One of the best ways to see Tuscany's legendary Val D'Orcia region is on the reopened steam railway running through fields, forests and vineyards. Most of us see Tuscany’s famous rolling landscape from the road. Or maybe on foot, since walking holidays in the region have become so popular.

But there’s a more unusual way to get your fix of stunning Tuscan landscape, without a road in sight, In fact, from the open windows of the treno natura, a restored 1920s steam train, all I saw was lush countryside for hours. From carefully-pruned vineyards to wild pockets of woodland, the only signs of civilisation on the route between Siena and San Quirico d’Orcia were the occasional green-shuttered villa or azienda vinicola (winery), and someone driving a vespa slowly down a winding cypress-lined hill - really.