Buonconvento
Buonconvento is a small walled town in the province of Siena, set among the clay hills of the Crete Senesi, where the Arbia river...
Updated 19 July 2026
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The story
The story of Buonconvento
Introduction and Location
Buonconvento lies in the middle Val d'Arbia, in the province of Siena, close to where the Arbia river meets the Ombrone. The town occupies a strategic position along the ancient Via Francigena, the pilgrim road linking northern Europe to Rome, which shaped its development for centuries as a stopping point and trading place. Surrounded by the gentle clay hills of the Crete Senesi, with their characteristic gullies and rows of cypress trees, the town still preserves the compact, orderly layout typical of fortified medieval Tuscan settlements, easily explored on foot in just a few hours.
History and Origins
The origins of Buonconvento date back to the Middle Ages, when the town developed as a stopping point along the routes connecting Siena to southern Tuscany. Falling under the influence of the Republic of Siena, it was equipped with defensive walls, still well preserved today, complete with towers and gates that testify to its strategic importance. Over the centuries the town retained its role as an agricultural and trading centre for the surrounding countryside, living through the historical events that shaped the whole Sienese territory, from the wars between Siena and Florence to its later inclusion in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
Nature and Landscape
The countryside around Buonconvento stretches between cultivated fields and the clay hills of the Crete Senesi, a farming landscape of great scenic value made up of rounded ridges, gullies, bare clay outcrops and scattered rows of cypress trees. The Arbia and Ombrone rivers mark the natural boundaries of the municipality, offering glimpses of riverside vegetation and routes suited to walking and short cycling trips. The surrounding countryside alternates wheat fields, vineyards and olive groves, forming a mosaic of colours that changes with the seasons and represents one of the most photographed and recognisable scenes of rural Tuscany.
Things to Do and See
The historic centre of Buonconvento, entirely enclosed by medieval brick walls, is best explored on foot along the main street that runs through the town from one gate to the other. Highlights include the parish church of Santi Pietro e Paolo, the Museo d'Arte Sacra della Val d'Arbia, which houses artworks from churches across the area, and the Museo della Mezzadria Senese, dedicated to rural life and the sharecropping system that shaped the Tuscan countryside for centuries. The town also makes a convenient base for exploring the surrounding Crete Senesi.
Flavours and Traditions
The cuisine of Buonconvento is rooted in Sienese peasant tradition, built on simple dishes and local ingredients: unsalted Tuscan bread, hand-rolled pici pasta, legume soups and meats raised on the surrounding farms. The hills around the town produce extra virgin olive oil and wine, while local markets still offer cured meats and cheeses from small family-run farms. Its proximity to areas renowned for winemaking makes Buonconvento a convenient starting point for discovering the wineries and authentic flavours of the Sienese countryside.
Not to be missed
- The medieval brick walls enclosing the historic centre
- The parish church of Santi Pietro e Paolo
- The Museo d'Arte Sacra della Val d'Arbia
- The Museo della Mezzadria Senese
- The Crete Senesi hills along the Via Francigena
To see
What to see in Buonconvento
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