Cipressi di San Quirico d'Orcia, Cypress grove near San Quirico d'Orcia, Italy.
The cypress groves of San Quirico d'Orcia consist of two separate tree clusters positioned on gentle hillsides in the northern part of the village. One group forms a diamond-shaped woodland while the other wraps in two crescent-shaped arrangements around a dirt track.
These trees were brought to Tuscany from Asia Minor many centuries ago and gradually became established features of the regional landscape. Over time they integrated into rural farming traditions and land management practices.
These cypress stands have shaped how the Tuscan countryside looks and feels for centuries, becoming an essential part of how locals and visitors picture this region. Their tall, narrow forms define the landscape's visual character.
The groves sit along the SS Cassia road in the northern area and are easily reached from the surrounding road network. The open location provides broad views across the valleys and rolling hills around them.
The two tree clusters have distinctly different shapes and read almost like two separate natural artworks placed side by side in the landscape. Their geometric patterns resulted from intentional planting rather than random growth.
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