DISCOVERING GAMBASSI TERME AND CASTELFIORENTINO
ACTIVITIES OF THE WEEK
Monday,21
thSeptember
Edible herbs, aromatic and medicinal plants
A walk in the countryside, searching for edible wild herbs medicinal and aromatic plants. Led by an expert in the field, participants will learn how to identify the most common species , their habitat and how to pick them and conserve them. Tasting of the products of the farm
From 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Price: 21 euros per person
Tuesday, 22th September
Sweet Countryside Ancient Walls Project. Route
#11
. Castelfiorentino-Dogana-Rio Vallese- Castellare-Rio Morto- Dogana- CastelfiorentinoGuided walking tour
From 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m Length: 18 km. (loop circuit) Price: 18,50 euros per person
Discovering the local mystics: The heremit Maurizio and his cave in Gambassi Terme
Maurizio Becherini lived in the first half of the last century in Gambassi Terme. At a certain point of his life, he decided to withdraw to live as an heremit in the local valley known as Forra del Casciani. There, he built a little chapel and realised a large number of sculptures, small altars and sacred images, today still visible in the depths of vegetation and among rocky outcrops.
Guided walking tour.
From 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Length : 2,3 km
Price: 18,50 euros per person
Wednesday, 23th September
The Via Francigena. Itinerary : Pieve di Santa Maria a Chianni-Borgoforte-Pillo-Piazza di Siena-Magliano-Pieve di Santa Maria a Chianni
Walk along part of the historic Via Francigena, the pilgrim route leading to Rome and crossing the territories of both Castelfiorentino and Gambassi Terme. After covering part of the route, the participants will return to the starting point going along trails of great interest from a naturalistic point.of view.Guided walking tour
From 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. (loop circuit) Length: 8 Km
Price: 18,50 euros per person
A break on the farmyard
Thanks to this activity, participants will enjoy a unique experience in a natural setting, where the frantic paces of modern life slow down and conform to those of nature and animals. This activity takes place in a local farm and consists in a guided visit of the farm. Besides, children can look closely at the animals of the farm: cows, chickens and rabbits. Eventually, there will be an inevitable snack with tasting of local products.
From 3.30 to 5.30
Thursday, 24th September
Cooking lessonsParticipants will learn to cook some of the typical Tuscan dishes such as the meat sauce,
“crostini” with chicken livers sauce, the tripe – a meat specialty typical of Castelfiorentino-, bread soup, the castagnaccio - a thin cake made of chestnut flour - and much more! The lunch, based on the prepared dishes, is included in the price; local wines will be served.
From 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Small Groups (from 2 to 8 people) Price: 65 euros per person
People, places and legends: the inhabitants of Gambassi Terme tell us..Gambassi Terme, a history of pilgrims and "bicchierai"
Every place has a hidden history, made of anecdotes curiosities and legends. Our routes will allow partecipants to deepen the knowledge of Gambassi Terme in an unusual way, guided to their discovery by the most passionate conoisseurs of the village: its own inhabitants. The tour ends visiting a voluntary association, where it is possible to be present at a live demonstration of creative sewn and embroidery, a traditional female art still practiced in the territory.
From 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Price: 13 euros per person
Friday, 25th September
The Parco Benestare: from Gambassi Terme to the spring "Bollori"
The Parco Benestare extends in the area enclosing Gambassi Terme and Montaione. It is a naturalistic area of extraordinary beauty, due to the great variety of landscapes you can admire. Guided walking tour.
From 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. Length: 7,6 km
Price: 18,50 euros per person
People, places and legends: the inhabitants of Castelfiorentino tell us..Castelfiorentino, hometown of artists and small heroes
Every place has a hidden history, made of anecdotes curiosities and legends. Our routes will allow partecipants to deepen the knowledge of Castelfiorentino in an unusual way, guided to their discovery by the most passionate conoisseurs of the village: its own inhabitants. The route passes through the old town.
From 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Price: 13 euros per person
Saturday, 26th September
Discovering the local mystics: Santa Verdiana: the holy patron of Castelfiorentino
Santa Verdiana was born by a local noble family in Castelfiorentino at the end of the XII century. In consequence of different pilgrimages, she decided to live on her own and retired into a small cell that once stood on the site where later the largest sanctuary dedicated to her was built According to local tradition, San Francesco went to visit her and proclaimed her Franciscan of the Third Order. The route leads to the most significant places related to Saint Verdiana.
From 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Price: 13 euros per person
Sunday, 27th September
Wandering to villages: a walk to discover Castelfiorentino
Founded in the Middle Ages on a Roman settlement along the Via Francigena, Castelfiorentino is a town rich in historical and artistic treasures, such as the church of San Francesco and the
eighteenth-century sanctuary dedicated to Santa Verdiana. Walk in the town centre. From 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m.
Price: 13 euros per person
Wandering to villages: a walk to discover Gambassi Terme
The village of Gambassi Terme, was born and has developed thanks to its stategic position, close to two important routes, the Via Volterrana and the Via Francigena. The old town preserves a cultural heritage of great value, such as the parish church of Santa Maria in Chianni. Walk in the town centre.
From 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Price: 13 euros per person
Information and reservations
Tourist Information Office of Castelfiorentino
via Cosimo Ridolfi, 1 (close to the train station)
Phone: 0039 0571 629049 E-Mail. [email protected] Facebook: Ufficio Informazioni Turistiche Castelfiorentino
Tourist Information Office of Gambassi Terme
via Volterrana Nord 60/A
Phone: 0039 0571 639192 E-Mail. [email protected] Facebook: Ufficio Informazioni Turistiche Gambassi Terme
All activities can be booked both in Italian and in foreign language. Minimum number of participants: 6
Participating in “Valdelsa Experience” it will be possible to take advantage of special discounts at affiliated facilities:
Restaurants and pizzerias:
10% discount
Hotels, cottages, B&Bs and guest houses:
10% discount
Admission to theaters and museums at a reduced prices: BEGO - Museo Benozzo Gozzoli
Via Testaferrata, 40 Castelfiorentino. E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 0039 0571 64448
Museo d’Arte Sacra di Santa Verdiana
Piazza Santa Verdiana, Castelfiorentino. E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 0039 0571 628452
Museo del Vetro
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi 7, Gambassi Terme. E-mail: [email protected] Ufficio Cultura: Phone: 0039 0571 638204 (select n.2)
Teatro del Popolo
Piazza Gramsci 80, Castelfiorentino. E-mail: info@teatrocastelfiorentino Phone: 0039 0571 633482
Reduced tickets only for concert (not for grand opera) Gatteatro Castelnuovo d’Elsa
Via Roma 24 Castelnuovo d’Elsa, Castelfiorentino. E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 0039 329 5499609
Teatro C’Art Comic Education onlus
Via Brodolini 9, Castelfiorentino. E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 0039 0571 629811
You can make use of the provided facilities for a period not exceeding thirty days from the date of issue of the payment receipt issued by the Tourist Office.
Furthermore…
Participants who take part in the spiritual and nature trails will be entitled to a
relaxing massage
in one of the conventioned beauty centers at the special price of20
euros
!Our staff is available to enable the following services in the case of special needs: Presence of specialized operators in the assistance to the person
Easy access to the tours to people with temporary or permanent physical disabilities Wheelchair rental for people with motion difficulties
