Holiday apartment in Stigliano – among towers, chestnut forest and cypress avenues

Stigliano lies on the eastern slope of the Montagnola Senese. The historic townscape includes medieval houses. One preserved example dates from the 14th century and has a brick portico and a loggia. In the 12th century, Stigliano was ruled by the Ardengheschi counts. The hillside location and preserved historic fabric give the village a clear historical character.

Between Chestnut Forest and Village Squares

The Via dei 4 Borghi connects Orgia, Brenna, Stigliano and Torri in the Merse Valley. From the piazza in Stigliano, it leads through a mixed forest of chestnut trees towards Torri and past the source of the Busso. The Via also reaches the piazza of the village of Stigliano, where a break with refreshment options is possible.

The Cypress Avenues of Montestigliano

In the surrounding area, the Viali di Montestigliano form a monumental, straight cypress avenue. It rises and falls between the hills, crosses other cross avenues and is interrupted at the intersections by circular squares.

Three Settlement Cores and Their Towers

Stigliano comprises three settlement cores: Poggiarello, Il Palazzo and Il Poggio. Poggiarello di Stigliano is a historic settlement core with a tower and remains of its fortification wall. The battlemented tower has a sloping base, a small door flanked by a loophole, and a machicolation above it. The settlement core of Il Palazzo contains a tower with a sloping base and large round-arched windows. In the settlement core of Il Poggio stands a stone tower with preserved remains of machicolations.

Villa La Poderina, Church and Fountain

Villa La Poderina is a protected cultural heritage site, as is its garden. The Church of Saints Fabiano and Sebastiano in Stigliano stands beside Villa La Poderina; the church of Stigliano is dedicated to the same saints. The church is considered overgrown with brush and inaccessible. The Fonte di Poggiarello is a fountain near Stigliano.

The “I mulini della Val di Merse” Route

The “I mulini della Val di Merse” route follows a forest road uphill for approximately 600 metres to the Viali di Stigliano, which are considered cypress avenues. The route also uses path no. 405 as far as the road connecting Stigliano with Podere Campalfi. The route choice therefore offers an uphill forest section as an alternative to the route through chestnut forest, past the source of the Busso and to the piazza of Stigliano.

Anyone choosing a holiday apartment in Stigliano or a holiday house in Stigliano can choose between focusing their stay on a historical tour of the village and the walking experiences described above. The tour focuses on the townscape and its architectural history, while the paths offer a more landscape-oriented way to explore the area.

You can find other places on the same higher-level page with Carpineto and Rosia.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sovicille.