Siena - The Crete

Province: Siena (SI)

Altitude: up to 350m/1,150ft.

Situation and landscape

The barren rolling hills known as the Crete, which form one of the most impressive and most unusual landscapes in Tuscany, lie southeast of Siena between Taverne d'Arbia and Asciano.

Topography

Much indented by valleys and continually threatened by erosion, the Crete are quite unsuitable for cultivation. A scanty growth of grass offers only meager pasture for sheep. There could hardly be a greater contrast to the gentle green hills found elsewhere in Tuscany. Geologically the Crete belong to the Cretaceous system, making them between 65 and 135million years old; and the creta (Latin "chalk") after which the Cretaceous is named has