Colle Di Val D'elsa between art, history and landscape
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Art, history and trails
Colle di Val d'Elsa reveals its character through art in the townscape, museums, sacred sites and trails through the landscape. A contemporary art trail runs between the upper and lower towns, turning the streets into an open-air gallery. Colle di Val d'Elsa lies on Stage 32 of the Via Francigena between San Gimignano and Monteriggioni; within the municipality, one route runs through the town centre and another through the countryside. The Anello della Francigena Colligiana is a 22-kilometre circular trail starting and ending in Colle di Val d'Elsa.
The Museo del Cristallo is located on the site of the former Boschi glassworks. The archaeological museum in the Palazzo Pretorio displays Etruscan, Roman and medieval finds, as well as the Giardino delle Arti and the Stanze della Memoria “Gracco Del Secco”. The Museo San Pietro traces the history of Colle through sacred and secular art; its presentation of faith in Valdelsa extends from its beginnings to the establishment of the Diocese of Colle. A highlight is the town's elevation to city status in 1592. The museum also includes secular collections from the 19th and 20th centuries with works by Antonio Salvetti and Walter Fusi, as well as the collections of Walter Fusi and Romano Bilenchi. In addition, a selection from Romano Bilenchi's library is on display, featuring works by Ottone Rosai, Moses Levy and Mino Maccari.
The Church of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria has been documented since the end of the 13th century. It contains a polychrome terracotta group depicting the Lamentation of Christ by Zaccaria Zacchi, created between 1504 and 1506. The Cappella del Sacro Chiodo in the Duomo di Colle preserves one of the nails used for Christ's crucifixion in a tabernacle. The Convento di San Francesco is connected to the Borgo by the nine-arched Ponte di San Francesco; the bridge was completed in 1338. The Bastione di Sapia is a restored old military structure reinforced by a tower. From there, it offers a wide view of the Convento di San Francesco and the Duomo.
Landscape along the Elsa
The SentierElsa is an approximately 4-kilometre-long riverside trail that begins at the Steccaia and Callone Reale hydraulic installations. In the Diborrato section, the waters of the Elsa form a waterfall about 15 metres high and a small lake approximately 10 metres deep. The Elsa River is considered suitable for bathing and is a destination for many swimmers in summer.
Archaeology and peasant cuisine
The Archaeological Park of Dometaia, a hamlet of the municipality of Colle di Val d'Elsa, contains 56 tombs dating from the middle of the 6th century BC to the early years of the 2nd century BC. Educational workshops held on site enable simulated excavations, landscape studies and clayworking. At the Sagra della Miseria in Santa Caterina, visitors can sample traditional peasant cuisine.
Getting around the town
For planning your trip, city bus route 202 connects the bus terminal on Via Bilenchi with the “Parcheggio Rimembranza” stop at the entrance to Colle Alta. When choosing a hotel, you can take this connection into account when planning its location.
You can also visit the pages for Castel San Gimignano, Campiglia Dei Foci and Borgatello.
For the higher-level travel overview: Siena.
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