MONTEVERDI MARITTIMO

Located on the last western elevations of "the Colline Metallifere", at 360 mt. s.l., Monteverdi Marittimo is a pretty and quiet village with only a few hundreds inhabitants, surrounded by woods and not far from the sea. Easly reachable from the motorway or the highway "Livorno-Grosseto" (exit Donoratico or Venturina), Monteverdi Marittimo is in the middle of an interesting area for history, archaeology, nature.

The territory of Monteverdi Marittimo looks on the wide plain of Cornia. It used to be a Roman province called "Giulia Ossequiosa", and it was allotted by the Emperor to his most faithful veterans.

Various remains of this period have been found near the built-up area of Monteverdi; worthy of mention are the remains of a Roman road and the ruins of an ancient villa. Monteverdi draws their origins from a Benedectine monastery founded in 754 by Walfredo, a Longobard, first in the line of the noble Gherardesca family.

Monteverdi has retained their medieval appearance. In the quaint bell-tower of the Deacon's church in Monteverdi you may find a fifteenth centry wooden crucifix. The landscape of the Cornia plain is characterized by the luxuriant growth of Mediterranean bush, which explodes into a kaleidoscope of colours with the changing of the seasons. The bright colours and the intense natural fragrances of the flowers, the ancient oak trees, the turkey oaks and the holm oaks blend togheter and combine in harmony and with great delicacy. In this wonderful natural setting, ancient traditions thrive and constitute an essential part of coexistence in its communities. Hospitality is the order of the day, and everyone's door is open to afford you a glimpse of a charming and spontaneous world.

BOLGHERI

Bolgheri is located on a little height at the end of the famous Cypresses Boulevard that stretches from San Guido. The village is surrounded by woods, plenty of Mediterranean vegetation and a well-tilled plain.

Bolgheri is linked to Castagneto, - its borough - through "Via Bolgherese", a wonderful boulevard become famous as the "Wine Road" for its production of rare wines. Through a mighty arch of a castle you will get into the old village. Indoors, among its ancient lanes and squares, little "shops" spring up.

There you may buy the typical products of the area and taste the natural local speciality.
Between 1838 and 1848 Giosuè Carducci lived in Bolgheri, chanted it in its lines and this village became known all over the world.

CASTAGNETO CARDUCCI

Castagneto Carducci is set on the top of a hill that overlooks the countryside and the near sea. This charming Medieval village springs up round the Castle of Della Gherardesca, built about during the year 1000.

The village has paved lanes, natural terraces that view the sea and the countryside, pleasant square, ancient craftsman shop and typical small restaurants. Many historical evidences are worth of note such as the Praetorian Palace – now seat of the Municipality – S. Lorenzo and SS. Crucifix Churches (the latter because its woody crucifix of the XV century in the church).

At the beginning this village was named Castagneto Marittimo. Then, in the early XX c., it turned its name into Castagneto Carducci in honour of the great poet Giosuè Carducci that spent there many years of his life. Giosuè Carducci's house is now a museum full of evidences.

QUERCETO

Querceto, a little village in the council of Montecatini Val di Cecina, is in the heart of Val di Cecina, few kilometres from Ponteginori, in the main road that goes to the near Volterra. It is a wonderful place in the heart of Tuscany, among the hills that follow one another as far as the eye can see. A place where you may feel a new breath, made of fantasy, nature, quiet and serenity. Etymologically, the name Querceto comes from the meaning of flower in the Middle Ages. Since ancient times, there was a very important castle, because it supplied 600 soldiers to the Council of Volterra, but anyway it was undergone to many other actions of the other villages of this area.

Indeed, nowadays this village is of great interest, not only for its castle but also for its ancient houses and its church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist.

Outside, the building keeps its original parameter with rows of small sandstone ashlars and a peculiar iconography. Indeed, when you enter, you see one nave with two end bays, getting a crossed-shape. Its original apse has been substituted by a rectangular purse to keep money and papers called “scarsella”. Eventually, the symbols of two evangelists stand out (the eagle and the lion) at the sides of the Redeemer, represented as a child, modelled at the capital of the semi-pillar of the right nave. The large and notable fresco in the apse is a recent work by Luciano Guarnieri.