The festival “Sovicille delle meraviglie” returns in October:
a weekend dedicated to the architectural beauty
of this splendid territory
Following the success of the last edition, held on May the 21st and the 22nd, there is keen anticipation for the new appointment with “Sovicille delle Meraviglie”: a great weekend of celebration in which visits, treks and special events animate the town and involve visitors and inhabitants alike.
The arrival of autumn makes the second annual edition even more magical, with the typical colours of this time of year giving the territory’s immense natural expanse a fairy-tale appearance.
Autumn is one of the best times of the year to explore our territory, and the festival is the perfect opportunity for finding out all the secrets and curiosities of this land: your eyes will be lost in the colours of the foliage, while the territory’s historical buildings stand out like giants among the Sienese hills.
On this occasion, we have thought of arranging a tour that will take you to find out some of the places and buildings of “Sovicille delle Meraviglie”.
What is waiting for you is a day immersed in history and nature, starting, of course, from our gem, San Lorenzo a Linari, one of the most visited places during this event.
The first ‘stop’ is a few minutes’ drive from our hotel: the archaeological area of Malignano is a necropolis dating back to the time of the ancient Etruscans. Walking among the tombs and entering the tunnels, carved into the limestone rock, you will be surrounded by a mystical atmosphere that brings with it several millennia of history and tradition.
Proceeding along the itinerary, a few kilometres further west, your gaze will be caught by the two towers of Montarrenti Castle, which stand out imposingly in the dense surrounding vegetation. The castle, which stands on the hillock from which it gets its name, seems to date back to the 8th century, although the first document attesting to its existence is dated 1156. Today, only the two large towers remain of the castle, but recently the structures have been restored, and it is partly used as the seat of the provincial Astronomical Observatory, managed by the Unione Astrofili Senesi, as well as the headquarters of the Siena section of the C.A.I. (Club Alpino Italiano).
The third stop is the jewel in Sovicille’s crown, the Celsa Castle. A true sight for the eyes, it seems to come straight out of an ancient princely novel.
Surrounded and adorned by the colours of Tuscan nature, the building dates back to the 13th century; from its towers Siena shines in the distance, while an extension of green covers the castle. Walking through the corridors and halls of the building, you will be immersed in a centuries-long journey. But the real magic lies in the gardens, dating back to the Baroque era, which develop through a park of centuries-old holm oaks among hedges, fruit trees, parapets and tree-lined avenues.
The tour then continues to another historical residence, Villa Lechner: an ancient Renaissance structure that stands out for its scenic access staircase and dense park, where nature dominates in its enchantment.
The last stage of the tour will offer you a pleasant refreshment: one kilometre away from our stay, the Poggio Salvi farm closes this loop tour in the wonders of Sovicille.
Wines from our territory will welcome you with unique flavours that can only come from our land.
However, the beauty of Sovicille does not end here, these are just some of the places to visit during the festival that animates the entire territory. Your stay at San Lorenzo a Linari is the ideal starting point to immerse yourself in the ancient atmospheres of this event, and to set out to find out all the other surprises of the area.
