{"id":6288,"date":"2026-08-19T13:08:22","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T13:08:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montesantemarie.bio\/?page_id=6288"},"modified":"2026-08-19T17:13:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:13:02","slug":"do-something-or-do-nothing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montesantemarie.bio\/en\/do-something-or-do-nothing\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Something. Or Do Nothing"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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ACTIVITIES? EXPERIENCES? NO, THANKS.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Words like \u201cactivities\u201d<\/strong> and \u201cexperiences\u201d<\/strong> make us think of organised holidays and tourist entertainment \u2014 pretty much the opposite of what we are. So we\u2019re not particularly fond of either.<\/p>

At Monte Sante Marie, though, there really is plenty to do \u2014 or not to do (freedom first!)<\/strong> \u2014 and plenty of ways to do it.<\/p>

The idea is to rediscover otium<\/em>, in the original Latin sense: time freed from obligation and open to curiosity, contemplation and creativity. To observe \u2014 the architecture of the hamlet, the animals, the landscape \u2014 gather flowers, fruit or wild herbs, take photographs, read, reflect.<\/p>

Or simply do nothing.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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WORK | WRITE | CREATE | STUDY | make music<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the age of remote working, when you need to work \u2014 or simply concentrate \u2014 nothing could be smarter than a quiet hamlet in the middle of the countryside, where you can be as private as you wish while still having hospitality, food and assistance at hand whenever you need them.<\/p>

In our parallel lives, we write for a living too, so writers looking for peace, quiet and inspiration are especially welcome. And the same goes for artists of every kind.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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CONTACT US<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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GET MOVING (IN EVERY SENSE)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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EXPLORE<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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One of the beauties of Monte Sante Marie is that it is secluded on a hilltop in the middle of the Crete Senesi, yet at the heart of everything: Siena (22 km), Chianti Classico (10 km), Asciano (8 km), the thermal baths of Rapolano (10 km), Monte Oliveto Maggiore (15 km), Montalcino and Brunello (35 km), Pienza and the UNESCO-listed Val d\u2019Orcia (38 km), Montepulciano and its wines (40 km), Cortona (50 km), Arezzo (50 km), Florence (90 km) and Florence Airport (105 km).<\/p>

In less than an hour \u2014 and often less than half an hour by car or motorbike \u2014 you can reach some of the most beautiful places in Tuscany. Rome (190 km) is only a couple of hours away.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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WALK<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The white road of Monte Sante Marie is famous not only among devotees of L\u2019Eroica, Strade Bianche and rallying,<\/strong> but also among walkers and lovers of historic trails.
We are in fact on one of the most spectacular stretches \u2014 and one of the stopping points \u2014 of the Cammino Lauretano<\/strong>,<\/a> the ancient route which, branching off from the Via Francigena, led pilgrims for centuries from Siena to Cortona and from there to the Sanctuary of Loreto. Today it is an official walking route, waymarked and equipped by the Region of Tuscany.

The Cammino Lauretano<\/strong> crosses the estate and passes right through Monte Sante Marie, making the hamlet a natural place to stop, rest, eat and drink \u2014 and collect a stamp \u2014 for pilgrims and walkers, old and new.

The estate is also at the heart of a network of walks and excursions through the surrounding countryside. Within the property, you can explore the natural truffle grounds along the river and our \u201ctruffle beach\u201d \u2014 perfect for a picnic \u2014 the heritage-grain fields, historic farmsteads, the distinctive clay calanchi and ancient grape varieties once thought extinct and rediscovered in our woods.

Beyond the estate, walks lead out into the Crete Senesi, towards the thermal baths of Rapolano and through landscapes rich in wildlife \u2014 or simply offer an excuse to wander for a while, relax and enjoy the open air.

Guided themed walks with a professional guide can also be arranged on request.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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CYCLE<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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You only need to know a little about cycling \u2014 or to have watched it on television \u2014 to know that the summit of the Monte Sante Marie hill, right outside our gate, comes at the end of a brutally demanding and spectacular stretch of gravel road.<\/p>

It is the \u201cCima Coppi\u201d<\/em> of two of the world\u2019s most famous and coveted cycling events: Strade Bianche<\/strong><\/a>, the professional race known as \u201cEurope\u2019s southernmost Northern Classic\u201d<\/strong>, and L\u2019Eroica<\/strong><\/a>, the non-competitive event ridden on vintage bicycles and with period equipment, which draws thousands of enthusiasts from five continents every year.<\/p>

Monte Sante Marie is therefore an ideal starting point, finishing point or place to stop and refuel for cyclists taking on the \u201cdiscese ardite e le risalite\u201d<\/em> \u2014 the daring descents and climbs that, not by chance, also gave their names to our two craft beers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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CONTATTACI<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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READ | LISTEN | PLAY<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We love music and literature.<\/strong> Our house is full of books and records.<\/strong> We write and publish books, too. As for records, we spent many years working in radio and have been reviewing them for as long as we can remember \u2014 as well as buying them, of course.<\/p>

Monte Sante Marie is, by its very nature, a place for reading and listening to music. And for playing it, too.<\/strong> At our house concerts, for example, simply for the pleasure of it, we host musicians with a devoted following, often alongside artists<\/a>, poets and writers.<\/p>

Generally speaking, we hate noise but we love people who make music. So musicians, come to Monte Sante Marie: you won\u2019t disturb anyone here.<\/p>

And listening together \u2014 to music, to the proverbial silence of this place, or to the sounds of the surrounding countryside<\/strong> \u2014 is a privilege worth sharing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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GUIDED VISITS AND WALKS<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Monte Sante Marie is not normally open to the public, nor is it set up for mass tourism. Every visit is personal and arranged individually.<\/strong><\/p>

The estate is protected for its historic and architectural significance and is officially recognised as a Historic House, a member of ADSI \u2014 the Italian Historic Houses Association<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 and a site of particular historical, architectural and landscape interest.<\/p>

On request, we can arrange:<\/p>