All you have to do to enjoy one of the most beautiful landscapes in the hilly Maremma hinterland is climb one of the foothills sloping down from Monte Amiata and stop off at Cinigiano. Originally a fief of the Aldobrandeschi family, Cinigiano was dominated by Siena in 1381 and subsequently by the Battifolle Counts.
The Clock Tower, restored in the middle of the 19th century, and the remains of a medieval fortress are all that are left of the old town. This area combines forests, natural pastures, vast areas suited for agriculture, the chestnut groves in Monticello and Mediterranean scrub, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees stretching from the mountains to the bed of the Ombrone.
The result is a wide sampling of products to be enjoyed during the numerous fairs and local events. The produce ranges from grain to grapes, from olives to chestnuts. A visit should certainly include the outskirts of Cinigiano: Porrona's castle, parish church and two noble villas still intact, as well as Monticello Amiata's Medieval structures and ethnographic museum.
The villages of Sasso d'Ombrone and Colle Massari are interesting both for their architecture and landscapes. The Aldobrandeschi citadels in Castiglioncello Bandini and Vicarello.
On the first weekend of October the traditional 'Festa dell'uva' (Feast for the grape harvest) takes place in Cinigiano. Splendid allegorical floats representing the town's three districts are preceded by a parade of villagers dressed in medieval costumes passing through the town streets. The cellars of the old town are flung open for tasting the local products washed down by Montecucco red wine.
In mid-August every year, Monticello Amiata offers 'Artificia Necessaria': three days of festivities in which the small village brings back past trades and crafts and cooks only dishes typical of the 19th century. In the fall, on the second Sunday of October and the last Sunday of November, festivities are held in honour of the two most important agriculture products of the area, chestnuts and olive oil.
All you have to do to enjoy one of the most beautiful landscapes in the hilly Maremma hinterland is climb one of the foothills sloping down from Monte Amiata and stop off at Cinigiano. Originally a fief of the Aldobrandeschi family, Cinigiano was dominated by Siena in 1381 and subsequently by the Battifolle Counts.
