A fun and interesting way to explore southern Tuscany – and, in particular, the Val d’Orcia area – is by traveling on a historical stream train! The Treno Natura program offers every spring and fall several full-day outings which depart from Siena and head to a different destination to explore a local festival or other special local event. You can read more about these itineraries on our page here.
While you can check out the full program for 2018 here, it is only in Italian!
Since we believe in sharing these special experiences with everyone who visits Tuscany, we have translated the 2018 Spring calendar in English so that you can check to see if your dates make it possible for you to join in and explore Tuscany on a steam train!
In general, for all of the dates, you need to complete a booking form online.
Cost for adults is 36.50 euro, children under 10 with no seats can travel for free or 19.50 euro for kids over 10 with assigned seating. There are additional costs for the dates where there is extra travel by bus or extra activities in addition to the steam train, please check the complete program for the date you are interested in.
The detailed program for each date includes info on each of the planned stops, scheduled arrival and departure times, highlights of each stop and what you can do at each. These complete programs also includes specific information on cost and booking for that itinerary. Unfortunately, all of this information is only in Italian and, because of time constraints, I am not going to translate all of the details for each date on the calendar, but if you’re interested in any particular one, let me know and I will provide additional details!
PLEASE NOTE: The program could have slight modifications, always ask for any changes in the daily program before departure.
LIMITED SEATING – BOOKING IS REQUIRED
The agency organizing all of the outings is called Visione del Mondo.
Their email is booking@visionedelmondo.com if you want to send them an email beforehand so that you can get more info before booking.
CALENDAR TRENO NATURA SPRING 2018
MARCH 25 > SAN GIOVANNI D’ASSO
TRAIN OF THE TARTUFO MARZUOLO: Scents of Truffles in the Crete Senesi
This itinerary takes you to the XVI Festa del Tartufo Marzuolo, which is a food festival dedicated to truffles and other regional specialties being held on the weekend of March 24th and 25th in San Giovanni d’Asso.
STEAM TRAIN – Through Buonconvento – Monte Antico – Asciano
Steam locomotive + 5 train carriages “centoporte” (100 doors)
Hour 08:55 Departure from Siena
Hour 17:40 Arrival back in Siena
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROGRAM – http://www.terresiena.it/images/03_25_tartufo
APRIL 02 > BUONCONVENTO
REGIONAL ANTIQUES FAIR “COSE DEL PASSATO”
STEAM TRAIN – Through Asciano Scalo – Monte Antico – Buonconvento – Siena
Steam locomotive + 5 train carriages “centoporte” (100 doors)
Hour 08:55 Departure from Siena
Hour 17:47 Arrival back in Siena
Since I’ve been asked about this one considering it would make for a perfect outing on the day after Easter, here are a few more details on the day’s program:
8.55am Siena to Asciano Scalo
9.35am Asciano Scalo – Monte Antico (stop of about 25 minutes while the train does maneuvers)
11.20am Monte Antico – Buonconvento – stop here for lunch, you can visit the museum of Sacred Art and of Farming.
at 2:30, you book an additional outing to do a hike around the area
4.58pm departure back to Siena, arrival around 5.40pm.
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROGRAM – http://www.terresiena.it/images/04_02_buonconvento
APRIL 22 > SAN QUIRICO D’ORCIA
ORCIA WINE FESTIVAL
Orcia DOC, one of the most beautiful in the world
STEAM TRAIN – Through Via Buonconvento – Monte Antico – Asciano
Steam locomotive + 5 train carriages “centoporte” (100 doors)
This one is a special one, with bus service from Torrenieri where the train stops to get you to San Quirico, not reachable by train. There are extra activities in San Quirico planned, from bike rides, hikinh along the Via Francigena, wine tastings and workshops for kids. You’ll need to book the extra activities you want to participate in, otherwise you reach San Quirico before lunch and can just roam around and eat and taste wherever catches your fancy before meeting back for the bus ride to the steam train and return to Siena.
Hour 08:55 Departure from Siena
Hour 18:45 Arrival back in Siena
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROGRAM – http://www.terresiena.it/images/22_04_18_sanquiricodorcia
APRIL 25 > CASTIGLIONE D’ORCIA
SPRING IN VAL D’ORCIA
Authentic Experience
STEAM TRAIN – Through Buonconvento – Monte Antico – Asciano
Steam locomotive + 5 train carriages “centoporte” (100 doors)
hour 08:55 Departure from Siena
hour 18:45 Arrival back in Siena
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROGRAM – http://www.terresiena.it/images/25_04_18_castiglionedorcia
MAY 01 > SANT’ANGELO SCALO (MONTALCINO)
LA MAGGIOLATA
Welcome spring
This one can include wine tastings at the BANFI wine estate which is nearby
STEAM TRAIN – Through Buonconvento – Monte Antico-Asciano
Steam locomotive + 5 train carriages “centoporte” (100 doors)
Hour 08:55 Departure from Siena
Hour 18:47 Arrival back in Siena
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROGRAM – http://www.terresiena.it/images/05_01_montalcino_v
MAY 13 > ASCIANO
MARKET DAY FOR CRETE SENESI
Ancient flavorus in ancient lands
STEAM TRAIN – Through Buonconvento – Monte Antico – Asciano
Steam locomotive + 5 train carriages “centoporte” (100 doors)
Hour 08:50 Departure from Siena
Hour 17:47 Arrival back in Siena
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROGRAM – http://www.terresiena.it/images/13_05_18_asciano
MAY 20 > TORRENIERI (MONTALCINO)
TRAIN FESTIVAL
To celebrate the story of the railroad tracks
Wine tastings in the Brunello wine area are also foreseen on this outing near Montalcino.
STEAM TRAIN – Through Buonconvento -Monte Antico -Asciano
Steam locomotive + 5 train carriages “centoporte” (100 doors)
Hour 08:55 Departure from Siena
Hour 18:47 Arrival back in Siena
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROGRAM – http://www.terresiena.it/images/05_20_torrenieri_v
MAY 27 > CHIUSI
THE ETRUCAN TRAIN
Exploring the city of Porsenna
STEAM TRAIN – Through Buonconvento – Monte Antico – Asciano
Steam locomotive + 5 train carriages “centoporte” (100 doors)
Hour 08:55 Departure from Siena
Hour 18:45 Arrival back in Siena
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROGRAM – http://www.terresiena.it/images/27_05_18_chiusi
JUNE 2 > ASCIANO
FESTA DELLA REPUBBLICA
A national holiday in Italy, the Day of the Republic, will be spent celebrating the history and landscape of the Crete Senesi
STEAM TRAIN – Asciano
Steam locomotive + 5 train carriages “centoporte” (100 doors)
Hour 8:55 Departure from Siena
Hour 18:47 Arrival back in Siena
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROGRAM – http://www.terresiena.it/images/2_06_18_asciano
These are all the outings for the spring, there are more planned in the fall starting on September 30th through December, we’ll give you more info on those in a future post!
Photo credits: Terre di Siena
About Lourdes Flores
An American living in Florence for over 10 years, Lourdes continues to explore and discover new places in Tuscany with the eyes of a tourist but with the experience of living in Italy. She shares her experiences on this blog and website, particularly offering lots of travel planning help on the Forum!
