Ponte A Elsa: Archaeology, Remembrance and the Palio

If you are looking for a hotel in Ponte A Elsa, the area’s history, the Palio di San Lazzaro and the Ciclopista dell’Arno offer different starting points for planning your trip. For the Palio, the date in the Easter calendar matters; for a bike ride, check current route conditions. Archaeological sites help put the history of the settlement and its surroundings into context.

Archaeology and historic routes

The Antiquarium at the archaeological site of San Genesio, between Ponte A Elsa and La Scala, houses archaeological material and scientific data from multidisciplinary research and excavations by the University of Pisa, which began in 2001. The finds and research data together document the investigations at the site. The collection also includes materials transferred from the former archaeological museum of San Miniato. These include objects from the Etruscan necropolis of Fonte Vivo, dating from the 4th to the 1st century BC.

The settlement of San Genesio is also a historical landmark: it stood on the ancient road between Pisa and Florence, the Via Quinzia, and later along the route of the Via Francigena. The two names refer to different routes from successive periods. Traces of a Roman land division, known as centuriation, have been found between La Scala and Ponte A Elsa. The term refers to a Roman system for dividing land. Traces of human presence have also been found in Ponte A Elsa (Poggione).

Remembrance and local religious history

The Giardino di via Medaglie d’Oro alla Resistenza is dedicated to Dino Selmi, a local resident who lived in Ponte A Elsa. Selmi was deported to Mauthausen on 8 March 1944 and died there on 21 April 1945. Four memorial stones and four plaques commemorate residents of the Ponte A Elsa area who were torn from their families. Alongside the memory of one individual named in a personal biography, the memorials also commemorate several residents.

The parish of Ponte a Elsa (Pino) is dedicated to Saints Philip and James and is designated as a priory. Its dedication and designation are two specific aspects of its local religious history.

Palio di San Lazzaro

The Palio di San Lazzaro has been held in Ponte A Elsa since 1982, two Sundays before Easter. Its date therefore depends on the date of Easter. The districts of Poggio and Piano compete in tug-of-war, the brick race and the wheel race. The Palio also includes a historical parade through the streets of Ponte A Elsa. The contests between the two districts and the parade are distinct parts of the event. If you plan to time your stay around the Palio, check that year’s programme.

Cycling and route information

The Ciclopista dell’Arno runs through the built-up area of Ponte A Elsa. A municipal notice dated 5 February 2020 described the route in the municipality of San Miniato from Ponte a Elsa to San Romano along the left bank of the Elsa River and to a service road at the foot of the embankment. The route description also mentions cycling connections between settlements and the possibility of reaching the Arno floodplains for leisure and sports activities. The section along the Elsa and recreational use of the Arno floodplains are different points of reference in the description. Check current route conditions before setting out on a bike ride.

Discover more destinations: Capannoli, San Giuliano Terme, Casciana Alta, Ponsacco, Crespina, Santa Croce Sull'arno, Monteverdi Marittimo, Santa Luce.

For the main travel overview: Pisa.