Travel Postcard: 48 hours in the wine heart of Tuscany

MONTALCINO/MONTEPULCIANO, Italy (Reuters Life!) - Got an art-and-history overload in Florence? Jump in a car and drive about 100 km south, to the heart of Italy's Tuscany for fresh air and great wine.

A scenic drive past archetypal Tuscan rolling hills will take you to the Val d'Orcia and Val di Chiana valleys near Siena to discover two charming medieval towns perched on top of nearby hills -- Montalcino and Montepulciano.

Wine has been made here for centuries and now the townships are home to Italy's famed premium red wines, Brunello di Montalcino and Nobile di Montepulciano.

The lack of direct, reliable public transport links with major cities means the area is well off the beaten tourist track. You can walk up and down the narrow streets of the towns past imposing medieval palaces and churches without elbowing your way though the tourist crowds that can plague other Italian cities.

FRIDAY:

MONTALCINO, 110 km south of Florence:

6 p.m. - Start your weekend getaway by walking up to the centre of Montalcino, atop a 564-metre hill whose history dates back to at least the 8th century. Montalcino together with a handful of nearby towns in Val d'Orcia has recently been put on UNESCO's World Heritage Site List.

Climb the walls of the ancient fortress for a breathtaking 360-degree view of the surrounding valleys.

Take an aperitif at the Caffe Fiaschetteria Italiana (www.fiaschetteriaitaliana.it) on the main square next to the medieval town hall with its imposing bell tower. The Caffe was opened in 1888 and still has the original wood-and-plush interior and a long wine list including a 1995 Brunello.