SEGGIANO
Nestled in the upper Val d’Orcia, Seggiano is surrounded by a particularly rugged hilly landscape suitable for the cultivation of olive trees, of which there is an indigenous breed here, the olivastra seggianese.
This variety produces one of the best and purest olive oils in Italy. When they are not tending the olives, the Seggianesi remain faithful to their old town, where every secondary street is crossed by an open square so that the rows of olive trees can be fully appreciated. The view is so beautiful, that 18th-century botanist Giorgio Santi immortalized it in his novel Viaggi per la Toscana. Such an enthusiasm for Mother Nature’s bounty is necessarily accompanied by a great love of food, and the people of Seggiano love theirs more than any other. They are in fact renowned for dishes such as chicken in scottiglia, served with a thick tomato sauce, and turkey with chestnuts.
Tourist Office: via Trento e Trieste 19 ( 0564 950925)
TO BE SEEN
The most beautiful monuments of Seggiano are its churches, starting with the Church of San Bartolomeo in via Marconi. Dedicated to the patron saint of the city, it was finished in 1216, but restructured much later. Inside, the harsh contrast between the rich wooden ceiling and the concrete pillars is softened by the gold, blue and red tapestries. The most interesting work of the church is its splendid gilded polyptych. This solemn series of panels was painted by an unknown 14th-century Sienese painter.
The Corpus Domini Church is instead located in the highest part of the city and dates back to the 18th century. It is usually closed, but if you are lucky and manage to access it, don’t miss the niche containing some of Saint Bernard’s personal effects dating back to the 15th century. The Seggiano Oil Museum (Via Indipendenza; on request; 0564 950925; full/reduced: €3/€2) is developed through a series of renovated buildings that are part of the history of oil production in the city, such as the old olive grove and the ancient mill. With advance notice, it is possible to organize a guided tour of the Seggiano museum in English (€5 extra).
Seggiano’s most majestic monument, the Church of the Madonna della Carità, lies just beyond its walls. This is also usually closed, but it’s worth spending a few minutes admiring its façade, inspired by 16th-century Central European art. If you want to see the inside of any of the churches in Seggiano, you can still contact the tourist office for times of mass.
CURIOSITY'
PECORINO CHEESE
Seggiano may only be known for its DOP olive oil, but the town also produces a high-quality pecorino, considered the best in Tuscany, which is believed to have been imported by shepherds from Sardinia. Seggiano celebrates its local products in the Oil Festival the first weekend of December.
EVENTS
Picio Festival
Second and third week of August
Seggiano is famous for pici, a type of hand-rolled spaghetti. At this festival, homemade pasta is served with various toppings ranging from fresh tomato sauce to meat sauce.
