Spring Festival — Treno Natura in Castiglione d'Orcia

A spring festival arriving by steam

The Spring Festival in Castiglione d'Orcia is one of the most evocative events in the Treno Natura calendar, a slow tourism project promoted by the Fondazione FS Italiane along the historic Asciano–Monte Antico railway in the heart of the Siena province. On this day, the small medieval village in the Val d'Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage site, transforms into an open-air stage to welcome those who choose to reach it by traveling on an authentic historic steam train.

The historic train journey from Siena

The train departs in the morning from Siena station, pulled by a steam locomotive with vintage 1930s "Centoporte" carriages. The route crosses the Val d'Arbia, the Ombrone valley, the Val d'Orcia Park, and the lands of Brunello di Montalcino, with a scenic stop at Monte Antico where passengers can disembark to photograph the locomotive during water refilling maneuvers. From Monte Amiata Scalo, the journey continues by coach to Castiglione d'Orcia.

The village in celebration

Once they arrive in the Municipality of Castiglione d'Orcia, visitors find a lively and animated village. In the streets of the historic center, you will encounter:

• musicians and street performers enlivening squares and alleys;
• craft, hobby, and local product markets;
• tasting stalls featuring local gastronomic specialties of the Val d'Orcia;
• the Torre della Rocca di Tentennano open with no time limits, offering 360-degree views of the valley, and the Rocca Aldobrandesca, both visitable with a single ticket.

Trekking through the hills

For those who wish to experience the Val d'Orcia landscape at a slower pace, an optional trek of about 7 kilometers is offered. It is of moderate difficulty and crosses the famous Tuscan hills of clay and cypress trees. The return journey takes place in the late afternoon: from the village, you return by coach to Torrenieri and from there by historic train to Siena, crossing the Crete Senesi at sunset.

An experience between nature and tradition

The Spring Festival of Castiglione d'Orcia is much more than a village fair: it is a complete experience that weaves together Tuscan railway tradition, local food and wine culture, and the beauty of one of Italy's most iconic landscapes. The event is organized by the Municipality of Castiglione d'Orcia together with the Fondazione FS Italiane and the Visione del Mondo agency in Siena, which handles travel bookings. Its great popularity is confirmed by the fact that train tickets regularly sell out in just a few days.