Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina, between hills, spas, hamlets and castles
Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina is a typical hilltop tuscan in province of Pisa located halfway betwee Volterra and Massa Marittima. This hamlet is very small, but it has an ancient history that traces its roots back to Etruscan times; after the Roman age, Castelnuovo developed during the middle ages as a fortified village.
Positioned in a very varied territory, not far from the “Costa degli Etruschi“, Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina is a great destination for nature lovers, in fact, from the village there are several nature trails that lead to panoramic points and places of historical interest.
Things to do in Castelnuovo Val di Cecina
Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina is a pretty hamlet and is not by chance if was awarded with the Touring Club Italiano’s bandiera arancione; in its territory there are several religious buildings and even some military architectures as the Castello dei Marescotti.
Walking through the village you can visit the oratorio di San Rocco and the oratorio della Madonna del Piano but the most important church is the chiesa del Santissimo Salvatore. Probably built between the end of the 11th and first half of the 12th century,the Church is located at the highest point of the historic village towering the town with its bell tower. Inside there are some artworks as a wooden cross (beginning of 14th century) and a 17th century organ.
Places to visit around Castelnuovo Val di Cecina
Not far from Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina you can visit two mare beautiful hamlets: Montecastelli Pisano and Sasso Pisano.
Montecastelli Pisano
Perched on a hill, Montecastelli is about 15 kilometres far from Castelnuovo. Right in the centre of the village, there are the Torre dei Pannocchieschi (13th-14th century) and the pieve dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo buit in 1186. Here you can also visita the Museo della civiltà contadina, which collects tools used in farm and domestic works between 19th and 20th century.
Near this hamlet, there is the so called Buca delle Fate, an etruscan tomb carved directly into the rock (6th century Before Christ).
Sasso Pisano
The area around Sasso Pisano is characterized by the presence of some typical geothermal phenomena such as fumaroles, and hot springs. There is also an ancient etruscan spa, known as Il Bagnone, dating back to the third century BC.
Also the village of Sasso Pisano is worth a visit, here there are to visit the chiesa di San Bartolomeo and the Antiquarium, an Etruscan and Roman Museum which houses the finds discovered in the surrounding area.
