Arcidosso

IN THE HEART OF MONTE AMIATA

Among the most important centres of Monte Amiata, the first documented traces of the village of Arcidosso found in a document dating back to 860 ad. The town's name derives from the Latin arx and dossum meaning "fortress on the hillock". From the twelfth century Arcidosso is among the possessions of the Aldobrandeschi family, who fortified it and began construction of the Castle. Today it remains to make a fine show in the heart of the city the mighty Rocca Aldobrandesca, quadrangular section building with exterior walls decorated with the typical medieval masonry. In 1331 the village and the castle became part of the Republic of Siena until 1559 when it passed under the power of the Medici.

In the municipality of Arcidosso, mount the lip, as well as unspoiled nature, protected by the Riserva Naturale del Monte Labbro, lies in its Summit the Torre Giurisdavidica, the last witness of religion founded in 800 by David Lazzaretti.

 

Traditions

In the village of Montelaterone, at la Pieve a Lamula, revived every year on the first Sunday after Easter, the traditional Festa della Pina. In the past, young people offered pine and ivy twigs as a gift to the girls they were in love with, while the girls returned the gift giving them the "corollo", a sweet donut.

 

Typical products

Thanks to the favorable climatic conditions, the chestnut in the municipality of Arcidosso, in the area of Monte Amiata has always been widely spread. The Amiata chestnut is protected by the IGP label in its three varieties: Brown, red bastard and chickpea. Typical dish, the arcidossina soup, the main ingredients are spinach, ricotta and "strigoli", spontaneous grass born in chestnut woods.

 

 

Photo credits [wikipedia.org]