Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta
Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta
Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
478 reviews
Excellent
361
Very good
92
Average
17
Poor
5
Terrible
3
Takapuna
Albany, New Zealand474 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
It is definitely worth your time to stop here, despite the walk from the parking area. We had viewed from the distance previously so we were very pleased to actually get there. Yes, peaceful, quiet, beautiful Tuscan country side in the Val d'Orca. No, we don't agree with the restaurant nor with other visitors standing right in front while others are trying to take photos. Please be respectful of others while viewing this beautiful capella.
Written June 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
db7477
Carlsbad, CA2,491 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We enjoyed stopping at the chapel. The view of Pienza across the field where we parked was breathtaking. The chapel’s small and intimate and worth the walk. I confess; however, to be confused by the restaurant’s location next door… it must be relatively new and if so, it’s built too close to this iconic landmark and mars the prospect.
Written June 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FredBueno
Province of L'Aquila, Italy158 contributions
Oct 2017 • Solo
Dozens of reviews and no precise info on the location, so here it is….The GPS coordinates of the location you must park: 43.070279, 11.642020
From here, you'll walk 10 minutes on a very easy trail (it's in fact a closed road). Don't expect a magical place but the church is indeed very "photogenic" so it's worth your time for a quick (and free) photo op.
From here, you'll walk 10 minutes on a very easy trail (it's in fact a closed road). Don't expect a magical place but the church is indeed very "photogenic" so it's worth your time for a quick (and free) photo op.
Written October 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
niels-j
Aarhus, Denmark323 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
If you are anywhere in the Val d’Orcia area of Tuscany the Madonna di Vitaleta Chapel is a must see. The chapel is a handsome narrow and tall bright building surrounded by cypress trees – and it is located on a hillside in the beautiful landscape between the towns of Pienza and San Quirico d’Orcia.
You can see the chapel from the SP146 road, but only in the distance, and in order to get closer you need to follow an unpaved side road until you reach a turning to the right where you can park your car at the junction. If you are coming from Pienza the side road marked with a Capella di Vitaleta sign is to your left. From the junction where you leave your car there is a 10 minute walk to the chapel.
Spending some time at the site is rewarding. The chapel is picturesque from all sides and the surrounding landscape is really striking. The white stone front side of the chapel with the tall entrance door is glowing when lit by the sun towards the end of the day. The chapel is private property and locked – and you cannot go inside. I am assuming that the building is empty. You can find a million photos of the chapel on the web but not one showing the inside.
The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta used to be the home of a Madonna sculpture made by the artist Andrea della Robbia in Florence around 1550. The chapel was probably built around this time and is mentioned in written records for the first time in 1590. The Capella di Vitaleta was restored in 1884 by the architect Giuseppe Partini and in connection with this work the Madonna statue was moved to the Church of San Francesco in San Querico d’Orcia where it can be seen today.
No visit at the Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta is complete without seeing the Madonna herself at the church in San Quirico. Because of the statue the church is also called the Chiesa della Madonna. It is located at the center of the town near the main square and is well worth seeing. So is in fact the rest of the town. San Querico is a quiet and pretty Tuscan hill town – and a walk down the main street is highly recommendable.
I have visited Pienza, the Madonna di Vitaleta Chapel and the town of San Quirico d’Orcia two times within the last two years – and I am determined to visit again every time I return to Tuscany.
You can see the chapel from the SP146 road, but only in the distance, and in order to get closer you need to follow an unpaved side road until you reach a turning to the right where you can park your car at the junction. If you are coming from Pienza the side road marked with a Capella di Vitaleta sign is to your left. From the junction where you leave your car there is a 10 minute walk to the chapel.
Spending some time at the site is rewarding. The chapel is picturesque from all sides and the surrounding landscape is really striking. The white stone front side of the chapel with the tall entrance door is glowing when lit by the sun towards the end of the day. The chapel is private property and locked – and you cannot go inside. I am assuming that the building is empty. You can find a million photos of the chapel on the web but not one showing the inside.
The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta used to be the home of a Madonna sculpture made by the artist Andrea della Robbia in Florence around 1550. The chapel was probably built around this time and is mentioned in written records for the first time in 1590. The Capella di Vitaleta was restored in 1884 by the architect Giuseppe Partini and in connection with this work the Madonna statue was moved to the Church of San Francesco in San Querico d’Orcia where it can be seen today.
No visit at the Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta is complete without seeing the Madonna herself at the church in San Quirico. Because of the statue the church is also called the Chiesa della Madonna. It is located at the center of the town near the main square and is well worth seeing. So is in fact the rest of the town. San Querico is a quiet and pretty Tuscan hill town – and a walk down the main street is highly recommendable.
I have visited Pienza, the Madonna di Vitaleta Chapel and the town of San Quirico d’Orcia two times within the last two years – and I am determined to visit again every time I return to Tuscany.
Written October 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jake23
New Jersey6,523 contributions
Aug 2021
A tiny chapel on the outskirts of Montalcino with a few beautiful trees on the side and Tuscan views. Worth seeing if you have time.
Written August 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah T
London, UK113 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
Having read previous comments, we were surprised how easy it it to get there. We used google maps and were there in about 14 minutes. We drove from San Quirico d'Orcia towards Pienza for about 5 kms. You then turn right onto a dirt track which google maps guided us accurately into. You can't drive all the way up, but there is ample and safe parking and then a very pleasant walk of about 600metres. The views are breath taking on both sides. This is possibly one of the best vistas in Tuscany. Please make the effort - it is so easy to get to and so rewarding.
Written August 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iulian P
Bucharest, Romania114 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
I have meet my wife when I was 17 years old. I was madly in love with her ever since. 12 years later we got married. Our story is a movie like love story... We have decided to let our wedding candle to Vitaleta Chapel, and it was the most beautiful thing in the world. I have visit the world but nothing compares with Vitaleta. When we have leave from the chapel it was 8 pm, so it was dark outside. We have see our candle light from miles away. It is an amazing place, and for us, is the most important place in the world, the place that our love stayed forever.
Written August 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ivica G
1 contribution
Sep 2018 • Couples
Warning .. I was 2 weeks ago in front of the chapel Vitaleta. The chapel is located a kilometer away from the parking. You cant get closer by the car because there is a fence on the way. The thieves use this situation and break glasses on the vehicles and steal everything out of the vehicle, I was lucky and they didnt break anything to me but thieves broke up windows on a car a Polish and an one Italian couples. If you want to see the chapel leave someone near of your car..
Written September 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
evagraaf
Utrecht, The Netherlands70 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
It’s a really cool place to visit. We went there at dusk (19:15-19:30 ish). This time is ideal to see a beautiful sunset on the surrounding landscape. Many famous pictures of this chapel have been taken at dawn, so the sun is behind the chapel itself. Both options will give you beautiful pictures anyhow. Very photogenic, and yes there will be other people too but it’s not crowded.
Written August 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bidwisely
Jakarta, Indonesia191 contributions
Nov 2016
We stayed in Montalcino. The stretch of road from Montalcino on to SR2 to San Quirico d'Orcia and further to Montepulciano is very very lovely Tuscan landscape and scenery. It was like people here paint a picture with their gardens. The row of pines, the villa on top of the rolling hills of Tuscan, worthy of Windows wallpapers, were all here. We spent two days roaming around from sunrise to sunset and still couldn't get enough. Madonna di Vitaleta chapel would be one of the highlights, small abandoned (looks like?) chapel on top of a hill, lovely view from SR2, but when we made the detour and saw it up close, very much more beautiful. We met a friendly gentlemen with his dog, probably out on hen hunting, carried a rifle, that was kind enough to show us the way. The road towards was fenced closed, but he said it was OK to walk in, around 300m or so to the chapel. Lovely!
Written June 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
andrea b
4 contributions
per poterla vedere aperta quando bisogna venire? Grazie
Francesca 65
4 contributions
La cappella è stata recentemente restaurata e ora,a differenza del passato, è possibile visitarla anche all'interno.Io personalmente l'ho visitata diverse volte,ma nn so gli orari in quanto non sono esposti
superkaika
London, United Kingdom144 contributions
Can you actually drive to the chapel? I.e. take pictures in front of it, rather just from the distance on the road? I followed the road on street view and can see that there is a gate as you drive towards it, so not sure if it's a private property.... thanks!
minimick
Castiglione del Lago, Italy20 contributions
Hi Superkaik, I noticed no-one else has answered, so I will do my best !
I have driven past (and stopped) on many occasions, but, never been any closer than the road. I see from some of the other photos, at least 1 taken quite close and from behind, so access must be possible. I also noticed that another photo shows a signpost for a cycle/walking path to the chapel, although I have to say I haven't noticed it myself. Lastly an Italian couple have said that they celebrated a wedding anniversary there and lit a candle in the chapel. Whether or not permission is required for access I don't know, but, it does seem possible.
Hopefully this is of some assistance. Martin
martonic
Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates4 contributions
What is the best way to get to this chapel from Rome? Also, how far is it from Pienza? Can you walk from the town center?
Buonomo
St. Petersburg, FL57 contributions
It's about 15 minutes maybe from Pienza by car. It's off the SR2 is all I remember. Look for the dirt road lined with cypress trees. That windy road takes you right to the Chapel.
Michela
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Frequently Asked Questions about Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta
- Hotels near Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta:
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Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta Information
Excellent Reviews | 361 |
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Very Good Reviews | 92 |
Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta Photos | 650 |