Arcidosso |
Situated up high, overlooking the beautiful territory below, Arcidosso definitely has an austere and magical atmosphere. Church of St. Niccoló: the principal building, it is the oldest of the town and was established by the Abbey of St. Salvatore and named after the patron saint of the town. Inside there is a precious wooden crucifix and a stoup. Church of St. Andrea: a splendid Romanesque construction which is custodian of many splendid frescoes, including “La Vergine in Trono” (The Virgin on the Throne). Church of St. Leonardo: built in the 12th century, it is home to many stunning frescoes and has some architectonics elements which were added in the 16th century. Pieve di Santa Maria ad Lamulas (Parish Church of St. Maria ad Lamulas): a medieval structure, built in the countryside which surrounds Arcidosso. Legend implies that the name of the church is derived from a mythical event, suggesting that one of the walls kneeled down to venerate the Madonna and that it left the imprint of its knee. Chiesa dell’ Incoronata (Church of the Crowned): built in the second half of the 14th century, it commemorates the end of the pestilence and is custodian of some frescoes which depict “La Madonna con il Bambino” (The Madonna with the baby) and “La Gloria della Santissima Trinità”(The Glory of the Sacred Trinity). Rocca Aldobrandesca (Aldobrandesca Fortress): a fortress which was constructed in the highest part of the town. Today the building is home to interesting cultural events, shows, conventions and displays. Fonte del Poggiolo (Fount of the Poggiolo): a splendid fountain made out of marble and resembling a small neo-Gothic temple. The ancient doors used to access the fortified city: Porta dell’Orologio (Door of the Watch), Porta del Castello (Door of the Castle) and Porta Talassese. David Lazzaretti, a mystic and revolutionary and the prophet of Amiata, must be remembered in this story. He sacrificed himself in 1878 for religious reasons, and he was opposed to injustice in the world and the decline of the roman clerical order. The Torre di David (Tower of David) is a stone monument constructed in the wonderful landscape of Monte Labbro. It was built for David Lazzeretti, known as “Il Profeta” (The Prophet) in the second half of the 14th century. Today there also exists a small church which still receives a great number of pilgrims each year. The David Lazzereti Study Centre: inside there are manuscripts, texts and testimonies which tell of the life and the work of the “Prophet”. Visitor Centre of the Faunistic Park of Monte Amiata: with numerous exhibitions, panels and descriptions of the Maremman mountain territory, it contains photos and reproductions which describe the morphological characteristics of the area, its geographic position and its evolutionary history. You can also admire and observe the life of the flora and fauna of the park, thanks to the presence of video cameras spread throughout the centre. Visitor Centre of the Faunistic Park of Monte Amiata: with numerous exhibitions, panels and descriptions of the Maremman mountain territory, it contains photos and reproductions which describe the morphological characteristics of the area, its geographic position and its evolutionary history. You can also admire and observe the life of the flora and fauna of the park, thanks to the presence of video cameras spread throughout the centre.
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| Montelaterone Also Montelaterone has kept its medieval structure almost intact. It is dominated by the remains of a Sienese castle (1369) in the upper part, has been built on the preexisting fortress, and reveals a solid hexagonal structure. It lies in a strategic position and dominates the valleys of the Lente and Zancona streams and the rich soil produces olive groves, vine-yards and other cultivations. It is amongst the first castles to be documented (1004). The village which can be accessed through Porta senese and Porta di mezzo is covered with portals, inscriptions and coats of arms of incredible value. At the beginnung of the toom there is the church of San Clemente, with ogival portal and sealed round opening and inside there is just one nave with trachytic pavement: inside there are works of art like a seventeenth century Crucifix, a seventeenth century painting of the Sienese school and a Sienese marble tabernacle (XV-XVI century). Outside the walls of Montelaterone, the Chiesa della Madonna della Misericordia houses frescoes by Francesco Nasini (XVII century). Next to the entrance junction there is the chapel of the Schiacciaie, decorated with precious fifteenth century frescoes. |
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| There are a lot of hiking and mountain-biking trails around Arcidosso. Walking the undulating hilltops overlooking medieval villagers, past vineyards and olive groves to the magnificent open vistas and sun splashed landscapes of southern Tuscany. We recommend the Kompass hiking map Kompass 653 Pienza - Montalcino - Monte Amiata (1:50.000) to accompany the guides that are present in Podere Santa Pia. Also Il portale di Amiata Turismo (it), provides exellent information and good hiking and MBT tracks. The brochures Amiata without haste... By foot (Itineraries) and Amiata by bike (Itineraries) provide useful information. Castel del Piano - Arcidosso (± 55 min.) |
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Castel del Piano - Arcidosso (± 55 minutes).
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Arcidosso-Anello Amiata Itinerary 10 Anello Amiata (Amiata's Ring) (AA, 10 and 11 on the map) The ring surrounds the mountain essentially along the level curve of the 1200 m altitude and can be reached through many roads coming from Vivo d’Orcia, Seggiano, Casteldelpiano, Arcidosso, Santa Fiora, Piancastagniaio and Abbadia San Salvatore. The road winds up, except for some stretches of asphalt road, in a wide pathway, about 27 km long, which allows the wanderer to reach the ring in about 7 hours and without difficulty. The pathway can be walked down on foot, but also on horseback, by bike (mountain bike) and, in winter, it turns into a cross-country ski slope. The pathway offers the possibility of enjoying enchanting panoramas of the peak and of the valleys of the Orcia, Paglia and Fiora rivers and crosses wonderful beech forests, intermingled with chestnut trees, oaks and pine and fir tree reforestations. In the areas between the chestnut trees and the beech trees there are many native maples, hazels and hawthorns. |
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Mount Labbro Nature Reserve How to get there: from Arcidosso follow the directions to Roccalbegna and after about 8 km turn right taking the road to Mount Labbro Opening hours: Open every day (except on Monday) from 07.15 to sunset. The reserve can be visited following the available foot tracks. |
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The Pigelleto Nature Reserve extends over a territory of 862 hectars between Siena and Grosseto. It is located in Piancastagnaio, a small town South-East from Monte Amiata in Tuscany. How to get there: from Piancastagnaio - take the road to Castell'Azzara. The Nature Reserve is only 6 Km away. |
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| The municipality of Arcidosso contains the frazioni Bagnoli, Macchie, Montelaterone, Salaiola, San Lorenzo, Stribugliano, and Zancona. Arcidosso borders the following municipalities: Campagnatico, Castel del Piano, Cinigiano, Roccalbegna, Santa Fiora. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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