Staggia: Fortress, defensive walls and sacred art

Staggia combines the history of a fortified settlement with sacred art and specific cycling routes. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in the town, you can first consider whether the fortress and defensive walls, church art or cycling will be your main focus.

Fortress and defensive walls

The village of Staggia is surrounded by a well-preserved stone defensive wall; the fortress marks its northeastern boundary. Eleven towers interrupt the ring: six have a square ground plan, while the others are pentagonal. The walls visible today date back to the Florentine expansion at the beginning of the 15th century and follow an irregular polygonal layout. Polygonal describes an outline made up of several sides; irregular indicates that it does not follow a regular pattern.

The fortress is located on the Via Francigena. It is open daily; access is possible only as part of a guided tour and with a mandatory reservation. Check the latest booking information before your visit.

Churches, museum and Marian image

The church of Santa Maria Assunta in Staggia has Romanesque origins and was extensively restored at the beginning of the 20th century. It houses a collection of sacred art. This offers a concise overview of the history of Staggia’s strategically important castle and the repeated conflicts between Siena and Florence.

The Museo Pala del Pollaiolo is next to the Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta and houses Antonio del Pollaiolo’s painting “Comunione mistica di Santa Maria Maddalena.” A collection of sacred art and a specifically named painting thus provide distinct cultural points of reference. The 15th-century church of Misericordia is also next to the parish church in Staggia.

The Edicola di Maria is near the fortress; it houses a venerated image of Maria Regina dei Cieli. In 1881, Domenico and his sisters Marri removed the image from the old Porta Fiorentina. Marquis Ippolito Venturi Cinori then arranged for it to be kept in the tabernacle of the Edicola di Maria.

Cycling routes and orientation

The Fondovalle Poggiobonizio route connects Bellavista with Staggia Senese and branches there into two sections: one heads towards Castellina Scalo and ends in Monteriggioni, while the other leads to Abbadia Isola. The endpoint is therefore the key difference when choosing a route.

A completed section of cycle path runs from the settlement of La Magione to Staggia Senese. While the Fondovalle Poggiobonizio route has two sections with different endpoints, this section runs between two named places. A different point of reference applies for orientation on the road network: the SR 2 bypass goes completely around the settlement of Staggia.

Discover more destinations: Talciona

Return to the main travel overview: Poggibonsi.