Santa Fiora
Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia
Seat of the Aldobrandeschi counts and later of the Sforza, Santa Fiora was once capital of its own small county on the western slopes of Monte Amiata, and Dante names it in the Purgatorio. Steep lanes of stone houses drop from Piazza Garibaldi to the Peschiera, a pool fed by the springs of the river Fiora. In the 19th century cinnabar mining for mercury revived the town.
Highlights
- Andrea della Robbia terracottas in the Pieve delle Sante Flora e Lucilla
- The Peschiera, a spring-fed pool set in a wooded park
- Madonna delle Nevi church, with a glass floor over the Fiora's spring
- Palazzo Sforza Cesarini and its 17th-century clock tower on Piazza Garibaldi
- The museum of the Monte Amiata mercury mines
Text adapted from Wikipedia (Santa Fiora (IT), Santa Fiora (EN)), Wikivoyage (Santa Fiora). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Population: 2,490
Things to see
Events through the year
- Befana begging songsHeld at Bagnore and Marroneto, in the municipality
- Carnevale mortoIn Marroneto, men stage Carnival being killed by Lent
- Procession of Saint MarkGarlands of flowers thrown at the Peschiera
- Feast of the Holy CrossProcession of the crucifix; lovers exchange citrons
- Feast of Saints Flora and LucillaRelics procession, historical parade and archery Palio delle Sante
- Feast of the Assumption at MarronetoDancing and singing around burning bundles of brushwood, in the municipality
- Fiera di San RoccoLarge fair along the streets and under the chestnut trees
- Torchlight procession of 30 DecemberTorches to Palazzo Sforza Cesarini, then sweet chestnut polenta
Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.
Adapted from Wikipedia (Santa Fiora). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Specialities of Tuscany
Typical of the region rather than of this village.
- PanzanellaDish
- PiciBread and pasta
Lardo di ColonnataPublic domainLardo di Colonnata (IT)Cured meat- FinocchionaCured meat
Adapted from Wikipedia (Tuscan cuisine, Cucina toscana). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to sleep
3 places to stay within 3 km
- Hotels 2
- Campsites 1
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Thermal baths nearby
- Thermal spa: Terme San Filippo · ~38 min by car
- Hot spring: La Balena Bianca · ~38 min by car
- Hot spring: Il Bollore · ~38 min by car
- Thermal spa: Cascate del Mulino · ~43 min by car
- Thermal spa: Terme di Saturnia · ~43 min by car
- Thermal spa: Bagno Bossolo · ~45 min by car
- Hot spring: Sorgente del Fungo Bianco · ~57 min by car
- Thermal spa: Terme di Petriolo (IT) · ~1 h by car
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Nearby member villages
- Sovana · 20 km
- Pitigliano · 23 km
- San Casciano dei Bagni · 24 km
- Montemerano · 25 km
- Cetona · 30 km