Holiday apartment in Torniella: History, forests and hiking trails

Torniella combines medieval traces, a vibrant local tradition and a wooded hilly landscape. The village lies on a hill overlooking the valley of the Farma River and is surrounded by chestnut and holm oak forests. As early as the 11th century, Torniella is documented as a crossroads on the road from Siena to Grosseto.

Church, cistern and a unique village tradition

One of the village’s defining buildings is the Church of San Giovanni Battista on the hilltop. Its Franciscan style is expressed in a single portal, a single-nave layout, a wooden-beam ceiling and a presbytery raised above the level of the church. The church was built in the 15th century. According to tradition, stones from the former parish church of Santa Maria, which stood outside the walls, were used for its construction. Inside is a 16th-century Madonna and Child attributed to Vincenzo Rustici. In the borgo, a cistern dating from 1613 also recalls the history of the village; it was recently restored.

Another side of Torniella can be seen in the game Palla a 21, also known as Palla Eh! depending on the locality, which is still played in Torniella. Within the province of Grosseto, the village hosts regular gatherings and tournaments devoted to this sporting tradition, which take place mainly in summer.

Forests, hills and paths through the landscape

The Itinerari della Trachite - Itinerario di Torniella is a hiking trail leading to the hamlet of Torniella. The Itinerario Naturalistico Toscano: nelle terre dei fiumi runs mainly along paths and cart tracks through forests and pastures. Anyone planning to follow the nature trail should consciously take its predominantly path- and cart-track-based route into account when planning their hiking day.

Castle ruins and medieval traces

In the highest part of Torniella, impressive remains of the medieval castle complex are still visible. The castle originally belonged to the Aldobrandeschi family and, after a seven-day siege, passed into the territories of the Republic of Siena. The Sienese rebuilt Torniella’s walls and fortifications between the late 13th and early 14th centuries; visible sections still mark the original village quarter today.

The surrounding area also offers historical and scenic destinations: Monte Alto and Poggio del Casino are located near Torniella. The area also includes Castello Di Montemassi, the ruins of the Abbey of San Galgano, Mount Sassoforte, Mount Poggio le Soline and the Castiglion Che Dio Sol Sa castle. Castello di Capraia lies in the wider regional area.

More places to consider when planning your trip

For further orientation, you can also include Roccatederighi, Sassofortino, Montelattaia, Montemassi, Ribolla and Sticciano Scalo in your plans.

For the broader travel overview: Roccastrada.