New appointment with the highly anticipated Discovering Tuscany. Also in this edition we went to discover unusual itineraries in Tuscany on board a Lamborghini supercar.
Punctual as always, he returns to the scene again this year Discovering Tuscanywhere we will discover one of the most beautiful Italian regions, la Tuscany precisely, with a “discovery” par excellence which will also be one for this sixth edition Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae.
A super custom-built cars with 780 horsepower and over half a million euros which will mark the history of the house of the bull, given that, as the name itself anticipates, it will be the last Lambo powered entirely by a combustion engine and what’s more a powerful 6,500 – V12!
It’s true that we take a little too much satisfaction with our Ultimae, but the project is conceived as a relaxing sightseeing tour to get to know some of the most enchanting villages more closely of a region which, among art, history, landscapes, wines and cuisine, is undoubtedly the most loved, and not only by Italians.
Our journey begins like this Montepulcianoin Valdichiana Senese, and then descend to Monticchiellopass by Pienza and conclude the journey a San Quirico d’Orciaright in the heart of the renowned valley whose name it bears.
The beginning of the adventure
Leaving from Montepulciano it means entering the heart of someone medieval city surrounded by vineyards and known for its Noble wine.
But Montepulciano is obviously much more than a great wine. This city, located in heart of the Valdichiana Senesewas baptized in the Medici era “pearl of the Renaissance”so named to highlight the richness of Renaissance buildings designed by the famous starchitects of the time: Michelozzo, Antonio da Sangallo, Baldassarre Peruzzi and Vignola which stylishly characterize its magnificent historic center where it stands out Big Squareset of many cinematographic films, and the Town Hall, in perfect Florentine style.
And the Renaissance and Florentine influences of Montepulciano are perfectly represented by the symbolic building of the city, the Town Hall completed in 1440 with the construction of the facade attributed to Michelozzoin the center of which stands the civic tower from which it is possible to admire the neighboring landscape that extends from the Val di Chiana to the Val d’Orciaincluding the lakes of Montepulciano, Chiusi and Trasimeno, up to the Apennine chain.
And whoever finds one strong resemblance to Palazzo Vecchio in Florence…you certainly guessed right! Just outside the city lies the “Temple of San Biagio” solemn and harmonious travertine construction by Sangallo.
And after having paraded all these architectural wonders with our Lambo we take the road that leads us to the smallest of the four villageshowever, what makes us enjoy the most in terms of the car’s handling.
Finally we take a series of curves and hairpin bends outlined by rows of cypressesit almost looks like the set of a film, it is so perfect as a setting, and to unleash the The Ultimae’s 780 horsepower really makes a certain impact here because, although the speed is not high, thanks to the four-wheel drive and steering the cornering is felt by pushing on the gas as the Gs rise on the instrument. Then imagine what they are 720 Nm of torque and fun is guaranteed in every gear!
Discovering Monticchiello
Seen from afar Monticchiello it’s just a tower that rises squat and robust, on the top of a hill that rises 500 meters above sea level.
THE remains of its mighty walls and its medieval gate we will discover them almost when we reach the castle of this small village that barely matters 200 inhabitants.
We experienced it more with our eyes than with our eyes Aventadorwhy delve into his Old Town with a car from over 2 meters widebelieve us: it was the craziest thing we could have done!
The origins of Monticchiello, a medieval village, are lost in time. If we wanted to consider it to be of Roman origin, one could hypothesize that it belonged to the Gens Cloeliaderiving the name Monticchiello from Latin Mons Cloelii.
What is certain is that Monticchiello is included in the list of castles that in 943 Lamberto Aldobrandeschi surrendered to the Badìa Amiatina and in 1156 it will be donated to Pope Hadrian IV in fiefdom from Count Paltonieri.
The roads that run through the heart of the Val d’Orcia they seem designed specifically to be driven by car. Certain, respecting the limits you can’t taste the true joy that a V12 releases, but it still impresses you engine readiness which pushes immediately from low revs.
The only thing that disappointed us a little was the exchange which, not being double clutch like in the Huracan, shows some delay in gear changesespecially to go up when there is a need for an almost instantaneous response.
The small and charming village of Pienza
And so we continue our journey as curious tourists and, among breathtaking views and rolling hills, we find the village of Pienzaa little jewel of the Val d’Orcia so much so Giovanni Pascoli he described it like this: “Born from a thought of love and a dream of beauty”.
Considered the ideal city of the Renaissance, it was founded at the behest of Pope Pius IIwho was born in this area to parents who were members of a noble Sienese family.
Recognized as UNESCO site in 1996Pienza is wonderful testimony to the urban planning canons of the Renaissance: the rational organization of its spaces and the unparalleled views of sixteenth-century squares and buildings they capture the gaze of those who visit them and we are certainly no exception!
Last stop for Discovering Tuscany who in this edition covered few kilometres, but was able to truly touch small pearls not known to everyone. There Last one it’s a car hyper sportya lover of the track but who also knows how to adapt to the road.
I am There are three mappings that can be chosen: Running, Sports and Road and, by selecting the latter, the suspensions are less rigid, the steering softer, the engine more docile, the sound of the exhausts softer.
And in this mode it often doesn’t even feel like we have a Formula 1 car disguised as a road under our asses, but one true sports car a little more rigid and with slightly reduced rear visibility.
The last stage
In the heart of the Val d’Orciaresting on sinuous hills, there is a very ancient village of probable Etruscan origin immersed in a landscape made up of olive groves, vineyards but also oak forests.
In this area also famous for its cypresses, lies hidden San Quirico d’Orcia than with his Medieval parish churches and their enchanting scenery it is one of the places absolutely worth visiting.
Among other things the medieval center of San Quirico has seen history pass through over the centuries even with the passage of via Francigena.
There Collegiate Church, Palazzo Chigi and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, the suggestive streets and the medieval walls which have protected the city for a thousand years are the most characteristic points of the heart of this village.
Finally, don’t miss the well-groomed ones Horti Leoninia splendid example of Italian gardens.
And it is precisely with this image from great stylistic rigor that we close the curtain on this sixth edition of Discovering Tuscany, perhaps more demanding than the previous ones but which has been able to give us its great satisfactions both in discovering the territory and in the pleasure of driving a real supercar.
Text and photos by Luca Bracali, video by Ernesto Mangone and Roberto Sessoli | All rights reserved © Latitudeslife.com
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