| From Mount Amiata, located in the south of Tuscany at the border between the provinces of Siena and Grosseto, you can reach interesting places very different one from another, but quite challenging, as the Val d'Orcia, therefore Pienza and Montepulciano, the Etruscan area where are Sorano, Sovana and Pitigliano, high Tuscia and Bolsena Lake. Monte Amiata is a destination for a holiday experience for those who want an alternative holiday to Tuscan more beaten paths. Historically, the economy of Amiata has been led by land resources, that is to say a peasant civilization, which has always placed their lives on the toil, from manufacturing of wood to the mines of cinnabar, pastures for livestock, handcrafts . For lovers of outdoor life, the Monte Amiata is an all seasons place: the great beech woods that cover it, the network of ski runs, the paths on foot, by bicycle or horse in autumn, mushrooms, chestnuts, wine and oil and last but not least the hospitality and cuisine make this corner of southern Tuscany a place to stay able to bring the frenzy city life on a human scale. |
| Arcidosso. It overlooks the western side of the mountain that slips into the Maremma. To be seen the medieval Aldobrandesca fortress and the Animal Park of Mount Amiata, which is home to various animals, including the Apennine wolf. Near the park, and partly covered by it, is the Monte Labbro, last refuge of David Lazzaretti the "Amiata prophet”. In the hamlet of Montelaterone, characteristic medieval town, you can visit the Church of Santa Maria in Lamula, in Romanesque style. In Arcidosso there is the Buddhist temple of Merigar created by the Tibetan Master Choegyal Namkhai Norbues 25 years ago. |
| Castel del Piano. Also overlooking the slope that extends to the Maremma, surrounded by beech and chestnut trees that climb the mount, Castel del Piano is without doubt the greatest centre of Grosseto side of Monte Amiata, a centre for summer and winter resort, famous for the Palio delle Contrade, an horse race that is run on 8 September and where rival the four quarters. Fractions of Montenero and Montegiovi deserve a visit. |
| Santa Fiora. Santa Fiora is a medieval village lying around its fortress and main square. The "Peschiera" is a small reservoir which collects the waters of the river Fiora, who was close to its source, in a bathtub surrounded by a garden park. In the old village is the Parish Church of SS. Fiora and Lucilla, where there are works by Della Robbia. On the nearby of the village of Selva, on the road to Castell'Azzara, there is the extensive complex of the convent of the Holy Trinity. Fraction of the territory is the habitat of white spruce. |
| Piancastagnaio: Medieval village located on the eastern side and built around a Aldobrandesca fortress dating from the eleventh century and subject of contention between Orvieto and Siena from the thirteenth century. More than the Aldobrandesca Rocca, open to the public, in Piancastagnaio there are the palace of the Marquis Bourbon del Monte dating to 1600 and the Palazzo del Podestà, whose planting dates back to the XIV century. Significant events: the Palio delle Contrade (August 18) and Crastatone, an event that takes place on the First of November to celebrate the end of gathering of chestnuts with exhibitions of local art and crafts. |
| Abbadia San Salvatore. Certainly the best preserved medieval village of the whole Amiata. Since 1350 it is part of Siena possessions, won after an exhausting contest against the State of Orvieto. The Abbey dating from year 700 keeps a crypt that is reached by two side staircases, absolutely retaining all the charm of ancient middleage. The museum preserves unique pieces coming from the same monastery. In Abbadia you can also visit the Mining Museum located in the clock tower. The village is famous for a typical event that takes place every year on the night of December 24, during which at the town corners are lighted large torches formed by stacks of wood high up to 4 metres, which are given to fire at the evening and burn up till the following morning in a goliardic and romantic atmosphere. A crowd of people walks through the streets of the old town, warming up to the heat of the torches and with the novello wine and mulled wine, which are distributed in "Fraschette" open all night. |
| Castell'Azzara: "When you start the game of Zara, the one who loses will remain sore repeating times, and sadly he learns: all the people go with the other; and one takes him from the back, and one bears in mind from the side: he does not arrest, and this and that hears; who presents the hand, press no more, and so from the crowd he defends.” Dante Alighieri describes the game of dice zara "It was the year 1212, when Ildebrandino, Bonifacio and William Aldobrandeschi, during a visit to their possessions, came to the slopes of Monte Penna. From there the eye ranged over the whole valley of Fiora river, on the wide depression of Paglia river; there were, within two steps, the numerous castles that formed almost a protective belt around the vast area of mountainous Aldobrandescan board ..... .. "(GB Vicarelli, Castell'Azzara and its territory. Memorie storiche.) (Taken from the site of the municipality ndr). This is the summarized story of the birth of the medieval village of Castell'Azzara, located at the southern slopes of Mount Amiata.
Recently upgraded as “town of truffle”, there are always been the white truffle, the Marzuolo, Nero, the Scorsone and Uncinato. The Aldobrandesca fortress, located in the centre of the village, subject to several changes due to the gradual decay and to the use that has been made, retains however its original grandeur. Certainly worth a visit the Natural Reserve of Monte Penna, the open Grotto of the Sassocolato that hosts a colony |
| Seggiano. In Seggiano there is the "Il Giardino di Daniel Spoerri: Haeret Hic Terminus", located in the house-lab of Daniel Spoerri. The foundation, therefore the management of the park-museum, provides the opportunity of study and research staying for all those are involved in the creative arts. In addition to works by Daniel Spoerri in the garden are displayed many works of his artist friends: Patrick Steiner, Jesus Rafael Soto, Paul Wiedmer, Juliane Kuhn, etc.. |