Discover Piazze: History, Cuisine and Hillside Landscapes
Piazze lies southeast on the slopes of Monte Cetona. Piazza Vittorio Veneto is considered the symbolic center of the main settlement. The village combines historical landmarks with a distinctive culinary tradition and a landscape that can be explored through specific places and routes. For you, Piazze therefore offers various points of connection if you would like to combine culture, regional cuisine and a rural setting.
Square, Buildings and History
The Monumento ai Caduti della Prima Guerra Mondiale stands in Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Raffaello Romanelli created the monument, which was inaugurated in 1924. It is made of engraved and dressed travertine and is freely accessible without architectural barriers.
The Chiesa di San Lazzaro dates back to the 16th century and was closed for religious purposes in 1962. The main altar contains a large 17th-century canvas depicting the Resurrection of Saint Lazarus.
The first records of Piazze date back to the 16th century; at that time, the area and the chapel belonged to the jurisdiction of the Castello di Camporsevoli. The Cappella di San Giuseppe al Tamburino was built in the first decades of the 16th century, possibly as a votive offering on the occasion of an epidemic. Camporsevoli is a fortified village located a few kilometers from Piazze. Some sections of the walls and the entrance gate of its old castle are still visible.
Music and Local Memory
The local history of the 20th century also has a musical connection. In 1934, a school was established in Piazze under the direction of Maestro Caporaletti to found the Banda Comunale “Arturo Toscanini.” The Banda gave its first official performance on November 22, 1935. Arturo Toscanini had already come to Piazze in February 1932; while there, he was treated by the local doctor Alberto Rinaldi.
Bico di Piazze and Tuscan Cuisine
Bico di Piazze is a traditional unleavened food made from water, wheat flour and a little salt. It is baked without yeast on the hearth under the ash produced by a large amount of burning wood. For several years, Piazze has hosted the Sagra del bico from the end of June to the beginning of July over two weekends; during the festival, the village’s historic cooks prepare the traditional food. The Sagra del Bico di Piazze is one of the events associated with Cetona in summer and honors the local gastronomic tradition. The à la carte menu at Osteria da Rinaldi also offers Tuscan dishes prepared with local and seasonal ingredients.
Landscape and Orientation
The Itinerario dei colli di Piazze is designated as an 8.3-kilometer route. On the road from Piazze to Camporsevoli, the paved section becomes an unpaved road after a few kilometers and, lined with cypress trees, climbs a steep hill.
Accommodation in Piazze
Locanda Toscanini is a boutique B&B with just eight rooms in the heart of Piazze.
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