San Quirico - Walking the Vitaleta Chapel loop

The Val d'Orcia (the valley of the River Orcia) is a place of outstanding natural beauty in Tuscany and our reason for being in San Quirico is so that we can walk some of the trails.

It was reasonably busy today with many people riding electric bikes but the numbers actually hiking the whole trail were few. The church bells were tolling 11 am when we set off from the Cappuccini Gate and walked a short distance on the main road until we came to the familar red and white signage.

Within minutes of setting off on the path the scenery became spectacular.

We did encounter some rough tracks, some narrow ones and even some mud, but nothing to compare with last year's Lucca to Siena Via Francigena walk.

First glimpse of the Vitaleta Chapel was enticing and drove us up the last steep climb.

The original chapel was built on this spot after it became a place where miracles occurred, then a more substantial chapel was built in the 1500s. An Andrea della Robbia statue of the Virgin Mary was placed in the chapel in 1533. In 1861 it was moved to the Collegiata Church in San Quirico for safe keeping.

In 1885 the chapel was restored and redesigned by Guiseppi Partini and it was he who gave the Vitaleta Chapel its simple yet impressive design. It has become one of the most beautiful spots in the Val d'Orcia. 

In 2021 the current owner of the property did more restoration work. The original Madonna is now in the Chiesa di San Francesco in San Quirico and the Chapel has a photo of the original ceramic.

A delightful place for a light lunch is available and we took the opportunity to sit, eat and drink, and enjoy the amazing scenery. A foccaccia with fennel salami hit the spot for two hungry walkers.

The route took us behind the chapel and off on a strada bianca (a white road synonymous with this area). 

We had good views of Pienza.

An unusual flower, a wild tassell grape hyacinth.

Radicofani with the tower and Mount Amiata behind.

We arrived back in town as the church bells were tolling 4 pm. We walked about  12 kms but we spent a lot of time taking photos, enjoying lunch, admiring the views and on the home run, encouraging the legs to keep going.