The village hidden in “wild” nature
Where the forests grow thicker, the connection with the land becomes closer: here small villages and abandoned places continue to live on, all to be discovered travelling slowly.
RADICONDOLI
The Val d'Elsa and Val di Cecina, as well as the entire Tuscan Region, safeguard small jewels that seem to be frozen over time.
The borough of Radicondoli tells about a life in harmony with the land and invites its visitors to explore the narrow streets, woods and castles at their leisure: on foot or on horseback, the slow adventure starts here and is strictly family-friendly!!
For those arriving along the road, Radicondoli winks from the top of its hillock, anticipating the panoramic views it offers visitors. The well-kept alleys and old-fashioned houses play with your gaze in a series of ups and downs, offering glimpses of the luxuriant woods that envelop the Metalliferous Hills, the true lords of the area.
Strolling around the historic centre, Teatro dei Risorti (Risen Again Theatre) is worth a visit. With just over 60 seats, it is one of the smallest theatres in Europe! Here begins the journey into the artistic tradition of Radicondoli: the popular history of music, operettas and shows that have attracted workers and peasants for years has come to life in this small setting. This desire for art and culture materialises every year in the Radicondoli Festival, which moves through the village and the woods, connecting human art with the natural landscape.
Pride and care for the environment can also be found in the 'Le Energie del Territorio' (The Energies of the Territory) Museum, where the themes of sustainability and renewable energy (such as geothermal energy, fundamental for the development of the area) combine with educational paths and fun for even the youngest visitors.
The distance of Radicondoli from the main communication routes has favoured the growth of a profoundly living vegetation that holds ruins and tiny hamlets to explore!
One of the most distinctive places is Belforte, the small fortified hamlet which was originally a medieval castle dating back to the year 1000; while nearby Anqua, a hamlet today deserted offers a real step back in time! The remaining few buildings, which together make up the old farm complex, stand along the road and have developed around the charming Villa Pannocchieschi d'Elci, named after its first owners, where a beautiful Italian-style garden contrasts gently with the wild vegetation around it, while the old well at the entrance is sure to capture the children's imagination.
A not-to-be-missed family activity immersed in nature is the "search" for the Fosini Castle, a thousand-year-old fortification rising among the woods and perched on a rocky spur, seeming to challenge visitors to reach it. It is part of the Cornate and Fosini Nature Reserve, marked by paths and itineraries that run through the forest; an ideal way to fully enjoy its beauty is to move around on foot or on horseback, trying to recognise the plants, capture the scents of the forest or spy with a glance the animals that have made the reserve their home.
Incurable romantics and astrophiles will find a unique charm in these woods: thanks to the absence of light pollution, the night sky here is brighter than ever, to be admired in all its ancestral beauty, imagining the stories behind the constellations.
Just a short distance from Fosini is the wild and completely different landscape of the Valle del Diavolo (Devil's Valley), the geothermal kingdom in the Castelnuovo Val di Cecina area, while a little further up Radicondoli the gentle nature of Casole d'Elsa is ideal for carrying on an outdoor adventure.
Learn more:
Radicondoli
Festival
“The Energies of the Territory” Museum
Cornate and Fosini Nature Reserve
Cosa fare
Ogni esperienza è unica e speciale! Progetta le tue giornate ideali e pianifica le attività che preferisci. Scegli la Valdelsa Valdicecina, come ti piace!
