Lost in the enchantment of the Tuscan hills, in the silence of the countryside and surrounded by the wild nature of the woods, the medieval villages of Val di Cecina are an Italian cultural and artistic heritage of immense value. Among the most expressive is Castelnuovo, surrounded by thick chestnut woods and recognizable by its characteristic “pine cone” shape. Perched on a hill, the medieval village is a magical mesh of stone houses, ladders, and narrow streets, including the particular “chiassino”, the narrowest alley in the world, just fifty centimeters wide.
The ancient urban layout has been preserved intact, and is dominated by the church of the Santissimo Salvatore which stands where the ancient castle once stood. Located in the heart of Etruscan Tuscany, it has a strong thermal vocation thanks to the natural resource of geothermal energy that characterizes the Val di Cecina territory. In the land of Sasso Pisano in fact you can find ancient thermal and sacral facilities dating back to the Etruscans. At the Roman Etruscan Museum you can also discover the most interesting finds unearthed during the excavations while in the vicinity flow three different springs rich in iron and potassium, two of which are among the hottest springs in the region.
Also in Sasso Pisano, “Vapori di Birra” – the first brewery in the world that uses geothermal energy – can be found.
In Castelnuovo nature, sport and culture come together in a timeless fairy tale. In fact, from here there are also many routes that reach points of historical interest, such as the Roman bridge over the Pavone stream, along the ancient path of the wayfarers. Enchanted paths through woods and chestnut groves from which you can admire the pristine views of these valleys, and sometimes, even the island of Elba.
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