First of all, let’s be clear : this is a no-frills hotel at a no-frills price. Accommodation is perfectly comfortable, but there’s nothing fancy or romantic about the décor. It’s spotlessly clean, very well-heated (I was there in December !) with tons of hot water available at all times (not always the case in more expensive places). Those points aside, it’s full of wonderful surprises that I will list in no particular order of importance :||||1. The views from the rooms at the back of the hotel are breathtaking : a vast panorama over the Val d’Orcia stretching to Pienza and Monticchiello, with the iconic « Belvedere » villa (the one from so many postcards) in the foreground. What a treat to wake up to in the morning !||||2. The location of the hotel : Five minutes easy & quiet walk to the « centro storico », the historical centre of the village. Do not be put off by the fact that the hotel is on the main road (via Cassia) or behind a garage. There’s a shortcut directly opposite the hotel (look for via Etruria) that brings you to the ramparts in a couple of minutes, and from there to the central piazza is just another 3 or 4 minutes. You’d be amazed how close it is ! Also, if you sleep at the back of the hotel, there’s absolutely no road noise.||||3. Walkers and travellers without a car, take note ! The Garibaldi can be an ideal base if you want to spend a few days exploring the fabulous scenery around San Quirico d’Orcia on foot. First of all, you can take the 112 bus that runs between Siena and Montepulciano. If you get off at the via dei Fossi stop, the Garibaldi is literally 5 minutes walk away (down via Etruria). ||||4. From the Garibaldi, by turning right and then right again, a path winds around at the back of the hotel and brings you to the main hiking path (via Cerrecchio) which you can then follow all the way to Pienza (and beyond, if you’ve the energy !). From Pienza, you can take a bus back in the evening. It makes for a perfect and stunning day’s walk. Other walks directly accessible from San Quirico along beautiful « strade bianche » (quiet paths and dirt roads) are Montalcino to the west, Bagno Vignoni and Rocca d’Orcia to the south, and Torrenieri to the north. They all make for perfect day-long walks, and there’s always a bus back at a good time in the evening. There are also various useful buses that stop literally outside the door of the Garibaldi : the 52, 54, B20, B23, all of which allow you to explore the many beautiful towns and villages right across the Val d’Orcia (check out the Tiemmespa bus company website for timetables).||||5. The Garibaldi has a great restaurant ! And after all that walking, you'll be delighted to come back there to enjoy genuine and generous Tuscan cuisine. I was there on a freezing mid-week night in December. To my amazement, the restaurant filled up in no time with locals – always a sure-fire sign of quality. And they were completely booked out for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day ! I had pasta with wild boar sauce, succulent roast rabbit with herb- and onion-flavoured potato purée, and a « bavarese agli agrumi », a light and delicious kind of mousse made from fresh citrus-fruit. Add to that a large carafe of very good house wine, sparkling water and coffee, all for about 20€. Unbeatable value and quality. Like the rooms, the décor is not fancy but I loved the friendly and lively local atmosphere. Not to mention the feast.||||6. For anybody worried about the language barrier… don’t ! Nicoletta, part of the family management team, speaks excellent English (I’m sure some of the others do too, but I didn’t meet them all). Apart from that, she’s kindness itself. I’ll give just one example that I think says it all… I’m old-fashioned and I love a hot-water-bottle on a winter night (even though the rooms were as warm as toast). Kettles not being commonplace in Italy, Nicoletta went to great trouble to fill my hot water bottle from the restaurant coffee machine, using a jug and then a funnel ( !) to fill it up. Now if that’s not kindness, I don’t know what is.||||7. The breakfast included in the price is simple but good : tea or coffee and a pastry or croissant. There’s nothing to prevent you ordering more if you need it. You take it at the bar. Again the décor is very simple, but I enjoyed the atmosphere, with truck-drivers and locals dropping in all the time. ||||8. Last but not least, the wifi works great !||||I’ve stayed in other places in San Quirico in the past, a bit more upmarket (and expensive), but I’ve never experienced anywhere so authentic and friendly before, and at the same time so convenient. Go there !