Palaia

THE VILLAGE FROM PEASANT ORIGINS

Palaia is positioned in the heart of Tuscany in a hilly area of Valdera. The village is a few kilometers from Pontedera and is crossed by an ancient Etruscan road that linked in the past to Volterra.

The history of the village is intertwined with the political events of Pisa and Florence. The two cities would compete for dominance of Palaia and medieval fortification until 1495 when the Pisans prevailed.

The castle today no trace remains, but the past of the village you can have trace through the majestic Chiesa di San Martino. The Church mixes Romanesque style to the Gothic and was designed by Andrea Pisano, the sculptor who worked on the door of the baptistery of Florence.

A few steps from the historical centre, one can visit the Museo del Lavoro, where describes the rural culture of Palaia and its ancient traditions.

 

Traditions and Typical products

In Palaia, Festa della Civiltà Contadina is an important event that mixes the traditional products with traditional customs of its peasant origins. For the occasion, on the outskirts of the village is proposed every year a gastronomic journey with the products of the Earth in km 0.

 

Photo Credits [wikimedia.org]