Really slow tuscany: Montecastelli Pisano
Leonardo from Agriturismo Toscana Villa Centopino suggests visiting Montecastelli Pisano, a tiny medieval borgo and real “slow Tuscany” find (near Siena). Arttrav thanks Leonardo for allowing us to take some of the information from his website about this little town.
Montecastelli's church and tower
The closest town to Villa Centopino is Montecastelli Pisano, a fraction of Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina (not far from Pomarance) founded in the 12th century (494 meters high and population 400). This is an untouched fortified medieval borgo whose walls hardly betray the series of wars that took place in the 14th and 15th centuries for its control. Montecastelli wished to be independant from Volterra’s bishop but eventually had to submit; it was then submitted to a major seige by Alfonso King of Aragon in 1447 and eventually landed in the hands of the Florentines, along with Volterra and most of that area.
general view of a street in Montecastelli from www.castellitoscani.com
The town is dominated by the fortified Pannocchieschi tower next to the church that looks over its tiny medieval streets that are perfect for photographing. The town’s Romanesque church dates to 1186.
On your way out of town, following signs for Castelnuovo Val Di Cecina you can visit the really stunning ‘Buca delle Fate’, a 6th BC century Etruscan tomb composed of massive stone slabs.
Montecastelli is pleasant for a half day trip perhaps with a stop for lunch or dinner on the panoramic terrace at La Pergola in Radicondoli, a great restaurant whose specialty is crostini al lardo di colonnata.
The rocca sillana
If you’d like to stay in this area, Agriturismo Villa Centopino is available for rent for a relaxing week surrounded by cypress trees and the stillness typical of the Tuscan hills. There’s a big green lawn with swimming pool and an outdoor Jacuzzi for those moments at home; nearby it’s not far to major art cities and also picturesque small towns. The villa is approx 150 years old and has been successfully protected against the earthquakes that sometimes shake the area by an inscription “Christus Nobiscum State” that was put there in its year of construction.
From the lawn, you can see a fortress called the “Rocca Sillana” (photo), opened just this year after a long restoration paid for by the Regione Toscana. Near the villa can also be found animal fossils dating back millions of years ago when this whole area was under the sea.
