and the local cuisine is pure Umbrian comfort: black truffle pasta, lentil soup, and robust red wines. Whether you're lighting a candle in a quiet chapel or watching swallows dance above the rooftops at sunset, Assisi offers space for contemplation and joy in equal measure.
Perugia – 1 Hour 15 Minutes from Sussurro in Montagna
Just over the border in Umbria and only 1 hour and 15 minutes away lies Perugia, a city of soaring views, artistic treasures, and layers of intrigue. Known for its chocolate, jazz, and university culture, Perugia feels both ancient and alive - a hilltown with a cosmopolitan soul. Walled and watchful atop a ridge, it invites exploration beyond the usual Tuscan routes.
Begin your visit at the Piazza IV Novembre, where the Fontana Maggiore splashes beneath the imposing Palazzo dei Priori and the Gothic Cathedral of San Lorenzo. Inside, the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria holds works by Perugino, Pinturicchio, and Fra Angelico. But perhaps the real joy of Perugia is found underground, literally, within the preserved medieval streets and Etruscan arches buried beneath the city’s modern bustle. Riding the unique mini-metro between ancient quarters offers a quirky and scenic way to traverse its hills.
Perugia's energy is youthful and creative. Whether you're browsing boutique shops, tasting artisanal chocolates at Eurochocolate Festival, or sipping a spritz during the famed Umbria Jazz Festival, you’ll feel the city’s pulse. At once mysterious and welcoming, Perugia is a place of unexpected contrasts, a perfect day trip for guests looking to enrich their Tuscan experience with a taste of Umbria's depth and delight.
Lake Trasimeno – 35 Minutes from Sussurro in Montagne
Just 35 minutes away, Lake Trasimeno offers a tranquil escape where water meets the hills of Umbria. Italy’s fourth-largest lake feels like a secret haven - serene, sun-drenched, and dotted with olive groves and tiny fishing villages. It’s the perfect day trip for those seeking nature, leisure, or a quiet moment by the water.
Begin in Passignano sul Trasimeno, where colorful boats bob in the harbor and a medieval fortress watches over the lake. Rent a bicycle and explore the lakeside path, or take a ferry to Isola Maggiore, a timeless island of lace makers, cypress trees, and Franciscan history. On calm days, the lake becomes a mirror of the sky, ideal for kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply dipping your toes at one of its pebble beaches.
Lake Trasimeno is also a culinary treasure. Taste local specialties like tegamaccio, a savory fisherman’s stew, or grilled lake perch drizzled with lemon and local olive oil. Many lakeside trattorias serve meals right on the water’s edge, where you can dine while the sun sets behind the hills, casting a golden glow across the rippling surface. It’s here that Tuscany and Umbria meet—in flavor, in beauty, and in a slower, sweeter way of life.