Roccalbegna is a village which has an untouched medieval feature. Once an Aldobrandeschi dominion, later on came under Siena Republic. In the central square of the village, besides the Town Hall and the little but evocative Civic Tower and its clock, there is the most famous monument, the church of St. Peter and Paul. The nature of the soil in Roccalbegna causes frequent landslides and one such landslide bent the portal architrave , thus the church is now leaning. Its interior is frescoed and has valuable pictures. Among these, the masterpiece is undoubtely the wooden altar-piece, an Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s “Madonna with Child” dating 1340. Behind the church , a few steps up, there is the Crucifix Oratory used as a museum, where many works of art of F. Nasini e S.Folli and a beautiful Crucifix dating 1360, work of the senese old master Luca di Tomme’ are seen. Outside “Porta di Maremma” entrance there is the little church dedicated to “Madonna” which contains some frescoes dating 1400s. Beyond there is the panoramic Rocca explanade. But the very Roccalbegna buttonhole – not to be missed – is “La Pietra”. It is the Stone, a Tower dominating the entire hamlet. One can get there from a very steep and asphalted road, through a narrow flight of steps clung to the Rock. Roccalbegna neighbourhoods are worthy of a visit as well. Cana still has all its medieval charm, and has a beautiful cistern of the Medici. Just before Cana, at Vallerona, there is the church of St.Pio I and a neo-classic fountain. Southwards, for nature lovers, there is an interesting path to scour alongside river Albegna, by car or mountain bike for the firts 3 km , and then on foot on the river bed. Poplars and weeping willows take the place of brooms and holm-oaks; this is the ideal place to birdwatch, it is very easy to see king-fishers and dippers. Bosco Rocconi WWf oasis hosts sparrow-hawks and other birds of prey. Further eastward from Roccalbegna, there is the towering Triana Castle, which came under the senese Piccolomini in 1388 . It has two towers and two huge strongholds entirely covered with ivy.
MAGLIANO IN TOSCANA (Grosseto)
