There is something irresistibly charming about Santa Fiora. It’s not big. Nor is it home to a grand history or array of priceless historical treasures. But it’s a town that sticks to simple and genuine traditions and in this day and age, that’s incredibly appealing.

Santa Fiora surrounds a small man-made pond – home to a large family of ducks and swans who spend their days searching for breadcrumbs left by caring locals. The pond gives the town an alpine climate that’s hard not to fall in love with, especially when it’s capped off by humble stone houses, each centuries’ old and crowded around Medieval churches and neo-Classical piazzas.

Tourism, no matter how abundant, and in summer Santa Fiora can almost be overrun by tourists searching for some R&R,  never leaves a lasting impression on Santa Fiora.

The locals are still small town people who live off the land, who produce cheeses and cured meats from recipes handed down from generation to generation. The bread here is always fresh and the vegetables always seasonal.

The modest but beautiful churches and sometimes too-grand-for-such-a-small-town monuments are carefully preserved as memories of the past and almost every month the town comes together to celebrate sagre and festival with delicious home-cooked food and properly honoured religious figures.

But don’t let this modesty fool you. Santa Fiora was actually mentioned in Dante Alighieri’s Divina Commedia as an important medieval city ruled by the powerful Aldobrandeschi family. So it obviously wielded a bit of power sometime or another!

SIGHTS:

Chiesa del Suffragio A Baroque style church finished in 1726, it’s not going to blow you away with its exterior, but inside it’s quite a sight.

Chiesa di Sant’Agostino Consecrated in 1146, the church was entrusted to the Augustinians in 1309 and they transformed into a beautiful building.

Pieve delle Sante Flora e Lucilla Santa Fiora’s parish church, this is the first choice for every local looking to get married.. or hold a funeral.

Oratorio della Madonna della Neve Built in the 17th century, its facade is snow white, and that’s probably where the church gets its name, if you ask me.

Convento della Santissima Trinità alla Selva Not technically in Santa Fiora, this convent, on the road to Castell’Azzara, is simply too fascinating to ignore.

Palazzo Sforza Cesarini Built in 1571, it was erected on the ruins of an older Aldobrandeschi fortress of which today there remains only two clock towers.

La Peschiera Built for the Aldobrandeschi family, this park is unlike anything you’re likely to see anywhere else in the world.

MUSEUMS:

Museo delle Miniere di Mercurio del Monte Amiata Taking up the entire ground floor of the Palazzo Sforza-Cesarini, this museum displays anything to do with the mining history and tradition that shaped Monte Amiata.

EVENTS:

Festa del Fungo Amiatino – October Already in its 30th year, this traditional festival celebrates the Amiatino mushroom – a much-beloved ingredient in the local Santa Fiora cuisine.

Festa del Marrone – October A celebration of the second more important ingredient in town – the local castagna (chestnut) of Monte Amiata.