Seggiano

Seggiano between olive groves and Monte Amiata

Seggiano is a small hill town on the slopes of Monte Amiata. Its character is shaped by centuries-old olive trees and the landscape around the valley of the Vivo stream. Anyone wishing to combine culture, regional specialities and contemporary art on a journey through Tuscany will find several clearly distinct points of interest here.

History and sacred art

The town’s history goes back a long way: Seggiano was first documented in 903. At that time, the hamlet of Senganu or Sergiano was owned by the Abbey of San Salvatore on Monte Amiata. This early mention gives the town a historical framework that can be explored further by visiting its churches and older buildings. In the Chiesa di San Bartolomeo, you can admire a polyptych, or multi-panel altarpiece, depicting the enthroned Virgin Mary and Jesus, along with Saints Bartholomew, Michael and John the Evangelist. Another notable stop is the Santuario della Madonna della Carità. It was built following a famine at the end of the 16th century and was probably completed around 1603. The building has three naves and, in addition to the main altar, six other altars. Its history and internal layout make the sanctuary a cultural and historical subject in its own right, rather than merely an individual photo opportunity. The area around Castello del Potentino also appears well preserved. It includes agricultural buildings and an L-shaped Renaissance palace with two corner towers. The complex thus complements the sacred sites with an example of historic architecture linked to agriculture.

Olive oil as a local theme

Seggiano is particularly strongly associated with its olive-growing culture. Extra virgin olive oil from the indigenous Olivastra seggianese is produced as Seggiano DOP. The Museo dell’Olio explores this subject in a distinctive way: Founded in 2012, the museum is spread throughout the historic centre of Seggiano and was conceived by the Municipality of Seggiano and the Fondazione Le Radici di Seggiano. An unusual addition is the Olivo nel Cisternone. This is a scientific installation featuring the first specimen of the Olivastra seggianese and the world’s largest plant supplied using aeroponic technology. The Festa dell’Olio takes place in Seggiano at the end of November and provides a distinct seasonal highlight for anyone specifically interested in the local oil tradition.

Contemporary art in the landscape

The Giardino di Daniel Spoerri combines art and landscape. This contemporary art park is located in Seggiano and covers around 16 hectares. The grounds contain 115 installations by 55 artists. This creates a distinctly different focus from the churches, museum or historic buildings: The emphasis is not on a single building, but on the connection between numerous works of art and an expansive landscape. For further options, you can also discover Pescina, Salaiola, Cinigiano, Santa Fiora, Roccalbegna, Manciano, Grosseto and Civitella Marittima.

To the higher-level travel overview: Grosseto.