CASTELNUOVO VAL DI CECINA

Castelnuovo Val di Cecina

Authentic Tuscany in a sea of green

Perched on its hill, the town appears like a medieval dream immersed in a green landscape. The steep and narrow alleys lead you to the top, to the castle and the church, where you can admire a beautiful and evocative panorama.

The town of Castelnuovo, charming in every season, is characterised by an untouched scenery far away from the noise and the traffic of the city. It offers activities and products linked to the forest, the passing of time and nature.
With its authentic and isolated features, Castelnuovo is a symbol of that genuine side that Tuscany is leaving behind in its shift towards modernization

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The Municipality of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina lies on the southern edge of the province of Pisa on the border between the provinces of Siena and Grosseto. The hilly landscape typical of the Cecina Valley is even more accentuated in this area: thick woodland lines the hills and the Mediterranean vegetation gives way to Apennine vegetation (chestnut, Turkey oak and Hornbeams). The urban settlements are concentrated in Castelnuovo and the villages of Sasso Pisano, Montecastelli Pisano and Leccia: four medieval hilltop settlements with the characteristics of the look-out posts of Lombard origin.

Castelnuovo is 576 metres a.s.l. and has a pleasant climate in the summer, while in winter the houses can rely on the geothermal energy that is harnessed both to heat buildings and, especially, to produce clean electricity. Still visible are the natural geothermal phenomena, fumaroles and gases.

This area of Tuscany is characterized by the natural geothermal phenomena commonly known as “lagoni”, especially around Sasso Pisano. They were already well-known to the Etruscans and Romans, during the Middle Ages the “lagoni” were largely exploited to produce alumen and sulphur.

In autumn and winter the hunting season and the season for picking mushrooms and chestnuts begin. In the community chestnut woodland, near the village, one can relax in the picnic area and read the didactic panels showing how historically chestnuts were processed and their various uses. In the old and new areas of the village there are numerous shops and other facilities. There also is a free WIFI net in some areas of the village.
The medieval borgo, still untouched, is little changed architecturally from the medieval period. The narrow alleyways paved in stones and full of twists and turns, the medieval gateways and the views over the valley characterize this welcoming ancient village, surrounded by woodlands. You cannot enter by car and thus this area is peaceful and quiet. One of the 12 nature trails created by the local Town Hall and the CAI of Pisa, allows you to visit the borgo to find for example the Chiassino alleyway (only 46-cm wide), and to proceed into the surrounding chestnut woodlands and down to the valley of the Pavone stream where it is possible to admire two bridges dating to the Renaissance period, Ponte Alto and Ponte del Defizio.

SASSO PISANO
The ancient village of Sasso Pisano lies on top of a rock in the vicinity of the springs of the Cornia river, at the summit its parish church dedicated to Saint Bartholomew is to be found. From here it is possible to see the scattered fumaroles and geothermal gases that are clearly visible following a nature trail . Near the Villaggio Boracifero the didactic trail created by ENEL is located, where you can admire the particularly fascinating geothermal phenomena. Here the small chapel and the village built in 1958 and designed by the architect Giovanni Michelucci are well worth a visit. In the neighbourhood, very hot thermal springs are situated (over 60°C) that create natural pools and supply water to a public wash-house next to the sporting facilities, and last but not least to a thermal pool made up of two pools at different temperatures and a bio-lake . In the village you can visit the small archaeological museum “Il Canapaio”, situated on the road to Leccia, where the archaeological items coming from the ancient thermal baths, dating from Etruscan and Roman times, are kept. Opening soon a museum dedicated to traditional Tuscan Arts and Crafts.

MONTECASTELLI PISANO
From the top of this village, a charming view overlooks the valleys of the Pavone stream and Cecina river. The most interesting buildings are: the Pannocchieschi Tower and the Romanesque church of Saint Filippo and Giacomo. The urban structure is typical of that of the medieval villages. Circular with parallel main streets linked to each other through narrow covered or uncovered alleyways.
In order to gather together and preserve the traditional tools of country farm life used between the end of 1800 and the beginning of 1900, the Museum of Rural Life has been established. A stone’s throw from the provincial road, the Etruscan tomb “Buca delle Fate” (8th century BC) is well worth a visit. On foot or on the back of a horse, one can enjoy the fascinating nature trails through the surrounding woodlands, along the Pavone stream.

LA LECCIA
Leccia is a very small medieval village which lies in the Cornia Valley on the road from Sasso Pisano to Larderello. Close to the hamlet, at the cemetery, there is the Santuario della Madonna del Libro built in Peruvian style by Matteo da Leccia.

the “voltole”

Piazza Plebiscito

the big oak

Porta Fiorentina

Church of SS. Salvatore

view

Wonders of nature, a mix of landscapes and history

Minerals, geothermal energy and the environment in the Valdicecina

Castelnuovo Val di Cecina: a journey from ancient times to today

Culture, art and archeology in Tuscany’s green scenery

Discover Castelnuovo

Must-see places, beautiful panoramas

The Santissimo Salvatore Church

Parish Church of Saint Jacopo and Filippo

Madonna del Libro sanctuary

Ponte del Defizio

Bagno al Morbo

The “borghi” around Castelnuovo Val di Cecina

Traveling between untouched nature and ancient towns

Montecastelli Pisano

Leccia

Sasso Pisano

Events in the area of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina

to discover this beautiful land

Walking in the countryside around the town

You’ll be amazed

In Castelnuovo Val di Cecina’s area

Other routes in this special area

Grand tour of the geothermal stations and the parks

DISCOVER THE ROUTE
Type of route: by bike
Length: 48,77 Km
Level: medium

Montecastelli and Bocca di Pavone

DISCOVER THE ROUTE
Type of route: on foot
Length: 10,86 Km
Level: advanced

Nature and history from the Rocca Sillana to the Pavone Valley

DISCOVER THE ROUTE
Type of route: on foot
Length: 8,05 Km
Level: advanced

Where to stay in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina

Agriturismo Santa Caterina

Restaurant, other services and business in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina

Podere Paterno

Birrificio Vapori di Birra

Discover the other towns

in the Valdicecina

Castelnuovo Val di Cecina to share

Everyday images from the Tuscany of your dreams

Our city Volterra is surrounded by a vast territory of breathtaking landscapes. Here a fragment of a spectacular photography by Lara Giuntini laric_photography, early morning mists over the Tuscan woods.

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While strolling along the winding and narrow streets of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina you'll come across medieval gates, pretty historical buildings and, here and there, fascinating panoramic views of the surrounding valley.
Set south of Volterra, Castelnuovo sits perched on a sandstone spur surrounded by vast oak forests and chestnut groves and boasts the Bandiera Arancione/Orange Flag recognition awarded by the Italian Touring Club. Its area is also known for natural geothermal manifestations (such as the fumaroles and steam emissions around Sasso Pisano) and ancient Etruscan findings (don't miss the 6th century BC hypogeum called Buca delle Fate in Montecastelli).
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Photos by laric_photography.
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Also follow 👉 valdelsavaldicecina.
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#mytuscany #InstaTuscany #ToscanaOvunqueBella #ilikeitaly #viaggioinitalia #treasureitaly #traveltoitaly #ValdelsaValdicecina #betuscanforaday #CastelnuovoValdiCecina #Toscana #Tuscany #Italia #Italy #Europa #Europe #VisitTuscany #Travel #TravelDestination #TravelPhotography #instatravel #instagramers #travelling #touringclubitaliano
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Montecastelli Pisano con la Torre dei Pannocchieschi prima del recente restauro
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#montecastellipisano #montecastelli #castelnuovovaldicecina #valdicecina #torredeipannocchieschi #igersitalia #igerstoscana #tuscany #tuscanygram #fever_old_stones #total_medieval #castellitoscani #castlesoftuscany #toscana_mania__ #borghi_photogroup #volgotoscana #volgopisa #ruins #ancientruins #castles #total_medieval #manor_n_castle #igerspisa #ig_pisa #valdicecina
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...fox .... 🤗 photographed from the window ..... wanders around the village ... at all hours ..
🤔 I think that among the foxes in the area .... it's the most "alternative"..😁👋
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Consorzio Turistico Volterra Valdicecina Valdera S.c.r.l.
Piazza dei Priori 19/20 - 56048 Volterra (PI) - PIVA 01308340502
Operation/Project allocated within the framework of the POR FESR Tuscany 2014-2020