Today promised to be a taxing one ... not only was there to be around 700 metres of climbing ... but far more seriously there were no obvious coffee stops on the way to Pienza.
The route was initially flat ... following the Fiume Orcia westward for some 12 kilometres. The surrounding fields were full of poppies and mustard flowers.
The Val d'Orcia is the location in which Iris Origo wrote her war diaries between 1943 and 1944.
She took in and sheltered over 60 children who were either orphans or who were displaced from cities in the frontline.
During this period the region was fought over between the Allies and the Axis powers and was simultaneously subject to a civil war.
Iris Origo's description of these times is both humbling and inspiring.
One of the local specialities is pecorino ... a soft white cheese made from sheep's milk.
After the initial flat section the road turns to begin a 400 metre climb and the character of the land begins to change ...
... small pyramids of clay - called biancane appear. These are a few metres high and are composed of whitish clay.
Modern agricultural practices have severely reduced their number, but they remain on the steeper slopes.
Near the top of the hill I passed the ambulatorio constructed by Iris Origo and a little further on reached the estate of La Foce - which was her home throughout the war.
During this time La Foce provided support and shelter for dozens of locals, escaped prisoners as well as to the children to whom Iris was dedicated.
In these peaceful surroundings it is now hard to imagine the pressures and difficulties faced by those living here during the war.
The route continues to climb on a strada bianca above La Foce soon reaching Il Castelluccio.
This old castle was initially used to hold British prisoners-of-war and later as a garrison for German troops.
Above Il Castelluccio the strada climbs on upwards to over 650 metres ... which I, mistakenly, thought was the last climb of the day.
At the top of the hill both Monticchiello and Pienza became visible in the distance.
From the hill top the road descends gradually at first ...
before descending around sweeping zig-zag curves to the foot of Monticchiello.
This of course meant another climb up to the entrance to Monticchiello.
Much to my surprise (I should have learnt by now) the final few kilometres to Pienza involved descending another hill and a further 150 metre climb.
The final section had a slope of around 20% ... so this presented an ideal opportunity to stop for photos.
The first sight that greeted my eyes in Pienza was a wedding party assembling in the shadow of the Palazzo Vescoville in Piazza Pio II.
The walls behind them still bear the scars of a mortar bombardment from during the war.
Kirby James
