Mazzolla: Art, Village Culture and Routes to Berignone

Mazzolla combines a medieval village structure, art and the Tuscan landscape with specific reasons to visit. A walk through the lanes to the Piazza leads to the Church of San Lorenzo; at the same time, several signposted routes begin in or pass through the village and the nearby Berignone Nature Reserve. This makes it possible to get to know Mazzolla both through its cultural centre and via cycling and hiking routes.

Church, Villa and Art in the Village Landscape

The Church of San Lorenzo is built in the Romanesque style. Its defining features include the single-nave layout, the rafter roof and the gabled façade. The church is already mentioned in documents from 1276; a baptismal font was installed there in 1579. Its medieval wall was also emphasised by the arch “Attraversando la storia”. Mauro Staccioli created this rust-red work in Mazzolla. The original work was faithfully reconstructed in 2022, and the reconstructed work was subsequently donated to the Museo Archivio Mauro Staccioli. Villa Giorgi Viti also spans various eras. It is a residence of the Viti family and combines styles from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. The oldest core stands on the remains of Etruscan-Roman structures. The estate includes a walled garden with two defensive towers from the 16th century. A scene from the RAI series “La Donna Velata” was filmed in the garden of Villa Viti in 1975. A route of more than 90 kilometres featuring installations by Mauro Staccioli also passed through Mazzolla.

Books, Encounters and Local Stories

Libreria il Circolino opened on 26 June 2026 as Mazzolla’s first bookshop. In its third and fourth sections, it stocks carefully selected fiction in English and French. For readers seeking a cultural way to engage with the village, Libreria Umana complements this offering with a special event format: the audience can listen to the story of each human book and then ask questions, comment and share their own memories. Following editions in June 2024 and June 2025, Libreria Umana was held for the third time. The stories and professional experiences of, among others, an alabaster worker, a truffle hunter, a cook, a cheesemaker and a person working in salt production were presented.

Festa and Regional Cuisine

The Festa di Mazzolla takes place every year on 10 August in honour of the patron saint San Lorenzo and now also welcomes tourists and visitors. At the festival, pappardelle al cinghiale and dishes featuring local products from the immediate surrounding area are served. Nuova Trattoria Albana has existed for more than 60 years and selects ingredients from local producers. Another culinary destination is Pizzeria Erta Terra, which bakes its pizzas in a wood-fired oven. Its terrace offers views of the Berignone Nature Reserve.

Cycling and Hiking Routes to Berignone

Several different route options are available for active days. The “Ciclotour della Riserva Naturale di Berignone e Tatti” cycling tour begins in medieval Mazzolla, crosses the Fosci and leads into the Berignone Nature Reserve. Another cycling tour reaches the Torraccia in the heart of the reserve, which is also known as Castello dei Vescovi. From Mazzolla, a trekking tour can be continued along forest paths towards Berignone to the ruins of fortresses and castles. The approach is also described in terms of the landscape: the road connecting the SR 68 with Mazzolla offers views of the Calanchi. In addition, the paved route from Volterra to San Gimignano is designated for car journeys and cycling tours and passes through Mazzolla. For further regional orientation, you will also find Saline Saline, Villamagna Villamagna, Prato D'era Prato D'era and Pignano Pignano.

For the overarching travel overview: Volterra.