Monteverdi Marittimo

Monteverdi Marittimo, surrounded by woods is the 'geothermal gate', the entry point of the steam hills, the town rises in the Mediterranean woods, here history and religion are intertwined in its origins. The spectacular remains of the ancient abbey of San Pietro in Palazzuolo, give an account of the ecclesiastical history of these areas, transporting us to a fascinating past, it is a rare example of a fortified monastery that has come down to us; an important link unites the abbey to the historic center of the village, which can be walked through the wrinkles, characteristic alleys arranged in a radial pattern. After the Scala Santa and made a stop at Ruga Buia, you reach the square where we find the church of Sant'Andrea Apostolo, here an image of Christ in colored majolica precedes the sacred space, inside there is a fresco of the Mater Dolorosa and a statue of the Madonna and Child; the particular Black Christ is preserved in the chapel adjacent to the church. Not far away in the central square stands the Museum of landscapes, a space that tells about these areas through coins and stone elements. In Canneto di Monteverdi, a town with a castle conformation, we find the ancient doors intact, still today the only two entrances in the center. The only place of worship here is the church of San Lorenzo Martire, with a gabled façade that rises on the steps; inside, with a single nave, it houses the Astile Cross in gilded copper. The village also has a mining history, as early as 1550, the factory had found important stones that were transported to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany to carry out works; the important historical elements of the mining activity that Count Della Gherardesca started in 1914 are preserved. Monteverdi has a 'green' economy, lives on clean energy, because it is a geothermal town, the steam that comes out of the subsoil allows it to produce electricity and not only that, it is also used for the food sector, floriculture and through underground district heating, it brings heat to all homes in the town, preserving the economic aspect and the quality of the air.