Montecatini Val Di Cecina: Churches, Mining and Trails

Montecatini Val Di Cecina combines a historic center with the Church of San Biagio, the Palazzo Pretorio and traces of mining. There are also trails to viewpoints and a surfaced path leading to the Il Muraglione dam.

Churches, Squares and Historic Buildings

Piazza Garibaldi in the historic center is home to the Romanesque Church of San Biagio and the 14th-century Palazzo Pretorio. The Church of San Biagio was built around 1356 under the direction of Ugolino Guducci and Ciullo Barletti and consecrated in 1361. Inside are two marble angels attributed to Mino da Fiesole, as well as two terracotta statues by Della Robbia depicting San Biagio and San Sebastiano.

The Palazzo Pretorio houses the Documentation Center for the resources and activities related to the subsoil in the Alta Val di Cecina. The Torre dei Belforti also forms part of the historic townscape. The tower is almost 30 meters high; its walls are 3.20 meters wide at the base and are divided in the lower section by horizontal bands of white Alberese limestone. Two openings running through the walls face different destinations: one toward the Mastio di Volterra, the other toward the Rocca Sillina.

La Fontana, a monumental fountain, stands in Piazza della Repubblica. In 1887, the municipal council decided to demolish the chapel that stood there and build the fountain; La Fontana was constructed in 1893.

Mining as a Defining Part of the Town

The Caporciano mine opened in 1827. It was preceded by sporadic copper deposits reported in the area near the castle southwest of Montecatini.

La Miniera contains the entrance to the galleries, the administrative buildings and the Pozzo Alfredo. A surfaced path leads from the mining site to the Il Muraglione dam.

At the Museo delle Miniere, the mining experience takes visitors from the first 19th-century mine shaft to the Pozzo Alfredo. The Pozzo Alfredo shaft is 320 meters deep. The mining experience also includes exploring part of the main gallery, which is also known as the “pancia della balena”.

A Walk with Panoramic Views

The walking trail to Poggio alla Croce begins in the medieval center of Montecatini, leads to the Santa Barbara Oratory and reaches the summit with the iron cross erected by the miners.

From Poggio alla Croce, the view extends over the sea and the side facing Volterra as far as the upper Cecina Valley.

A Challenging Cycling Route

The circular cycling route “Etruschi e miniere tra Volterra e Montecatini Val di Cecina” connects Volterra and Montecatini Val di Cecina. It passes through hilly landscapes, wild gullies and Balze and, toward Montecatini, through rocky, steep terrain.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

Direct local connections lead from Montecatini Val Di Cecina to Sassa, Querceto and Ponteginori.

Other destinations include Capannoli, Calci, Santa Colomba, Castelnuovo Di Val Di Cecina and San Giuliano Terme.

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