Crespole: Church, Singing Tradition and Routes through the Val di Forfora

Crespole can be explored from several perspectives: church architecture, local memory, landscape and routes through the Val di Forfora offer different starting points for planning your trip. You can consider the village through both tangible landmarks and traditional songs, mountain peaks, woodland areas and regional chestnut traditions.

Church and Traditional Voices

The Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta in Crespole has a single nave, is covered by a cross vault and ends in a semicircular apse. Its decorative furnishings date from the 18th century. The church also houses an Agati-Tronci organ dating from 1896.

The traditional singing culture of Crespole also encompasses many different forms: seasonal, narrative, bawdy, playful, anarchist, patriotic and religious songs. They recall religious ceremonies, festivals, leisure activities, occupations, love stories, and social and political events from Crespole's past. The book “Crespole in rime e voci,” published in 2022, was created from a collection of remembered local songs, stanzas and melodies gathered from the inhabitants of Crespole.

Castle and Museums in the Surrounding Area

Crespole's castle is considered a 14th-century complex; it includes crenellated walls and two towers. The area around Crespole is home to the Accademia d'Arte Museum, the Galleria D'Arte Bentivegna Museum, the Museo dell'Ospedale del Ceppo Museum and the Oltre Museum.

Peaks and Woodland Landscape

The Monte Bersano peak, the le Piaggete peak and the Poggiobello peak are located in the immediate vicinity of Crespole. The Monte Tagliola peak is located in the area surrounding Crespole.

An excursion through the Val di Forfora leads via Lanciole, Crespole and Calamecca to Macchia Antonini. This woodland area covers more than 200 hectares and is characterized by large trees and extensive meadows.

Chestnuts and Routes through the Landscape

The “Antiche vie della Val di Forfora” route includes a traditional chestnut drying house known as a metato. It is used to produce chestnut flour. Visitors can collect chestnuts beneath a large chestnut grove.

The “Medioevo e natura” route crosses a bridge called Ponte Romano.

A Local Finale with Apericena

A visit to the villages of Crespole and Lanciole with OltrePistoia ended with a shared apericena.

Plan Crespole According to Your Interests

For travel planning, you can consider Crespole through specific themes: architecture, music and local memory come together in the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, the singing tradition and the castle. Those wishing to include routes and landscape can take the excursion through the Val di Forfora, the peaks and Macchia Antonini into account. The “Antiche vie della Val di Forfora” route with its metato and chestnut grove, as well as the “Medioevo e natura” route with Ponte Romano, can also be considered separately. This allows you to balance your own travel rhythm between culture, landscape and chestnut-related themes.

More Destinations for Your Planning

For further orientation, you can also explore Popiglio and Lanciole.

For the higher-level travel overview: Piteglio.