Discover Borgatello: Culture and Trails

Historic Sites in Borgatello

Borgatello is a destination for travelers who want to combine historic religious sites, trails and landscapes. The Chiesa di San Michele a Borgatello was built on the road between Colle and San Gimignano. The Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie also gives the place a strong cultural appeal: it originated in the 15th century as an oratory built by the brothers Iacopo Luci and Luparello Luci. In 1501, the oratory was expanded and converted into a convent.

The Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie includes a later redesigned Renaissance terracotta cloister between the church and the rectory. The Santuario is located near the first of two historic branches of the Via Francigena that started from San Gimignano. This makes it possible to combine a visit to Borgatello with religious history and traces of historic routes, without both interests having to determine the same daily itinerary.

Getting Your Bearings between Colle and San Gimignano

Local bus services serve Borgatello via the “BORGATELLO N.13” and “BORGATELLO” stops. For orientation in the surrounding region, the route from Colle to San Gimignano is also of interest: at Le Grazie, it turns right toward Borgatello and then continues to San Gimignano.

The Anello di Borgatello includes some sections of the Via Francigena. It is an easy hike through open landscapes with a short woodland section. Anyone who would rather experience the character of Borgatello on foot than through historic buildings will find a different way to discover the place here. The route combines the experience of hiking with the name of an important historic trail, without requiring the entire Via Francigena route to be walked.

The Elsa Landscape in the Wider Surrounding Region

In the wider area around Borgatello lies the approximately 4 km-long SentierElsa. The trail begins at the hydraulic structures Steccaia and Callone Reale. Also in the wider surrounding area, the Elsa forms an approximately 15-meter-high waterfall and a small lake about 10 meters deep at the Diborrato. Together, these landscape features provide a distinct focus for anyone who wants to experience water and nature alongside culture during their trip.

A circular route from Borgatello passes the Badia di Santa Maria Assunta a Coneo; its stated length is 5.2 km. The different distance figures help you compare various excursion options and plan your day according to your preferred focus. One day can be devoted to the churches and their history, another to the open trails, the woodland section or the Elsa landscape.

A Holiday Apartment in Borgatello to Suit Your Travel Plans

When choosing a holiday apartment in Borgatello, it is therefore worth first deciding on the desired rhythm of your trip. If the cultural history of the Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie is to be the focus, the oratory, convent and Renaissance cloister provide concrete points of interest. If you would rather plan several walks and circular routes, the Anello di Borgatello, the circular route to the Badia di Santa Maria Assunta a Coneo and the SentierElsa offer different distances and landscape impressions. The mass at San Michele Arcangelo a Borgatello is also part of the local orientation: a mass at San Michele Arcangelo a Borgatello is listed for Fridays at 6:00 p.m., both in winter and summer. This allows you to align your search for a holiday apartment or other accommodation with the experiences that are genuinely important to your travel group.

Explore More Destinations

For more travel ideas, you can also view Campiglia Dei Foci and Castel San Gimignano.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Colle Di Val D'elsa.