Hello dear friends,
today I'm back with my usual post about a very beautiful place I visited some time ago in Tuscany, another place that surely lies off the beaten tourist track, in the province of Grosseto.
I'm talking about Caldana, which by the way seems to have a name fitting the season, but in reality is a small hamlet of the municipality of Gavorrano, nestled in the metalliferous hills. This village is located on a hillside at approximately 150 meters above sea level.
You can already admire this place from the road as you approach, as it's quite recognizable atop the hill. Upon arrival, the first thing that catches your eye is its church, the Church of San Biagio.
Fortunately, I found this church open, so I was able to visit inside as well. I discovered that this church was built by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder, one of the most famous architects of the sixteenth century. The part of the church that struck me the most is its facade, which is remarkably beautiful. It's true that sometimes exploring these places reveals such gems, perhaps from illustrious people that few know about.
Certainly, one very interesting feature inside this church is the baptismal font, which I read from nearby plaques was entirely made of marble sourced from quarries near Caldana.
I continued my walk along the streets of this beautiful village and noticed that one street overlooks the valley like a balcony, offering a stunning view of the landscape.
At one point, the road winds among the houses, and here you can admire these beautiful structures where houses are intricately fitted together with each other. Sometimes I stop to observe and try to understand how these stone houses were built.
Continuing my walk, what I still adore about these places is that naturally, there are plants scattered all around the village.
Further along, I came across an old piece of furniture left outside a house; I'm not sure of its function, but perhaps it was awaiting restoration due to its age.
I paused to take photos of these balconies overlooking the valley, something unique that I haven't seen in other villages. As I mentioned before, they're perfect spots to take a break and admire the surrounding panorama.
If you noticed from my photos, you can still see in this place the Aldobrandeschi Fortress, or rather a part of this castle, which, as I've shown you in other villages, has been incorporated into the houses. In the past, people were much more resourceful; they reused parts of old constructions, so a castle that was no longer needed became part of a residence. There was probably a more thoughtful approach to the territory.
Overall, I must say I was satisfied with this walk; it was very enjoyable as usual. I hope you liked the photos I took and that someday you can personally visit this place. See you in my next post, and I wish you all a great weekend!