Vivo D'orcia between Hermitage, Waterways and Forest

Vivo d'Orcia presents Tuscany in a compact setting as a combination of water, forest and history. If, for your trip, you are looking not just for a single building but for different impressions between culture and landscape, you will find several clearly distinct points of interest here: the Hermitage, Palazzo Cervini, historic paths along the Torrente Vivo and woodland areas with remarkable old trees.

History between the Hermitage and Palazzo Cervini

The Hermitage was built on the ruins of a Camaldolese monastery founded by San Romualdo. Palazzo Cervini provides a different historical accent: it was remodeled according to a design by the Florentine architect Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. It is accessed via a stone bridge beneath which the Torrente Vivo flows. As a result, the route to the palazzo itself is already one of the documented special features of the place. Near the springs along the path stands the small oratory of San Benedetto, known as the Ermicciolo. The church has simple Romanesque architecture with a single nave and a semicircular apse. A few steps away are the structures of old chestnut-drying buildings. Thus, within a limited area, you encounter sacred architecture and traces of earlier agricultural use without having to combine these sites into a single architectural complex. The Museo dell’Acqua also broadens the cultural perspective on water. The exhibition includes photographs, projections, multimedia panels, exhibits and materials used to maintain the aqueduct. A living local tradition is the Palio del Boscaiolo, a skills competition inspired by the former profession of the lumberjack and held in the medieval Borgo dell’Eremo.

Waterways and Forest Landscapes

At the edge of the town center of Vivo d’Orcia, a woodland area with silver firs (Abies alba) lies along the Torrente Vivo. It is one of the few remaining native stands of this species in Tuscany. The natural side of the area also includes the Faggeta a Vivo d’Orcia, with numerous centuries-old trees, and the “Faggione.” This tree, which is more than a hundred years old, stands beside the road leading from Vivo to the Rifugio di Capo Vetra. For a longer route, the Anello dell’Ermicciolo e Capovetra in the Parco del Vivo is an interesting option. The walking route is approximately 10 kilometers long. It can begin in the Borgo of Vivo d’Orcia or at a designated parking area located on the road to Seggiano, about one kilometer from the town center. Along the way, the Anello passes the ruins of an old water-powered sawmill and the water channels of the “Gorina.” A small waterfall flows into the Laghetto dello Scodellino. The Sentiero dell’acqua focuses on something different: it begins in the center of Vivo d’Orcia and follows the Torrente Vivo towards Ermicciolo. Along its route are traces of historic water-powered sawmills, ironworks and mills. One of the two springs of Monte Amiata is located in the Parco dell’Ermicciolo in Vivo d’Orcia. From the square, visitors enter a gallery slightly more than 80 meters long, where they can come into direct contact with the water emerging from the rock. This site complements the paths along the Torrente Vivo with a concentrated insight into the origin of the water. For further discoveries, you can also include Bagni San Filippo and Campiglia D'orcia.

For the broader travel overview: Castiglione D'orcia.