Piazze: Bico tradition, local history and route

Discover Piazze through a range of themes: Piazza Vittorio Veneto as the symbolic heart of the main settlement, the town’s history and the Bico tradition. There is also a signposted route measuring 8.3 kilometres. These highlights offer different ways to plan your stay around the landscape, history or local cuisine.

Paths and landscape around Piazze

Piazze lies on the southeastern slopes of Monte Cetona. The Itinerario dei colli di Piazze is a signposted route measuring 8.3 kilometres. This distance gives you a specific figure to work with when planning; check the route conditions before setting out.

Camporsevoli is another named destination in the area: the fortified village lies a few kilometres from Piazze. Some sections of the old castle walls and the entrance gate are still visible. On the road from Piazze to Camporsevoli, the paved section becomes an unpaved road after a few kilometres. Lined with cypress trees, it climbs a steep hill. The surface and gradient are useful details for route planning; conditions may change.

Art, buildings and local history

The Monumento ai Caduti della Prima Guerra Mondiale stands in Piazza Vittorio Veneto. Created by Raffaello Romanelli, the monument was unveiled in 1924. It is made of engraved and carved travertine. The square and monument can therefore be viewed together as a local focal point and a landmark of historical significance.

The Chiesa di San Lazzaro dates back to the 16th century and was closed for religious use in 1962. Its main altar features a large 17th-century canvas depicting the Resurrection of Saint Lazarus. Another building with a history of its own is the Cappella di San Giuseppe al Tamburino, built in the first decades of the 16th century. One possible explanation for its construction is that it was a votive offering connected with an epidemic; this interpretation remains explicitly uncertain.

The first records of Piazze date from the 16th century. At that time, the area and chapel fell under the jurisdiction of the Castello di Camporsevoli. The town’s history can also be traced through more recent dates: in 1934, under the direction of Maestro Caporaletti, a school was established to found the Banda Comunale “Arturo Toscanini”. On 22 November 1935, the band gave its first official performance. Earlier, in February 1932, Arturo Toscanini had visited Piazze, where he was treated by local doctor Alberto Rinaldi. These three dates mark different milestones and should not be conflated into a single event.

Bico and local food culture

Bico di Piazze is a traditional unleavened food made from water, wheat flour and a little salt. The dough is prepared without yeast and baked by the hearth under the ash produced by a plentiful fire of burning wood. Its ingredients and preparation make Bico a distinctive expression of local food culture.

At the Sagra del bico, this traditional food is prepared by the town’s historic cooks. The festival is held in Piazze over two weekends from late June to early July; check the exact dates and programme for your trip. Osteria da Rinaldi also draws on regional cuisine: its à la carte menu features Tuscan dishes made with local and seasonal ingredients. Menu details may change, so it is worth checking the current offering before planning a visit.

Discover more destinations: Pienza, Colombaio, Chianciano Terme, Scalvaia, Castiglione D'orcia, San Gimignano, Toiano, Fonteregina

For the broader travel overview: Siena.