Discover Montescudaio: Church Art, Wine and Tuscan Bread

Montescudaio combines church art, archaeological traces, local specialities and protected landscapes to create a varied travel experience. Between the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, the castle walls, the Guardiola and the nature trails in Parco urbano del Boschetto, you will find a range of themes to suit your individual planning.

Churches and Art in the Townscape

The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta houses a painted marble sculpture of Saint Francis of Paola from the 18th century, as well as a painting of the Annunciation attributed to the 17th-century Venetian school. The church is accessed via Via del Borgo. The Oratorio della Santissima Annunziata was founded in the 15th century and extensively remodelled in the 1930s. The oratory houses two glazed terracotta figures depicting the Annunciation and the announcing angel. The entrance is via Via della Madonna beside the town hall; two small steps must be negotiated.

Archaeological Evidence and Medieval Traces

The archaeological site of the Badia di Santa Maria was a Benedictine convent. The Badia was founded on 3 October 1091 by Gherardo V della Gherardesca. Its remains include walls, a cloister and burials. The Torre Civica offers another glimpse into the past: it stands beside Montescudaio’s former town hall, is a 12th-century tower and houses a museum with finds from the archaeological excavations at the Badia di Santa Maria.

The new church dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, built from 1854 to 1857, also forms part of the town’s historical orientation. The castle walls of Montescudaio are up to 15 metres high. In their northern and southern sections, they preserve the original wall structure. This makes it possible to view different historical layers side by side in the town, without individual sights repeating the same historical period.

CeDiAS: History from Prehistory to the 20th Century

CeDiAS explores the history and archaeology of the Bassa Val di Cecina, particularly Montescudaio, from prehistoric times to the 20th century. Its programme includes exhibitions, demonstrations, educational workshops and training events. CeDiAS is therefore especially interesting if you would like to place the local buildings and archaeological traces within a broader historical context.

Wine, Bread and the View from the Watchtower

Montescudaio is associated with Tuscan bread baked in a wood-fired oven as a Città del Pane. Montescudaio DOC includes red and white wines; the white wine can also be produced as a dry, semi-dry or sweet Vin Santo. The birthplace of the sculptor Italo Griselli is located on Piazza Matteotti. The Guardiola is Montescudaio’s only surviving watchtower complex. From there, the view extends from the Cecina plain to the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Nature, Family Time and Cycling Plans

The Giardino Scornabecchi complex lies entirely within the protected Giardino–Belora–Fiume Cecina area. Parco urbano del Boschetto has an equipped area with children’s play facilities and nature trails. The Area Sportiva il Boschetto is accessible via Via del Boschetto. Montescudaio is also connected to a cycling excursion route along the Strada del Vino.

More destinations: Fiorino, Ponte a Egola, Lorenzana, Calci, San Giuliano Terme, Capannoli, Usigliano and Ponsacco.

For the main travel overview: Pisa.