CASTELL'AZZARA
Despite not being the most aesthetically pleasing city in the Maremma, Castell’Azzara is one of the most authentic centres, capable of offering tourists a real taste of mountain life.
Founded by the Aldobrandeschi of Santa Fiora in the 13th century, local legends tell of three Aldobrandeschi brothers, each of whom wanted to build an imposing castle there. Unable to decide who deserved the honor, they played zara, a game of dice, and the winner built his castle with three towers, one for each brother.
Today, Castell’Azzara honors this legend in its coat of arms, which shows us three towers and a white die.
Like most mountain municipalities, Castell’Azzara lived thanks to mercury mines. When they closed, the town slipped into a state of isolation, so residents of other mountain towns began calling the locals bears. In the last two years Castell’Azzara has recovered thanks to tourists who are attracted by its environmental and historical beauties. The city is the storybook of Mount Amiata, with some of the most interesting legends of the area. It is also home to the only real mine open to tourists and is surrounded by a natural park which is a real paradise, if you are not afraid of bats.
Tourist Office: via Dante Alighieri 39 ( 0564 951251)
NOT TO BE MISSED
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS
WHAT TO SEE:
The most majestic monument of Castell’Azzara is its fortress.
The fortress, built by the legendary winning brother of the Aldobrandeschi family, is located in via Fratelli Bandiera. Today it looks more like a grand palace than a fortress, and behind it is a 19th-century clock tower.
The neo-Gothic style Palazzo del Capitano is located in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele and almost covers it with its shadow. The Church of the Maestà, in the nearby Piazza Cesare Battisti, is the most beautiful in Castell’Azzara, and was
built in the sixteenth century.
Furthermore, Castell’Azzara also offers a rich map of paths that can be explored on foot, by bike and on horseback.
SASSOCOLATO CAVE
(via Francesco Petrarca, Castell’Azzara; only on request; 0564951251)
Castell’Azzara has four well-signposted walking routes that cross the Monte Penna natural park. The most famous of these trails leads to the Sassocolato cave, a national treasure named after the incredible thousand-year-old stalactites and stalagmites found within. During the summer, the cave is also home to more than 2,000 bats. Guided tours are also managed in English by the “L’Orso” Speleological Group (10 April – 10 November or on request; 0564 951032). You can get the map of all the routes at the tourist office.
VISITS TO THE CORNACCHINO MINES (1 HOUR AND 1/2)
Castell’Azzara is the only center on Mount Amiata that provides guided tours of the abandoned mines (July – November or on request; 0564 969602). The tour begins in Cornacchino, an abandoned 19th-century mining village located in the woods surrounding Castell’Azzara, where you can see miners’ houses and offices. Women and children once worked alongside men in the most difficult conditions, without machines or explosives, provided only with wooden carts to drag the heavy rocks out of the mine to be scorched in the fire. From here you can see the two mines, collectively known as the Twisted Gallery.
EVENTS
Third week of July
Castell’Azzara is the truffle capital of the Maremma; you can find both the white truffle, rarer and more expensive, and the brown variety, with a more accessible price. Truffles are different depending on the time of year, but the best time to try this delicacy is certainly during this festival.
