With a network of alleys and an imposing circle of walls, Torrita di Siena is a perfectly maintained medieval village, which has many places of artistic, historical and cultural interest. The historic center deserves to be visited calmly and carefully, under the lens of curiosity and the desire to discover the various shades of flavors, aromas, voices and that drum of that rolling of sounds that is the soundtrack to life of its inhabitants. Patient and careful explorations will leave the visitor surprised by the riches that lie behind the doors of churches, parish churches and chapels. The most important buildings of the town overlook the main square, Piazza Matteotti, which in a few tens of meters contains an architectural heritage of exceptional value, as evidenced by the town hall, the Teatro degli Oscuri and the Romanesque church of Sante Flora and Lucilla, which is a sort of temple-museum with unsuspected art treasures.
Visiting Torrita it will also be possible to admire its authenticity: the village has managed to maintain over time not only its original urban plan, but also the identity of its people, who still feel like a true community that thrives on traditions. Over the times, events with an ancient flavor are carried out with pride, including the Palio dei Somari, the festivals or battles on the edge of a fierce but peaceful rivalry that lasts all year round inside the districts, the real engine of cohesion. The rural traditions of wine, oil, meat and, in general, the love for good food, handed down from generation to generation are still proudly maintained. Finally, Torrita di Siena is known for its intense cultural activity, with the presence of many events of national appeal in the musical and literary fields such as the Torrita Blues festival or the Borgo dei Libri festival.
The Palio dei Somari, born in 1966 to celebrate San Giuseppe, takes place on the Sunday following March 19th. The party was established to highlight the effort and simplicity of human work, and for this reason, a humble and tireless animal such as the donkey was chosen as a symbol. The current palio is run by eight districts and, each of these, deploys its own figures in historical clothes for a beautiful and heartfelt re-enactment set in the fourteenth century, accompanied by the roll of the drums and the shows of the flag-wavers.
A festival dedicated to reading and literature, with the book becoming a tool for circulating and sharing ideas. The Borgo dei Libri takes place through a rich calendar of initiatives that will offer creative and manual workshops for children, book presentations and meetings with authors, market exhibitions with many stalls, workshops, narrations, theatrical performances and much more. The awarding of the “Clanis - For Chianina culture” literary prize and the “Academy of the Darks” national literary prize for children enriches the initiative.
One of the most important European Blues Festivals takes place in Torrita di Siena, which, since 1989, has created an evocative combination of music and the landscapes of the Val di Chiana. The event has become an eagerly awaited event attended by thousands of lovers of the genre who, every year, meet to experience the concerts of some of the most important artists on the international scene..
The Teatro degli Oscuri is a small jewel of an Italian-style theater that took its current form between 1800 and 1900, with a fixed stage, an ovate shape with the boxes divided into two orders and the pictorial decorations. Today it is the hub of Torrita's culture with a continuous activity of events, concerts, cultural meetings and book presentations.
La chiesa delle Sante Flora e Lucilla, costruita nel XII secolo, è una sorta di tempio-museo che conserva tesori dell’arte quasi insospettabili in un borgo di così piccole dimensioni. L’opera di maggior pregio è la lunetta del “Sangue di Cristo”, un bassorilievo marmoreo del 1400 attribuito a Donatello.
Situated on a hill a few kilometers from Torrita di Siena, Montefollonico is known as the “Borgo del Vin Santo” for the still living tradition of producing vin santo even in the cellars of the house. This town, of medieval origin, denotes vitality through a rich program of events and cultural activities hosted by the small jewel of the Vitolo Theater. Lovers of nature and trekking can reach Montefollonico directly from Torrita, along the eight kilometers of the Vinsanto Path surrounded by greenery and with a breathtaking view of the Valdichiana.
