UNESCO Landscape · The Most Photographed Hill in Tuscany
I Cipressini di San Quirico
Eleven cypress trees on a rounded hill — the image that defined Tuscany for the world
No landscape has been reproduced more often as the image of Tuscany than this one: a gentle, perfectly rounded hilltop south of San Quirico d'Orcia, crowned by a small cluster of Italian cypresses. This spot — known locally as "I Cipressini" or "the little cypresses" — appears on millions of calendars, postcards, screensavers and desktop backgrounds around the world. Standing in the field at golden hour, looking up at the silhouette of the trees against an orange sky, it is easy to understand why. It is the purest possible expression of the Tuscan landscape. And it is real.
The Trees
A Living Landscape
The eleven cypress trees that crown the hill were planted during the 20th century, but the hill itself — a perfect dome of clay rising from the surrounding fields — is an accident of geology, formed by differential erosion of the crete senesi soils. The landowner has maintained the trees and the surrounding fields with awareness of what they mean, both locally and internationally. The location has no official name on maps — it is identified by the trees themselves. GPS coordinates circulate on photography forums; pilgrims arrive at all hours, in all seasons.
Photography
Chasing the Perfect Light
The classic shot is from the south-east, looking north-west at the hill with the trees outlined against the sky. In the morning, light falls on the eastern face of the hill; in the evening, the western face glows amber and the trees cast long shadows east. Fog is the greatest gift: when the surrounding valley fills with morning mist and the hilltop emerges like an island above the white, the scene becomes almost hallucinatory. This happens most reliably in October and November, between 7:00 and 9:00 AM. Winter after snow is the other moment — the white hill, the dark trees, the silence.
Practical Information
- Location
- South of San Quirico d'Orcia, along SP146 direction Pienza
- GPS
- 43.0572° N, 11.6062° E (approximate)
- Access
- From the SP146 — park at the layby and walk across the field (10 min)
- Best Time
- Golden hour (sunrise or sunset); fog in Oct–Nov; snow in winter
- Note
- Private land — stay on the path, do not climb the hill; respect crops
Gallery
