Myths of Monte Amiata

The villages and hamlets around Monte Amiata are rich in historical evidence but also in legends. In Castel del Piano, a location from which you take the chairlift to practice the slopes, you can visit one of the first monumental trees in Italy. The centuries-old Beech tree in the Contessa's meadow. Legend has it that Gherardesca degli Aldobrandeschi secretly met his love here Adalberto, feudal lord of Chiusi. She fled from him even after forced marriage but the two lovers were discovered and the forest was set on fire. Only the beech tree survived and, at the behest of Gherardesca, saved her too, it was surrounded by a flowery meadow. Retracing the legends means visiting beautiful places such as the Convent of the Santissima Trinità della selva in Santa Fiora, where there would be the skull of the dragon killed by Guido Sforza, the Abbey of San Salvatore built by order of the Celestial King by King Rachis, a Lombard lord and the parish church of Santa Maria de la Mula where a saint arrived with the mule who knelt down, leaving his footprint in front of the door.