Casetta between Monteaperti and Sant’Ansano

Casetta combines trails and cultural history with a range of distinctive destinations in the immediate and wider surrounding area. A municipal hiking trail is located in the Monteaperti/Acqua Borra/Casetta area, while Dofana is connected with the history of Sant’Ansano. There is also a monument, an annual torchlight hike, museums, palaces, and gardens. If you would like to combine historic sites with hiking and regional orientation during your trip, you will find several different points of interest here.

Hiking and Cycling around Casetta

The municipal hiking trail “La battaglia di Monteaperti” is located in the Monteaperti/Acqua Borra/Casetta area. It is 10.0 kilometers long, has 275 meters of elevation gain, and is rated difficulty level T. For your planning, this clear route information provides a concrete basis if you want to assess a hike by its length and elevation gain. The Berardenga Tour also reaches Casetta and Acqua Borra via the road running parallel to the expressway. This section is the only flat part of the route.

Sant’Ansano and the History of Dofana

The Chiesa di Sant’Ansano a Dofana is located in Casetta, in the Dofana district. According to tradition, Sant’Ansano was killed as a martyr in Dofana at the beginning of the 4th century. The earliest mention of the “ecclesia sancti Ansani” dates from 650. The church kept the body of Sant’Ansano until 1108; it was then transferred to Siena Cathedral.

The Cappella di Sant’Ansano a Dofana is also part of the area’s history. By 1504, it was almost in ruins. In 1507–1508, the Bishop of Arezzo authorized its reconstruction. The chapel is located a few hundred meters from the church and has an octagonal floor plan. Thus, Dofana brings together different historical periods and architectural aspects of the Sant’Ansano tradition.

Monteaperti, the Monument, and the Torchlight Hike

The Cippo della Battaglia di Monteaperti is a pyramid-shaped monument commemorating the Battle of Monteaperti. It stands on the hilltop and is adorned with centuries-old cypress trees. Every year, on the night of September 4, the Comitato Monteaperti Passato e Presente organizes a torchlight hike to the Cippo di Monteaperti. It begins at Acqua Borra, follows the Malena stream across the battlefield, and ends at the monument.

Museums, Palaces, and Gardens in the Surrounding Area

The surrounding area is home to the Museo Bologna Buonsignori, a museum; the Vestri Palace, a palace; the Museo delle Tavolette di Biccherna, a museum; and the Bandini Piccolomini Palace, a palace. Also in the surrounding area are the Giardino Emilio Montagnani, a garden, and the Orto Botanico dell’Università di Siena, a botanical garden. In the wider region surrounding Casetta are Poggio Cerrete and Monte Luco; both are mountains. This allows you to consider cultural destinations and gardens alongside the region’s broader landscape features.

A Documented Example of Inclusion

During a hike held on May 4, 2025, around Sant’Ansano, Montaperti, and Acqua Borra, Joëlette all-terrain wheelchairs guided by companions were used to enable participation despite physical barriers. The hike ended at the Circolo di Casetta.

Other places in the same destination area: San Felice, Monteaperti, Pievasciata, San Gusmè, Guistrigona, Pianella, Villa A Sesta and Quercegrossa.

For the higher-level travel overview: Castelnuovo Berardenga.