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Medieval Villages to Visit in Tuscany

Visit the most beautiful medieval villages in Tuscany with Hotel Marinetta, experience history among alleys and views, book your experience now.

The medieval villages, leaning against the hills and rich in a thousand-year history, have paved streets, intimate churches, turreted palaces, parish churches and castles, which bring to life a bygone era that seems so close here. At their feet the sea, which is the soul of the Etruscan Coast and which always accompanies you, lives in the history of this territory, in its landscapes, colors the sunsets and fills the air with its inebriating aroma.

It is a living and vital sea, populated by a precious fauna. Its beaches enter the pine forests and the groves of lime trees and tamarisks, whose scents expand and merge with the smell of the salt. And the Mediterranean scrub, with the characteristic tomboli that reach the beach almost to join with the crystalline sea.

Montescudaio

The village of Montescudaio is nestled within the remains of its ancient city walls; traces of its medieval past are still visible both in the stone-paved alleys and in the rustic homes.

The city walls show the ancient towers, among all the “Torre Guardiola” from which it is possible to enjoy a wonderful view of the Val di Cecina.

Montescudaio is part of the National Association of Wine Cities and boasts its own DOC that includes the municipalities of the Val di Cecina, excluding Volterra. In 1968 the Wine Festival was born (first weekend in October), while in 1977 the wine obtained the controlled designation of origin with two types: a red based on Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Malvasia and other varieties, and a white based on Trebbiano, Malvasia and Vermentino that can also be produced as dry, semi-dry or sweet Vin Santo.

In addition to being the City of Wine, Montescudaio is also the City of Bread, the classic unsalted Tuscan bread cooked in a wood-fired oven.

Guardistallo

In the early 1900s, tombs dating back to the Eneolithic period (3000-2000 BC) were found, containing mainly axes, copper daggers, and arrowheads, which demonstrate that the area was already inhabited in prehistoric times. The finds are preserved at the Guarnacci Museum in nearby Volterra. The toponym Guardistallo is attested for the first time in 1144 and derives from the Germanic words warda (“guard”) and stall (“place”) with the probable meaning of “guard place”. The strategic position, between the sea and the green hills, makes Guardistallo the ideal place for a holiday that alternates days of relaxation by the sea with trips inland in close contact with nature. The area is particularly appreciated for its olive oil, to which the Sagra della Crogiantina is dedicated in spring, where the oil is enjoyed raw directly on bread. Guardistallo is also the town of a thousand nativity scenes, set up in the old town by the inhabitants and school pupils during the Christmas period.

Casale Marittimo

Casale Marittimo stands on a hill overlooking the Cecina River valley. The sea is just 12 kilometers away and the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago are clearly visible from the coast. Around the town, and between it and the sea, there is a richly cultivated countryside that produces cereals, oil, honey and a fine wine, the DOC Montescudaio.
The town is included in the Strada del Vino Costa degli Etruschi route, which tells the story of an area characterized by Etruscan-Roman remains and medieval villages, wooded hills, cultivated fields and slopes, landscapes that marry the green of the vegetation with the blue of the sea and with an offer of natural and tasty foods.
In the surrounding area, recent archaeological excavations have brought to light the remains of an Etruscan village from the 7th century BC, as well as the necropolis of Casa Nocera, a complex of burials of Etruscan warrior princes.
The medieval village was born around the year 1000 and the signs of its history are visible in the historic center, which has remained almost intact, with its stone buildings, the Castle (whose remains are incorporated into the urban fabric) and the semicircular ring structure of successive walls. It is one of the towns in the Val di Cecina that best preserve the layout of the medieval castle. The appearance of the medieval village is well preserved and the awareness of historical values has meant that some modernizations from the 1960s have been removed, such as the asphalt covering of the streets which was removed in 1989, revealing the old sandstone paving.

Montenero

Located on a hill overlooking the sea and the port of Livorno, it is one of the most famous places in Tuscany, due in particular to its famous Sanctuary dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie. It is said that a crippled shepherd, around 1345, found a miraculous image that asked to be transported to the hill of Montenero. Hearing the voice, the shepherd did as he was asked and when he reached the top of the hill he found himself healed. Since then, that image of the Madonna has never ceased to be a source of devotion and grace for all those who turn to it; the Sanctuary that was born there is a destination for pilgrimages and visits by a large number of people. Enchanting views open up before the eyes of observers. From here the gaze runs to the Meloria rock, memorable for the betrayal of Count Ugolino (1284) and for the famous battle between Genoa and Pisa, but also to the plain of Livorno with its Port and that of Pisa. To the south you can see the island of Elba, Corsica and Sardinia: its sunsets are wonderful. The name “Montenero” is due to an old reputation that said this place dark mountain, perhaps because it was covered by rugged ridges and infested by bandits who, in all probability, waited here for the arrival of the ships to attack.

Bibbona

Nestled in a natural environment of rare beauty, Bibbona has the charm of an ancient medieval village, immersed in the greenery of the woods and countryside.
it preserves the architectural structure of the ancient inhabited fortress. In the historic center, where characteristic medieval alleys and squares intersect, the Pieve di San Ilario, dating back to the 11th century, with its original trapezoid shape, is of particular interest for its beauty.
It is said that Bibbona was one of the strongest castles in the Maremma, surrounded by turreted walls and defended by a deep moat.
This is how it appears when entering the maze of medieval alleys, in which building typologies from different eras emerge and the 11th century church of San Ilario
Bibbona is a privileged destination for cycle tourism, both on the road and by mountain bike. The champion Paolo Bettini was born and lives here and the “Gran Fondo Costa degli Etruschi” takes place here.

Bolgheri

Immortalized by the verses of Giosuè Carducci in the poem Davanti a San Guido: “I cipressi che a Bolgheri alti e schietti van da San Guido in duplice filar…”, this ancient village exudes a unique charm.
A stone’s throw from the sea, immersed in the countryside rich in vines and olive trees, the town, with its exemplary architectural harmony, is characterized by the red brick castle from which you access the village, by paved alleys and by ancient stone buildings, adorned with geraniums.
Golden sunsets and flights of swallows enliven the sky.
Artisan workshops, wine shops, taverns and well-known restaurants offer typical products and the gastronomic tradition of this land, accompanied by the splendid wines of the DOC Bolgheri.

Castagneto Carducci

Sassetta

Sassetta, a small and delightful historic village on the Etruscan Coast and an ancient medieval castle, preserves evidence of its past such as the Palace of the Ramirez di Montalvo family.
In the green woods, rich in trekking routes and paths organized for walking, cycling and horseback riding, the agritourism and the sale of typical products flourish. Tasty and genuine dishes, accompanied by the splendid wines of the Etruscan Coast, characterize the gastronomy of Sassetta, promoted in the autumn festivals.
The town is one of the most important producers of briar, the wood needed to make pipes. The tree briar used for the production of sketches and plates is all of Italian origin, coming from carefully selected woods from which high quality logs are extracted.

Suvereto

A splendid medieval village, whose origins date back to before the year 1000, nestled on the slopes of the hills overlooking the sea and the Etruscan Coast, in the green valley crossed by the Cornia, rich in history and art, Suvereto is a true jewel.
The town encloses, within the ancient walls, paved alleys overlooking stone houses, historic buildings, highly evocative churches and shady cloisters.
The ancient traditions of Suvereto live on in the trades that have been handed down for generations. The work of the forest, the countryside and the artisans refer to a centuries-old history of commitment and research: charcoal burners, cork workers, carpenters, blacksmiths, straw weavers, bakers: a rich tradition of artisan work that is expressed today above all in the working of iron and wood.
A pentagon-shaped wall punctuated by eight towers encloses the splendid historic center of Suvereto. The Rocca, formerly the castle’s garrison, stands on the hill overlooking the town.