Rosia: Pieve, Ponte della Pia and archaeological traces

Rosia can be explored through several distinct themes: the Romanesque Pieve di San Giovanni Battista stands in the town centre; there is also a marked route, the Ponte della Pia, a geological nature trail and an archaeological necropolis. If you are considering Rosia as a destination, these specific features can help you find your bearings: church art and architecture, walking trails, landscape and burial sites each offer their own points of interest.

Pieve, art and Sentiero 114

The Romanesque Pieve di San Giovanni Battista stands in the centre of Rosia. Its right side altar features a painting by Guidoccio Cozzarelli. It depicts the Madonna and Child enthroned between Saint Sebastian and Saint Anthony the Great. In addition to this artwork, the bell tower also defines the church’s character: it is divided into several tiers, whose openings are arranged in groups of one, two, three and four. Thus, a single named painting and the tower’s tiered architecture stand out as distinct features.

The marked Sentiero 114 starts at the same Pieve and runs from Rosia to Tonni. Its first section follows Via della Parrocchia and Via di Mezzo. This clearly identifies both the starting point in the town centre and the first named streets for route-finding. The trail is marked as a connection between Rosia and Tonni; the Pieve is also a distinct point of interest for art and architectural history.

Ponte della Pia: history and routes

At the Ponte della Pia, the bridge’s construction history, the legend surrounding it and the present-day crossing can be considered separately. Its current appearance probably dates to work carried out around the 13th century. At the time, the bridge was an important crossing on the ancient Via Massetana between Siena and Massa Marittima. According to tradition, its name is associated with Pia de’ Tolomei, a Sienese noblewoman mentioned by Dante Alighieri in the fifth canto of Purgatorio.

The bridge can be crossed, but it has no railing, so caution is needed. Check the conditions on site before crossing. A woodland path also leads from the Ponte della Pia to the Eremo di Santa Lucia. It follows the remains of an old road called “Manliana”. As trail conditions can vary, checking them on site is also recommended here. At the bridge, then, there are two distinct practical considerations alongside a specific historical connection: crossing with care and following the woodland path.

Torrente Rosia geosite

Below the Ponte della Pia, beside a small waterfall, lies the Torrente Rosia and Fracture System geosite. An educational trail illustrates how fractures in the rock can affect the course of a stream. A seven-metre-high waterfall forms in the fracture system area; its flow varies seasonally. The geosite therefore presents a geological relationship that can be described through the stream, rock fractures and waterfall. The educational trail focuses not only on the landscape, but also explains how rock and water interact.

Area Archeologica Malignano

The Area Archeologica Malignano lies at the end of a narrow gorge carved by the Torrente Rosia between the hills of the Montagnola. Here, the landscape opens onto a plain crossed by the Merse River. Eighteen chamber and shaft tombs have been excavated in the necropolis. They are carved into limestone; the necropolis has not yet been fully excavated. The details about the number and types of tombs and the material used give the archaeological site a clearly defined focus, while the gorge and the transition to the Merse plain provide its landscape setting. This lets you consider the archaeological and landscape perspectives separately, without viewing the tombs apart from their described surroundings.

Discover more destinations: Stigliano, Carpineto.

For the broader travel overview: Sovicille.