A step back in time: Sovicille

We are located in Tuscany, in the province of Siena. The hilly part of Sovicille is characterized by a luxuriant nature while, going down towards the route of the Merse river, we find characteristic fields and cultivated land: from the color of these lands the color we know today as 'terra di Siena' takes its name, due in the presence of iron and bauxite. The place boasts prehistoric, Etruscan, Roman, Byzantine and Lombard settlements. The name of the village seems to derive from the Greek 'sucon' (fig flower), in Latin 'soficum'. Sovicille represents one of the cornerstones of Sienese medieval history, as there are many castles, churches and other traces of that time. The morphological conformation of the territory allows, in a wide range, to practice trekking and hiking in general. In the hamlet of Orgia there is the last trace of a fortified village, the Romanesque parish church dedicated to San Bartolomeo. In Poggiarello it is possible to admire a tower with a shoe base and the remains of the walls of the village. Proceeding northwards, the inhabited center of Torri stands out: here it is possible to visit one of the most important places in the area, namely the cloister of the abbey of Santa Mustiola and Santa Trinità di Torri in Romanesque style. The two levels of arcades belong to two different periods: the lower level has decorated columns and capitals, the upper level and the wooden loggia were built later. The church, renovated in the thirteenth century, still has a single nave plan and a wooden roof, and on the altar stands the table by Luca di Tommè depicting the Madonna and Child. In the town of Rosia you can admire its valuable Romanesque church, already mentioned in the thirteenth century. Peculiarity is the Lombard-style bell tower which is divided into a succession of shelves with single, double, triple and double light openings. Towards the west, however, it is possible to visit the Devil's Bridge or Ponte della Pia: of Roman origins, but with a Romanesque layout, it still traces the route of the Etruscan road that connected the Merse Valley to the Maremma and, as Alighieri said, Pia de 'Tolomei passed right here. Arriving in Ponte allo Spino we find ourselves in front of the Pieve di San Giovanni Battista, in Romanesque style and built in tuff and limestone: the plant has three naves divided by two series of imposing columns. In the rear part, in 1950, a small cloister and several splendid mosaics were brought to light. Another very important stop for the visitor is the wonderful Villa di Cetinale, designed by the famous architect Carlo Fontana and intended as a summer residence. It is a very elegant building, surrounded by gardens of all kinds and surrounded by the Thebaid wood. In terms of food and wine, the renowned Chianti and Cabernet wines stand out, splendidly accompanying the typical Sienese sweets: from panforte to ricciarelli.