Discover La Dispensa: Culture, History and a Circular Tour

A holiday apartment in La Dispensa can be combined with a wide variety of days out: taking in the landscape, exploring local history, and following a circular route on foot or by mountain bike. The day’s rhythm can alternate between the Chiesa della Madonna del Cerro and the circular tour. La Dispensa itself is one of the existing settlements made up of scattered houses along the provincial road from Selvena to Montebuono. In the wider surrounding area, the road to Montebuono has a panoramic character, with open views of Sorano.

La Dispensa between Selvena and Montebuono

The “MONTEBUONO DISPENSA” stop is part of line 18P operated by Autolinee Toscane, under La Dispensa. The stop names La Dispensa and Montebuono together, thereby establishing a clear connection to the local transport route.

Church and local heritage

The Chiesa della Madonna del Cerro stands in the “Dispensa” area of the Montebuono hamlet in the municipality of Sorano; at the same time, it is located in the “Dispensa” centre of the Montebuono settlement. Around 1686, it was built following a legendary apparition of the Virgin Mary on a branch of a large holm oak.

Every year, during the celebrations in honour of Saint Barbara, the “Romano Scali” Library holds readings or presentations by authors whose works are connected with the history and traditions of the local area. It also preserves copies of documents relating to the history of mining and the population of Montebuono. In this way, the library links literary events with themes from local history.

At the Museo Civico Archeologico in the Fortezza Orsini, a small room displays three codices from Sorano and Castell'Ottieri. The Montebuono mining site is now a place of remembrance and a setting for cultural walks. The range of cultural themes therefore extends from archaeology to the memory of mining.

Trekking and mountain biking on a circular tour

The “Alla scoperta delle cinque sorgenti” circular tour is also suitable for trekking and runs from the immediate area around La Dispensa to the Monte Penna nature reserve. As a mountain-bike circular tour, it starts and ends at Montebuono Dispensa, near La Dispensa. It thus combines a sporting itinerary with a circular route; depending on your preferred activity, you can focus on trekking or mountain biking.

Holiday accommodation in La Dispensa and your day of travel

When choosing holiday accommodation in La Dispensa, you can tailor your preferred travel rhythm to these themes: the church and library, mining history and remembrance, or the circular tour with its trekking and mountain-bike focus. This is particularly helpful when you want to combine different ideas of a shared day within the family. Cultural discoveries, a walk and a sporting outing can thus be viewed as different focal points in your planning.

More destinations

For further travel planning, you can also view Isola Del Giglio, Diaccialone, Scarlino, Follonica, Carige Alta, Castel Del Piano, Potassa and Grosseto.

For the main travel overview: Grosseto.