Mazzolla: History, Art and Routes to Berignone

These highlights give you a practical starting point for planning your trip.

San Lorenzo and Villa Giorgi Viti

A walk through Mazzolla’s lanes to the piazza leads to the Church of San Lorenzo. The Romanesque church has a single-nave interior, a rafter roof and a gabled façade. The church is mentioned in documents from 1276, and a baptismal font was installed there in 1579. San Lorenzo thus brings together Romanesque architecture and two clearly dated historical milestones.

Villa Giorgi Viti also brings together several periods: it is the Viti family’s residence and combines styles from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Its oldest section stands on the remains of Etruscan-Roman buildings. The walled garden has two defensive towers dating from the 16th century. A scene from the RAI series “La Donna Velata” was filmed there in 1975. The church and villa offer different points of interest if you are interested in religious architecture, historic building styles or film history.

Art history and local connections

Mauro Staccioli created the rust-red arch “Attraversando la storia” in Mazzolla. The work highlighted the medieval wall of the Church of San Lorenzo. A route more than 90 kilometres long, featuring installations by Staccioli, also passed through Mazzolla. The original work was faithfully reconstructed in 2022, and the reconstructed work was donated to the Museo Archivio Mauro Staccioli. The connection between the artwork, the church wall and the route makes art a distinct part of the village’s history.

Festivals, bookshop and encounters

The Festa di Mazzolla takes place every year on 10 August in honour of the patron saint, San Lorenzo. Visitors and tourists are now also welcomed, and the programme may change from one edition to the next. At the 2026 edition, pappardelle al cinghiale and dishes made with local products from the immediate area were served. The food may also vary from one edition to the next.

On 26 June 2026, Libreria il Circolino opened as Mazzolla’s first bookshop. In its third and fourth sections, it offers a carefully selected range of fiction in English and French; the selection may change. Libreria Umana in Borgo Mazzolla was held for the third time following editions in June 2024 and June 2025. At this event, the audience listens to the story of each “human book” and can then ask questions, comment and share memories. The format may change in future editions. One edition featured stories and professional experiences from an alabaster worker, a truffle hunter, a cook, a cheesemaker and someone who works in salt production.

Roads, cycling tours and routes to Berignone

The paved route between Volterra and San Gimignano is designated for car journeys and cycling tours and passes through Mazzolla. The road connecting the SR 68 with Mazzolla offers striking views of the calanchi (badlands). For cyclists, the “Ciclotour della Riserva Naturale di Berignone e Tatti” starts in medieval Mazzolla, crosses the Fosci and leads into the Berignone Nature Reserve. A cycling tour reaches the Torraccia in the heart of the reserve, also known as Castello dei Vescovi.

If you prefer to explore on foot, you can continue from Mazzolla on a trekking route towards the Berignone Nature Reserve, following forest trails to the ruins of forts and castles. The Berignone Crossing Trail, starting in Mazzolla and running through the Berignone forest, was planned for October 2026. If you are planning to travel for this trail, check the final event plans in advance. For a cycling tour, it is also a good idea to check the latest trail conditions.

Discover more destinations: Pignano, Saline, Prato D'era, Villamagna.

Go to the main travel overview: Volterra.