Ambra between local history and the Palio

Ambra combines a townscape shaped by the Middle Ages with church art and a distinctive village tradition. The ancient town centre sits on a small hill between the left bank of the Ambra River and the ravine of the fortress moat. If you are looking for a hotel in Ambra, these different themes can shape your itinerary: local history, art or a stay centred around the Palio.

Medieval traces in the town centre

The medieval fortifications are still clearly visible in the townscape of the historic centre. The visible remains include fragments of the eastern defensive wall, incorporated into houses, as well as a door and a tower in the northern area. There are also traces of houses dating from the late 12th or early 13th century. The architectural remains differ in form: the wall fragments are incorporated into houses, while the door and tower stand as distinct elements of the fortifications.

The lane “gli sportici” is also a historic point of reference in Ambra: it leads to one of the ancient entrances to the Castrum. The townscape therefore features not only surviving structures but also the connection between a lane and an entrance to the former fortifications.

Churches and works of art

The parish church of Santa Maria Assunta was built at the end of the 16th century, replacing a medieval church building that had been destroyed by the earthquake of 1558. The year 1558 therefore refers to the earthquake, not to the construction of the present church. Santa Maria Assunta also houses a large painting of the Nativity of Mary. It was created in 1600 by Michelangelo Vestrucci, an artist from Montevarchi.

The Church of the Compagnia di Santa Croce, on present-day Via Duddova, was probably built in the 1570s. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross; its architectural features also include a pedimented façade, pilasters along the side walls and a circular oculus. Behind the altar is a 17th-century painting depicting the Finding of the True Cross. The two church paintings focus on different subjects: the Nativity of Mary and the Finding of the True Cross. They also differ in date: the painting in Santa Croce is from a later period than the probable construction of the church.

The Palio della Palla Tonchiata

In the Palio della Palla Tonchiata, two pushers at a time roll tonchiate balls weighing 80 to 90 kilograms through the village twice. Since 1998, Ambra has commemorated the theft of the tonchiata ball every year with a test of strength and skill. The heavy balls and the repeated circuit through the village give the contest its specific format; it combines competition with the commemoration of this event.

A walking route for different ways of getting around

Ambra is one of the stops on the Sentiero dell’Alta Valdambra. The route can be travelled on foot, by mountain bike and on horseback. This means the route is not limited to a single way of getting around. If you would like to plan your trip around it, you can first decide whether hiking, mountain biking or horse riding will be the focus of your stay.

The themes also differ in their timing for travel planning: the building history and works of art are associated with historical dates, while the Palio is an event with specific dates. If the contest is the reason for your trip, check the dates in advance. If you are focusing on local history and church art, you can consider the building phases of the two churches alongside the different medieval traces in Ambra.

Discover more destinations: Pietraviva, Solata, Badia Agnano, San Leolino, Cennina, San Pancrazio, Capannole, Badia A Ruoti.

For the wider travel overview: Bucine.