Discover Crespole: church, song tradition and landscape

Crespole brings together traces of historic culture and landscapes of the Val di Forfora. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta, the traditional song heritage and the excursions each offer a different perspective. This gives you two distinct interests to consider when planning your trip: architecture and cultural heritage, and woodland landscapes and chestnut traditions.

Church and historic traces

The Church of Santa Maria Assunta has a single nave, is covered by a cross vault and ends in a semicircular apse. A single-nave space has one main aisle; the apse is the semicircular end. This makes it possible to picture the layout and its termination without a lengthy architectural description. The decorative furnishings date from the 18th century. The church also houses an Agati-Tronci organ dating from 1896. The layout, furnishings and instrument each represent different aspects of the church and its history.

Crespole’s castle is described as having crenellated walls and two towers in the 14th century. Alongside the church, it offers another historic trace, dating from a different period than the decorative furnishings and organ. The description of the castle, the shape of the church interior and the later-dated furnishings offer different ways to explore the area’s architectural history.

Songs as a remembrance of Crespole in earlier times

Crespole’s traditional song heritage includes seasonal, narrative, bawdy, playful, anarchic, patriotic and religious songs. Their themes range from religious ceremonies and festivals to leisure activities, occupations and love stories, as well as social and political events in Crespole’s past. The songs thus preserve not only religious occasions but also offer insight into different aspects of local life in earlier times.

Published in 2022, the book “Crespole in rime e voci” grew out of a collection of local songs, verses and melodies remembered by residents. Unlike the architectural traces, remembrance is at its heart: the collection brings together musical heritage and narrated local history. Those interested in culture beyond architecture will find a distinctive way to discover Crespole through this song tradition.

The Val di Forfora and Macchia Antonini

The excursion through the Val di Forfora passes through Lanciole, Crespole and Calamecca before reaching Macchia Antonini. At the destination is a woodland area of more than 200 hectares, with large trees and extensive meadows. Historic connections to the villages and a vast woodland landscape thus offer different interests for visitors. The route follows a course through several villages and ends at a landscape destination quite distinct from the church, castle and song tradition.

Chestnut culture along the route

The “Antiche vie della Val di Forfora” route includes a visit to a traditional chestnut-drying house, known as a metato, used to produce chestnut flour. Chestnuts are therefore presented not only as fruit but also as part of a processing tradition. Along the same route, visitors can gather chestnuts beneath a large chestnut grove. These two activities complement each other without describing the same experience: the metato represents the use of chestnuts, while gathering is about the fruit and its grove.

Crespole thus offers a contrast between cultural and historical themes and the landscapes and food traditions of the Val di Forfora.

Discover more destinations: Lanciole, Popiglio.

Return to the broader travel overview: Piteglio.