MONTESCUDAIO
a confetti of paradise in Tuscany
Montescudaio, OGM free Commune, is one of the founders of the National Association City of Wine, member of Res Tipica and of the National Associations “City of Oil” and “City of Bread”.
Since 2006 it has become part of the Association of the most beautiful Italian villages.
Montescudaio is an ancient village in the province of Pisa (242 meters above sea level) only 10 km distant from the sandy shore of Cecina, about 60 km from Pisa, 110 from Florence and 70 from Siena.
Montescudaio and its itineraries for everyone:
“…because discovering the beauty of this confetti of paradise looking out on the sea, gives us back memory, gives us peace”
The Memory’s path…which is engraved as a precious stone inside the heart of the village, among palaces, churches and the breathtaking panoramas.
The peace path… coming down from the mount to the river will magically relax us.
The taste route…discovering the local flavours.
From the beginning Montescudaio has been synonymous of wine. The presence of vine goes back to the Etruscan times. Many evidences have been found in the area: tools to cultivate vines, containers used for storing the wine, vases called “craters” in which the wine and the water were mixed, according to the Greek custom. Montescudaio is the Head Commune of the Montescudaio DOC, a consortium that since November 2 1976, has joined together 7 communes: Montescudaio, Casale M.mo, Riparbella, Montecatini Val di Cecina, Guardistallo, Santa Luce, Castellina M.ma. These communes have also given birth to the “Wine Road Etruscan Coast”. Other important local products are cold cuts, bread and oil. In fact Montescudaio is part of the two national Associations called “City of bread” and “City of oil”.
“The path of reasons” to come back soon as again
Several fairs are held in Montescudaio at regular periods, along with many other musical and cultural events organized during the year.
Every year, in May, the National Feast of Small Communes is held.
In June both the feast of the most beautiful villages of Italy and the one organized by the national Association “City of Bread” take place.
In July music and dance festivals, jazz and moving pictures alternate
In August the national Association “City of Wine” focuses the attention on two events: “Calici di stelle” and “Vino Estate”.
In October the ex “wine fair”, now officially called “Mostra Mercato del Vino Doc Montescudaio”, takes place. Since 1967 it has been held the first week end of the month and attracts thousands of wine lovers.
At the end of November “Montescudaio Olea” should not be missed, as part of the fair “Pane & olio in frantoio” and organized by the national Association “City of Oil”.
In December many cribs are realized in the centre of the village and in the most suggestive corners. And when the day fades…”the winning post” is to recall all this again and to put a plus sign to the past day, being sure to enjoy all this again the following day.
(
a free abridgment of “Montescudaio coriandolo di Paradiso in Toscana” by Arianna Valentino)
(Photos: Annamaria Bondani)