Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni: Discover History, Art and Landscape

Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni combines the memory of a past shaped by lignite mining with public art and a green landscape surrounding the artificial lake. Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni served as a filming location for Alessandro Benvenuti’s film “Ivo il tardivo”. The film connection adds a cultural dimension to the town’s mining history.

A village between mining history and renewal

The old village of Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni was gradually abandoned from 1963 onwards because lignite mining had affected the stability of the foothills. The historic centre was preserved; the old hamlet was restored and reinstated.

The MINE is housed in several buildings in the Vecchio Borgo of Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni. It documents and commemorates the history of the area, where lignite was mined for 150 years to generate energy and support development. MINE is temporarily closed to the public; this information is relevant when planning a visit.

Art and sacred heritage in the townscape

The “Murale per la pace”, a work by Venturino Venturi, stands in Piazza Sandro Pertini. The mural is 76 metres long and covers an area of 305 square metres. Its subject is the eternal conflict between war and peace, creating a striking feature in the public space.

The religious buildings also preserve traces of the past. The remains of the old fortress were partially incorporated into the Church of San Donato, located high on the hill. The modern parish church houses a painting of the enthroned Madonna and Child with Saints. It comes from the old village church and dates from the 15th century.

The “Strada della Memoria” includes the Chiesa-Auditorium, the adjacent road and the associated properties. The route recalls the history and significance of the buildings connected with the events of 4 July 1944. The Resistance monument has stood in the square next to the church since April 1984.

Green landscapes and paths through the former mining area

The former mining area is considered a lush green oasis, enhanced by the artificial lake of Castelnuovo dei Sabbioni.

The Festa della Primavera programme included a 13-kilometre trekking route through villages and parish churches along woodland paths. A shorter trekking route was also planned, following the white roads of the former mine to a point near the old centre of Castelnuovo in Avane. In the programme at the time, the longer 13-kilometre route along woodland paths required more time in a day’s itinerary than the shorter route along the white roads of the former mine. The Festa della Primavera also included a Sagra delle Frittelle featuring sweet and savoury frittelle. The Festa della Primavera combined trekking with sweet and savoury frittelle.

For further travel planning, you can also discover Montaio, Meleto and Montegonzi.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cavriglia.