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Santa Fiora, the town of water
- Category What to visit in Maremma
At the foot of Mount Amiata, Santa Fiora is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy
Number of views: 22215Agriturismo - Where to stay overnight
Santa Fiora
They call it the land of water, an element that has always been a protagonist in the history of Santa Fiora, the Tuscan village in the province of Grosseto.
The village, at the foot of the Monte Amiata , is so picturesque that it has obtained the Orange Flag of the Touring Club and has become part of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.
The first documents that testify to the existence of the village as we know it today date back to the year 833. Its history is therefore very ancient. The numerous buildings, churches, chapels, the convent and what remains of the historic walls testify to this.
It rises around the sources of the Fiora river. Today its waters flow from the Peschiera into a basin outside the boundary wall, surmounted by two dolphins with trident, once used as a drinking trough and then as a public wash house.
Water is still the protagonist in the Bagnore 3 geothermal power plant, an impressive work of contemporary architecture built at the turn of the millennium, which stands out in harmony with the surrounding landscape.
Located on the southern side of the Monte Amiata, the historic center of Santa Fiora it develops on a hill and is divided into three districts: Castello, Borgo, Montecatino which slope down towards the sources of the river.
The Castello district is the oldest part of the town. Its original medieval square is dominated by the remains of the fortified structures (the tower, the shoe bases, the clock tower) and the 16th century Palazzo dei Conti Sforza Cesarini, now the seat of the Municipality.
Through a medieval door called 'Porticciola' you enter the Borgo district, from which you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view over the Fiora valley, Monte Calvo and Monte Labro.
Passing through another door, Porta San Michele, you reach the Montecatino district, the newest part of the 'old quarter'. Here, once, favored by the abundance of water, various factories flourished. But to dominate is the stretch of water of the Peschiera which, alone, is worth the trip.
Starting from the village it is possible to make various excursions in the surrounding area on foot, on horseback, by mountain bike or E-bike, such as the nature trails along the Monte Amiata, the largest beech forest in Europe, or from the geothermal power plant of Bagnore 4 (the last built and the most modern at world) to the Galleria delle Sorgenti del Fiora.
Santa Fiora (video)
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