Colle Di Val D'elsa: Culture, Art and Routes

Colle Di Val D'elsa brings together several themes that may play a role in choosing a destination: glassmaking history, archaeological and religious art, architecture and routes. Museums and historic sites give the cultural side a concrete profile, while the Via Francigena and the Elsa River offer other points of interest. You can tailor your stay to whether you want to focus on collections and the city's history, or also explore routes in and around the city.

Culture, Art and City History

The Museo del Cristallo is located on the site of the former Boschi glassworks. The archaeological museum in Palazzo Pretorio displays Etruscan, Roman and medieval finds. The museum complex also includes the Giardino delle Arti and the Stanze della Memoria “Gracco Del Secco”.

The Museo San Pietro traces the history of Colle through religious and civic art. A highlight of this story is the town's elevation to city status in 1592. Religious works of art illustrate the development of faith in the Valdelsa from its beginnings to the establishment of the Diocese of Colle. The museum also features civic collections from the 19th and 20th centuries, with works by Antonio Salvetti and Walter Fusi, as well as the collections of Walter Fusi and Romano Bilenchi. A selection from Romano Bilenchi's library includes works by Ottone Rosai, Moses Levy and Mino Maccari.

The churches also offer a range of historical and artistic points of interest. Santa Caterina d’Alessandria is documented from the end of the 13th century. The church houses a polychrome terracotta group by Zaccaria Zacchi, created between 1504 and 1506, depicting the Lamentation of Christ. In the Duomo di Colle, the Cappella del Sacro Chiodo preserves one of the nails used in Christ's crucifixion in a tabernacle.

Among the town's notable buildings is the Ponte di San Francesco: its nine arches connect the Convento di San Francesco with the Borgo; the bridge was completed in 1338. Palazzo Campana is an example of 16th-century Tuscan Mannerist architecture. The Bastione di Sapia is a restored historic military structure, reinforced by a tower. From there, you can see the Convento di San Francesco and the Duomo.

A contemporary art route runs between the upper and lower towns, turning the streets into an open-air gallery. In this way, art in public spaces complements the historic collections and buildings with another cultural highlight.

Routes between the Via Francigena and the Elsa

Colle di Val d'Elsa lies on the 32nd stage of the Via Francigena, between San Gimignano and Monteriggioni. Within the municipal area, one route passes through the town centre and another through the countryside. The Anello della Francigena Colligiana is a 22-kilometre circular route that starts and ends in Colle. The details about the routes and their lengths give you different ways to choose the hiking focus of your stay, without treating the routes as equivalent.

The SentierElsa is a river trail about four kilometres long. It begins at the Steccaia and Callone Reale hydraulic structures. At the Diborrato section, the waters of the Elsa form a waterfall about 15 metres high and a small lake approximately ten metres deep. The Elsa River along the SentierElsa is considered suitable for swimming and attracts many swimmers in summer. Check local conditions before swimming.

A trip to Dometaia

Dometaia is a district of the municipality of Colle di Val d'Elsa, five minutes by car from the town centre. The Dometaia Archaeological Park contains 56 tombs dating from the mid-6th century BC to the first years of the 2nd century AD. This long time span makes the park a distinct archaeological attraction alongside the town's museums. Educational activities held on site include simulated excavations, landscape studies and working with clay.

Practical information

City bus route 202 connects the bus terminal on Via Bilenchi with the “Parcheggio Rimembranza” stop at the entrance to Colle Alta. If you plan to use this connection, check the timetable before travelling.

At the Sagra della Miseria in Santa Caterina, visitors can sample traditional peasant cuisine. The festival is held frequently; check the dates before your trip. When planning, you can weigh up museums, buildings, routes and the possibility of experiencing this local event.

Discover more destinations

Castel San Gimignano, Campiglia Dei Foci, Borgatello, Anqua, Sinalunga, Taverne D'arbia, Radicondoli, Scrofiano

For the regional travel overview: Siena.