Sinalunga: Festivals, Chianina and Tuscan Routes

When planning a stay in Sinalunga, you can choose different areas of focus: festival traditions with markets and food, routes connected with Chianina, or trails through fields, vineyards and olive groves. Other highlights include the Palazzo Pretorio with its terracotta façade and the underground passages of Fonte del Castagno. This allows you to choose where to stay based on whether you are more interested in events, local produce, landscapes or architectural history.

Festivals blending market traditions and cultural events

The Fiera alla Pieve combines an old market tradition with a modern food offering. It used to take place in the second week of October on the grounds beside the church of Pieve ad Mensulas; livestock, meat and other goods were the main items for sale. Today, the Fiera preserves culinary traditions with porchetta, celery, croccante and cheeses of various kinds and ages. There are also market stalls and an amusement park. If you plan to include this festival in your trip, check the event dates separately.

L’Incantaborgo offers a different kind of festival. Its regular program includes craft markets, exhibitions, street food and special openings of notable sites in the historic centre. Every summer, there is also mobile street theatre, acrobatics, juggling, dance, visual installations and musical performances. The two festivals differ above all in character: the Fiera preserves its connection to markets and culinary tradition, while L’Incantaborgo brings together performing and visual arts with markets and exhibitions.

Routes with different points of focus

The Chianina cattle breed is at the heart of the Percorso del Gigante Bianco and serves as the route’s central theme. Sinalunga is considered a central location on the route and, along with Arezzo, is one of its two recommended starting points. Along the route, you can visit Chianina cattle farms and taste genuine IGP beef. This route is therefore a good fit if you are interested in Chianina, cattle farming and local food.

The Via Lauretana offers a contrasting focus on landscapes. It crosses the Sinalunga area, starting from the village of Scrofiano, and passes through oak woods, cultivated fields, vineyards and olive groves. If you are choosing between the two themed routes, the Chianina breed takes centre stage on the Percorso del Gigante Bianco, while the Via Lauretana focuses on landscapes. Chianina and production on the one hand, landscapes on the other: you can choose the route that best matches your interests.

Architecture and the passages of Fonte del Castagno

The façade and tower of the Palazzo Pretorio are made of terracotta, a material typical of Tuscany. If you are interested in architecture, the palazzo offers a tangible connection to Sinalunga’s built heritage. The underground passages of Fonte del Castagno are more than 200 metres long and were completed in 1265.

Visits to the passages are organised by the Gruppo Archeologico Sinalunghese. Groups are limited to ten people and visits are available on Saturdays or Sundays, following a written request made at least one week in advance to ufficio.turistico@comune.sinalunga.si.it. Ask about a date for your visit when you make your request.

Discover more destinations: Bisciano, Farnetella, Bettolle, Rigomagno, Castiglione D'orcia, La Fratta, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Campriano.

For the broader travel overview: Siena.