Location: Castelnuovo val di Cecina,    Province: Pisa

The medieval suburb of Montecastelli Pisano founded in 1184 for wish of the Pannocchieschi and the bishop of Volterra. It is situated in strategic position dominating on the valleys of Cecina and Peacock. The country was built for the exploitation of the present mines along the slope of the country following the deportation in mass of the inhabitants of two small present villages on the territory before the year Thousand.  To his inside we find the tower Pannocchieschi (secular symbol of the pears and of the dominant family) and the Romanesque Church of the SS. Phillip and Jacopo (symbol of the religious power) made to directly build from deriving from the near city of Volterra.

Hole of the Fairies has called an important Etruscan grave with circular structure defined to tholos with tall crepidine, with ceiling at times dug in an only block of tufo. The structure is for buried half, from the ground the spherical coverage of the sepulchre is perceived only. To the structure it is entered through a small dromos, in ancient the entry had to be closed perhaps from a heavy door in tufo, through which was accessed to a circular room with the center an ample base monolithic quadrangular column that supports the time. On the circular room six cells open, inside each it is present a sepulchral bed with pillow directly drawn by the block of tufo. The datable structure to the full Hellenistic age (IV-III century a.C.) it introduces him inside the population of the peripheral areas of the territory of Volterra.

The suburb of St. Dalmazio in medieval epoch was a castle that belonged to the female monastery of the holy homonym. Contained by a surrounded building of circular form it is situated on the side of a hill among the streams Peacock and Possera. Out of the boundaries it is present the Romanesque church and the monastery where a tabernacle of the school of Luca of the Robbia is preserved.

The Fortress Sillana (XI sec.), sets in dominant position on the whole valley, it is one of the most meaningful examples of fortitudes medicee and of the Renaissance military architecture, erect to defense of the copper mines and silver that were found in the territory. It was matter of argument between the territories in Florence and Siena because it dresses again an important strategic role of control of the inside area and the mining resources of the territory.

How to reach the bed and breakfast
Exit “A1” highway Firenze-Certosa, move onto the motorway Firenze-Siena, exit at Colle Val D’elsa, and go towards Casole D’elsa, Monteguidi, after about 12 km at the crossroads go towards Castelnuovo Val Di Cecina. The farm is after 200 meters on the left. Or exit the “A12” highway at Rosignano (Livorno), move onto the S.S Aurelia towards Grosseto and exit at Cecina Nord and/or San Pietro in Palazzi, go towards Saline di Volterra then to Pomarance after passing Pomarance,San Dalmazio, after passing San Dalmazio for about 5 km you will find another crossing, go right and then right again. You will find the farm after about 200 meters on your left.