Santa Maria a Monte: Museums, Archaeology and Tuscan Festivals
Santa Maria a Monte combines several clearly recognizable facets: the house where the Carducci family lived, archaeological evidence at the highest point of the borgo, medieval art and a culinary tradition centered around the potato. If you would like to combine culture, history and regional festivals on your trip, you will find various points of interest here – from the museum to the panoramic terrace and from the sacred artwork to the traditional “padellone”.
Museums and art between Carducci and the Middle Ages
A special place for those interested in literature and culture is the Museo Casa Carducci. It is located in the house where the Carducci family lived from 1856 to 1858. The permanent exhibition “Il Tenero Gigante” by Possenti is also displayed there. It comprises 26 paintings and drawings inspired by the life and work of the poet Giosuè Carducci. Thus, the same museum focuses both on the family’s actual historic residence and on an artistic exploration of Carducci’s life and work.
On the first floor of the Museo Civico Beata Diana Giuntini, an archaeological tour leads to finds from the excavations at Sant'Ippolito in Anniano and La Rocca. The Museo Civico also displays a medieval Madonna and Child made of painted and gilded wood. The statue is dated to 1255 and is kept in the Collegiata di Santa Maria a Monte. The furnishings of the Collegiata also include a wooden crucifix attributed to the Master of the Camaiore Crucifix and dating from the first quarter of the 14th century.
Another historical detail awaits you in the Biblioteca Comunale: a medieval cistern is still visible there today. It is already mentioned in the statutes of 1391. It is precisely these diverse testimonies – a residence, archaeological finds, religious art and a preserved architectural element – that give Santa Maria a Monte its historical character.
La Rocca and the view over the Valdarno
The Area Archeologica La Rocca is located at the highest point of the borgo and offers visitors a panoramic terrace. The Torre dell’Orologio provides another viewpoint: from the top floor, the view extends across the entire Valdarno and to the other castle towers.
Sagra della Patata Fritta and traditional festivals
The Sagra della Patata Fritta generally takes place in the second half of August in the historic center and on the squares of the Borgo Santa Maria a Monte. Every evening, frying in the traditional “padellone” begins at around 6:00 p.m. The food stalls offer a menu featuring potatoes from Santa Maria a Monte as well as another menu with typical Tuscan dishes. This festival therefore focuses not only on a single product, but also on a selection of regional cuisine.
Beata Diana Giuntini is celebrated with the traditional Processione delle Paniere every Easter Monday.
For further orientation within the destination, you can also visit Cerretti.
For the overarching travel overview: Pisa.
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