Sovicille Attractions

Top Things to Do in Sovicille

Things to Do in Sovicille


Book these experiences for a closer look at the region.

Top Attractions in Sovicille

These rankings are informed by traveller reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.
1

Other Top Attractions around Sovicille

*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

What travellers are saying

  • Cassidy T
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We were looking to visit a vineyard during our most recent trip to Italy when I ran across Trecciano. Barbara was a wonderfully engaging host and guide, she was very knowledgeable about the estate and the process for both grapes and olives. The wines were delicious, as was the oil, and we very much enjoyed our visit! Highly recommend visiting if you are in the area.
    Written 28 September 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Michel V
    Bredene, Belgium39 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    How Nice to make the visit possible at no price. Remember it is only open on monday and Friday ftom 09 - 12 am
    Written 10 August 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Czar Emmanuel
    Manila, Philippines6,268 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The complete name of the place is Hermitage of San Salvatore (Holy Redeemer) of Lecceto (briefly known as the Hermitage of Lecceto). Unless you are associated or familiar with the Augustinian cloistered nuns, you'd probably have never heard of this place before. And yet this is one place I would highly recommend for, at least, four reasons.

    First, it is rich in history. Documents attest to the existence of this hermitage as early as the 13th century (although the monastery and the church that you'll find here date back only to the 14th century). As such, it attests to the presence of early monasticism in the region.

    Second, being immersed in the midst of woods, the place offers a refuge from the chaos of nearby Siena (located only 10 kms away). The place is surrounded by trees, plants and flowers and wild animals. The only sound that you'll hear is that of Nature, which is very relaxing.

    Third, this hermitage is an excellent place for prayer, meditation and spiritual nourishment. It is very nice to hear the chanting of the cloistered nuns at certain hours of the day and night. Guests are also invited to participate in their prayers. They even have rooms for visitors who want to spend a night or two in the hermitage.

    Lastly, the architecture of the monastery and of the church is really beautiful. The cloister is typical of early Medieval monasteries. The belfry and the tower are very impressive. They combine Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles. Those interested in architecture will surely find them very interesting.

    I have already visited and stayed in this place many times before. And I make it a point that I visit the place every time I'm in the Province of Siena, in the Tuscany region, which is just around three hours away from Rome by fast train. Highly recommended!
    Written 5 March 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Brun066
    Florence, Italy12,580 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The countryside of Sovicille is dotted with rather well-preserved parish churches from the Romanesque age, an effect of the prosperity and dense population of this area from the beginning of the second millennium AD. C. (then followed by a radical decline starting from the "Black Plague" of 1348).
    This parish church - located in a beautiful position in the middle of a small plateau - excels among the others for several reasons.
    The first is the valuable quality of the architecture and sculpture, which indicate the strength of external cultural influences, according to scholars in particular from Lombardy and Auvergne. See for example the capitals of the naves, or the bell tower (but not the belfry, which is late).
    The second reason is the unusual presence, next to the church, of the remains of a cloister, with a portico supported by so-called "crutch" columns. This peculiarity denounces the presence not of a real convent, but of a community of "presbyters", i.e. young novices (generally of local origin) on their way to a career as priests.
    The third and final reason is the presence, opposite the remains of the cloister, of a building with a façade decorated with mullioned windows. It indicates a bishop's residence: we know in fact that the parish was the summer residence of the bishop of Siena.
    These reasons make this pieve outstanding among those of Sovicille.
    Written 9 August 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Brun066
    Florence, Italy12,580 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This bridge, perfectly preserved in its essential structure, suggests to anyone skilled in road archeology that it must have been part of a major road itinerary. Such an important artefact is not built in the Middle Ages (but perhaps it even stands on foundations from the Roman age) without it being justified by the importance of the localities it connects.
    Therefore the observation that it was part of the ancient "Via Massetana", that is the road that connected Siena and Massa Marittima, is essential to understand the importance of this bridge.
    The importance of Siena doesn't need to be explained. At the beginning of the fourteenth century it had more or less the inhabitants of London, and this was the effect of its leading function in the trading, and in particular in banking transactions.
    As for Massa Marittima, it was one of the rare European municipalities whose wealth was essentially due to mining. This has allowed it to maintain a remarkable vitality, despite being on the edge of a relatively unpopulated and unhealthy region such as the Maremma.
    Then, in the era of the Lorraine Grand Duchy (which was heavily involved in road construction), in the first half of the 19th century, the current "Massetana" road was built (probably improving a pre-existing itinerary), and the old route, together with the "Ponte della Pia”, is definitively decommissioned.
    Today the bridge serves as a track for hiking trails. But it helps us reflect on an era in which a civilization incomparably poorer in technical means than ours, but still prosperous - such as that of the Italian municipalities of the Middle Ages - had achieved it.
    Written 21 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Teresa C
    Metro Manila, Philippines1,557 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A stroll around Sovicille shows a whole hilltop village of stone building from centuries ago. Amazing structures that were built to last.
    Written 29 November 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Brun066
    Florence, Italy12,580 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    In my view, one of the reasons for the charm of the “Montagnola Senese”, that is the region in which this "pieve" (parish church) is located, is that it's full of isolated "pievi", without it being possible to identify a significant amount of houses that should have belonged to the “pievi” themselves. It is more or less “in the middle of nowhere”.
    As far as I can understand from the research of medieval historians, this would happen in the Montagnola because the network of houses disappeared after the "Black Plague" of 1348, and - unlike elsewhere in Tuscany - was never restored in the following decades, for effect of the economic anemia of the capital city, Siena, to which was added, after 1555, the end of the independence of the city-state. The demographic crisis would therefore never have been recovered.
    In my opinion, this is one of the reasons for the charm of the Montagnola parish churches; but in particular of this one, which appeared to me even more secluded than the others.
    The economic decline has allowed the good conservation of this pieve: e.g., in the centuries closest to us, no one has thought of altering its beautiful Romanesque layout, which therefore appears particularly pure.
    I am aware that accessibility even inside the church - which I was able to take advantage of - is a rare phenomenon: the church is usually closed, and I was able to visit it only on the occasion of the "Sovicille delle meraviglie" event, which has been held since some years, for two weekends, in May and October
    Written 21 May 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sovicille