Abbey of San Galgano
Tuscany is visited by tourists from all over the world. and you might be forgiven for thinking that it has no more secrets left to discover. Yet, there are interesting and surprising places that have not yet been completely invaded: some because they are well off the beaten track, some because they are hidden underground, while others are downright unusual. Here are three examples, but ssshhh... Don’t let everyone know!
Landscapes in the Archaeomineral Park of San Silvestro – Tuscany
The San Silvestro Archaeology and Mining Park in Campiglia Marittima
Not too distant from the hu Park Albatros village there are mining tunnels waiting to be explored, first aboard a small train, then on foot down with a helmet on your head down to the bottom of a mine to finally climb up through the ruins of a dreamlike fortress. Whether you are an adult or a child, don’t hesitate: equip yourself with a pair of comfortable shoes, grab a sweatshirt even if it’s hot outside (underground the temperature is 14°C) and set off towards the San Silvestro Archaeology and Mining Park. The park is spread over a vast area between Campiglia Marittima and San Vincenzo, at the gateway to the Colline Metallifere. First stop off at the Museum of Archaeology and Minerals to gain insight into this area where minerals were extracted from the Etruscan era up until 1976, then descend to the Temperino Mine, a 400-metre tunnel that leads to the Earle Shaft area, where you’ll find the Museum of Mining Machines (who knows what noise these contraptions must have made!) and the Miners’ Museum. The small train departs from here, following the same the route the mined ore was sent out on, which passes through the Lanzi-Temperino Gallery (stopping in the dramatic mining hall) out to the hill slopes where the incredible Rocca di San Silvestro stands, built in the 10th century to house miners and smelting workers.
Antique Dolls on Display
The Doll Museum in Suvereto
It is a well-known that Suvereto is a font of beauty – considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in Italy - and goodness, since its oil and wine are universally sought after. Yet, unknown to many, it is home to a very special exhibition that may give some people the creeps, the Artistic Doll Museum. A small, yet extraordinary collection put together by Maria Micaelli. 50 dolls from the late 19th century to the 1980s are exhibited in this museum showcasing unique pieces and masterpieces of craftsmanship from prestigious manufacturers, each a piece of tells the story of how materials - from porcelain to rigid plastic - and styles have evolved over the centuries. If you like carnival masks, lace and lace dresses and old-fashioned games, this small museum is for you.
Abbey of San Galgano
San Galgano and the Sword in the Stone in Val di Merse
Far away from everything, but at the heart of Tuscany, the Val di Merse is a wooded, isolated area in the province of Siena off the trail of mass tourism, precious in its seclusion. The view here is so enthralling and mystical that, for a moment, it will take your breath away. Nestled in the municipality of Chiusdino, the Abbey of San Galgano is set between rows of cypress trees and farmland, a spectacular masterpiece that is as much human as it is natural. Man’s creation and nature’s destruction are played out in a perfect balance here. The grandeur of the structure, despite its lack of a roof - which collapsed following a series of misfortunes due to neglect, time and weather - give this Cistercian abbey a unique allure. Depending on the season, the time of day and the weather conditions, the abbey changes colours and shapes, thanks to its ever-changing sky roof. In addition, next to the abbey there’s a short trail up to the hermitage of Montesiepi, a Romanesque gem built on the hill where the knight Galgano Guidotti retired to a hermit’s life before becoming a saint. Renouncing his former profession, Galgano thrust his sword into the rock, which is now protected by a shrine (so there’s no chance you can become the modern King Arthur. The hemispherical dome and Ambrogio Lorenzetti's frescoes depicting the saint's life make it worth the journey to visit it.
