Discover Italy Central Italy Regions Guide to Florence & Tuscany Tuscany Itineraries The Val d'Elsa
The Val d'Elsa heads northwest from Siena towards Empoli where the River Elsa meets the River Arno, itself flowing east from Florence.
The main towns and hamlets on the way are Monteriggioni, Poggibonsi, Certaldo and Castelfiorentino. San Gimignano also overlooks the valley.
The route in medievel times formed part of the Via Francigena which guided pilgrims to Rome, Santiago and Jerusalem.
Today, 68.8km of the via Francigena in Val d'Elsa can easily be followed by excursionists and walkers over 4 days.
A slow ramble compared to the original pilgrims who would cover the same distance in a day and a half.
The route follows that of Sigerico, the Archbishop of Canterbury in 990 and, apart from the odd brigand, the experience is very much as it was at the time.
This certainly applies to the town of Monteriggioni, a sublime hill top town surrounded by a still intact turreted defensive wall and dating from the 13th century.
It is such a stunning sight that even Dante mentions it in the 31st verse of his Inferno.
A little further down the valley is Strove and nearby Badia a Isola. The two complexes were part of a wedding present from a certain Tegrimo to his bride Sinderada in 994. Left out of the declaration was the Church of San Martino.
It seems Badia a Isola anticipated the arrival of Sigerico as the borgo was finished just as he arrived. He referred to the spot as 'Burgenove' and it remains as it was a thousand years ago.
Keep in in mind that today's fields surrounding Badia a Isola were once a large lake which received rain water from Monte Maggio. 'Isola' refers to an island or the only solid bit of land on which the original borgo was built.
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST and keep in touch with us via the websites below
Click on icons for Accommodation, Restaurants and Tours in Tuscany region
Our articles about Tuscany below.
• pappardelle pasta • risotto with grapes • fusilli pasta • scampi toast • cod in vernaccia wine • cantucci biscuits • cod in elba sauce • zuccotto • cappellotti pasta • acquacotta • ravioli di ricotta • traditional focaccia • pappa al pomodoro • carnival cenci • castagnaccio • farro with beans • stewed ovoli mushrooms • ribollita • pollo al mattone
• montalcino wines • ovoli mushrooms • fresh cows milk • siena cuisine • lunigiana dishes • lardo di colonnata • chiana valley food traditions • ribollita • montepulciano wine • pecorino cheese from pienza • chianina cow • san miniato truffle festival • focaccia • maremma cuisine • farro of garfagnana • fish and chip festival barga • chianti montespertoli • mugello valley cuisine • dishes of arezzo • upper tiber valley food trail • best pecorino cheese • white wine of san gimignano • alchermes liqueur • florentine steak • olive oil tasting
• upper tiber valley • fiesole • alta versilia • monte amiata • elba • pietrasanta • chianti • casciana terme • via francigena • lucca wine route • lunigiana wine route • carmignano medici wine route • montecucco wine • etruscan coast • nobile di montepulciano • maremma wine route • pisa wine road • orcia valley wine route • arezzo wine route • val di cornia • land of the renaissance • apuane alps • monticchiello • etruscan volterra • forte dei marmi • san casciano dei bagni • etruscan chiusi • carrara marble quarries • palio of siena • viareggio carnival • battles for bolgheri • all the tuscan wine routes • etruscan coast • teatro del giglio • arezzo • pisa • piero della francesca • manciano • tuscany cowboys • cortona • val d'elsa • maremma • garfagnana • serchio valley • medici florence • florence ice cream • vasari corridor • medieval florence football • easter in florence • bagnoli a ripoli
• tuscan cigars history • tuscan cigar types • crystal city • IGT contemporary Tuscan art and living
Starwood Hotels Florence
Walks of Italy
Italy Segway Tours
Copyright © Delicious Italy All rights reserved.