Piancastagnaio: Mining History, Festivals and Hiking Routes

Mining and Architectural History

“La Miniera del Siele” mined the richest cinnabar deposit in the Amiata area; the ore contained up to 38 percent mercury. Visits to “La Miniera del Siele” are possible by prior arrangement. If you plan to visit this site, you can schedule the tour as a separate item on your itinerary.

The second construction phase of the Rocca Aldobrandesca di Piancastagnaio dates from 1471 to 1478. The Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta has a door lintel bearing the year 1617. The Santuario della Madonna di San Pietro stands on the site of an earlier Romanesque church. Piancastagnaio therefore presents you with different historical points of reference: a dated construction phase, a dated door lintel and a church site with older origins.

Squares and Special Places

Piazza Matteotti is the historic square that was formerly called Piazza del Comune. The former name is part of the history of this square. The restored wash houses of Piancastagnaio are places of tourist interest. When finding your way around the town, you should distinguish between the current name, Piazza Matteotti, and the former name, Piazza del Comune.

Chestnuts and Local Festivals

Crastatone is an annual roasted-chestnut festival that has been celebrated since 1967 in the week of All Saints’ Day in the historic centre of Piancastagnaio. Brodolese is a chestnut soup typical of Piancastagnaio, refined with wild fennel. Chestnuts therefore feature both as the theme of a festival and as an ingredient in a typical Piancastagnaio dish.

Routes Around Piancastagnaio

The route from Piancastagnaio to Poggio della Guardia is approximately 14 kilometres long. The route from Abbadia San Salvatore to Piancastagnaio connects the two most important villages of Amiata on the Sienese mountain slope. The circular route from Piancastagnaio to Poggio della Guardia starts and ends near the Santuario della Madonna di San Pietro on the outskirts of Piancastagnaio.

For your planning, the name of the route is important: the distance of approximately 14 kilometres refers to the route from Piancastagnaio to Poggio della Guardia. The circular route from Piancastagnaio to Poggio della Guardia starts and ends near the Santuario della Madonna di San Pietro on the outskirts. By contrast, the route from Abbadia San Salvatore to Piancastagnaio represents the connection between the two most important villages of Amiata on the Sienese mountain slope.

Nature and Palio

The Pigelleto nature reserve lies south of Piancastagnaio. The Pigelleto nature reserve preserves traces of the former cinnabar mining industry. On 18 August, the Palio delle Contrade is held in Piancastagnaio. The four contrade of Borgo, Castello, Coro and Voltaia take part in the Palio delle Contrade.

Further destinations: Abbadia San Salvatore, Castiglione D'Orcia.

To the main travel overview: Siena.