Piancastagnaio – Mining History, Chestnuts and Routes

Piancastagnaio combines a distinctive mining history with historic sites, chestnut traditions and routes on Monte Amiata. Culture, landscape and regional cuisine come together here in different ways: through a cultural and historical visit, a festival in the historic center or a route with clearly described starting and ending points.

Mining History and Historic Sites

The “La Miniera del Siele” mine extracted the richest cinnabar deposit in the Amiata area. The ore contained up to 38 percent mercury. Tours of the mine are available by prior arrangement; this visit should therefore not simply be planned as a spontaneous activity. The town’s architectural history can also be traced through several specific sites. The second construction phase of the Rocca Aldobrandesca di Piancastagnaio dates from 1471 to 1478. The Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta contains a door lintel bearing the year 1617. The Santuario della Madonna di San Pietro stands on the site of an earlier Romanesque church. Piazza Matteotti, formerly known as Piazza del Comune, is also a notable historic square. The restored washhouses of Piancastagnaio are likewise among the town’s places of tourist interest.

Chestnuts, Cuisine and Festivals

Chestnuts shape not only individual dishes but also the events calendar. Crastatone is an annual festival celebrating roasted chestnuts. Since 1967, it has been held during the week of All Saints’ Day in the historic center of Piancastagnaio. Those wishing to discover the local cuisine can try Brodolese, a chestnut soup typical of Piancastagnaio, refined with wild fennel. Another regular event is the Palio delle Contrade. It takes place in Piancastagnaio on August 18, with the participation of the four contrade: Borgo, Castello, Coro and Voltaia. Alongside the historic buildings, local festivals and culinary traditions are therefore also central to the town’s history.

Routes on Monte Amiata

There are several routes with different layouts for active days. The route from Piancastagnaio to Poggio della Guardia is approximately 14 kilometers long. Another route from Abbadia San Salvatore to Piancastagnaio connects the two most important villages on the Sienese side of Monte Amiata. Those who prefer a circular route can consider the loop from Piancastagnaio to Poggio della Guardia: it begins and ends near the Santuario della Madonna di San Pietro on the outskirts of Piancastagnaio.

Landscape and Further Discoveries

South of Piancastagnaio lies the Pigelleto Nature Reserve. It preserves traces of the former cinnabar mining industry, continuing the town’s mining theme within a protected landscape. For further exploration, you can also find Saragiolo.

For the overview of the wider destination: Siena.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Monteroni D'arbia, Trequanda, Chianciano Terme, Monteriggioni, Castellina In Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Badiaccia A Montemuro.