Montecchio – Art, History and Landscape

Montecchio combines a striking landscape with unusual traces of art, religion and the past. The village lies on a sandstone hill on the right bank of the Era River and amid the forests of Le Serre, a rural area between Montecchio and Peccioli. Those looking for a place shaped by its landscape and connected to cultural and historical themes for their trip to Tuscany will find an independent base here for exploring the surrounding area.

Art and landscape belong together

The artwork “Rilievi” follows a specific arrangement based on the Hartmann grid. Geobiologists located the radiating nodes on which the artist worked. For visitors interested in unusual artistic concepts, this arrangement is a distinctive aspect of the work.

The sandstone rock itself also tells of different periods. The rock on which Montecchio stands is crisscrossed by tunnels. They may date from Etruscan times, but probably from the Middle Ages, and were used as shelters during the war. The different historical interpretations should be retained when considering this place: it is precisely the combination of an unclear early origin and later use that makes the tunnels an illustrative part of the village’s history. Accommodation in Montecchio is therefore particularly suited to travel plans in which landscape and history stand side by side on an equal footing.

Chapel, temple remains and religious tradition

At the entrance to Borgo Montecchio is the “Cappella della Domenica delle Palme”. The chapel bears this name because Mass is celebrated there exclusively on this holiday. It is therefore a clearly recognisable landmark at the entrance to the Borgo and, at the same time, an example of how religious tradition is made visible in the townscape. Those interested in sacred architecture and local customs can include this place in their walk through Montecchio.

The area around Montecchio is also home to the remains of the ancient Temple of Ortaglia, which was destroyed by a fire. The remains and finds from this temple are now displayed at the Museo Archeologico di Peccioli. This makes it possible to explore the temple’s history both in the area around Montecchio and through the exhibition in Peccioli. For families with different interests, this connection can be a good way to complement a landscape-focused stay with an archaeological theme without reducing Montecchio to just one historical period.

A dated glimpse into local tradition

During the Festa sulle Serre, on Saturday, 2 May 2026, at 9 p.m., a torchlight procession starting from Peccioli and Montecchio, with singing and prayers, made its way to the Chiesa della Madonna delle Serre. The date is already in the past and is therefore not a general event notice for future trips. However, it concretely illustrates the religious forms associated with Montecchio and Le Serre: an evening procession, communal singing and prayers on the way to a church. Those focusing on Tuscany’s cultural atmosphere will gain an evocative insight into a local custom.

Which accommodation suits Montecchio?

When looking for a hotel or other accommodation in Montecchio, it is worth first defining your own priorities. If the trip is primarily intended to combine art and local history, “Rilievi”, the chapel and the traces of the Temple of Ortaglia are the main attractions. If you are more interested in the landscape, the sandstone hill, the right bank of the Era and the forests of Le Serre shape the character of the stay. Those travelling with several generations can give these themes different weightings and make their daily itinerary correspondingly varied.

More places for your Tuscany research

If you would like to view pages for other places besides Montecchio, you can find Fabbrica, Legoli, Marti, Montelopio and Ghizzano here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Peccioli.