Hello dearest friends,
As I mentioned earlier this morning, today in this post, I want to tell you about one of my explorations from this past weekend, which was quite busy, but that's how I like it. This time, I reached Siena by train, thanks to my friend, who helped me get to this location, which unfortunately isn't connected by public transport.
Today, I want to talk to you about a hamlet in the municipality of Radicondoli in the province of Siena called Belforte. It's a fascinating medieval village that I had visited before, but I never get tired of seeing it, because every time I discover an even more beautiful spot in this village.
As usual, I wandered through the streets of this small village on foot, which I believe is always the best way to truly see what these places have to offer. I was struck by how few people were around, likely because there aren't many residents in this place.
This village is located at about 500 meters above sea level, so even in summer, it's quite cool. We're very close to the famous Crete Senesi, but this place has been important over time because it housed several mines. Indeed, as soon as you arrive in the village, you're welcomed by a fountain that commemorates the metallurgical past of this area.
It's worth noting that we're quite far from Siena, about 60 km away. Even here, just like in Siena, a traditional palio takes place. I noticed some truly characteristic stone buildings, but as always, what struck me the most is how well-maintained they are. I imagine that there's an annual maintenance program, since maintaining these houses must be quite difficult and expensive. Italy has strict regulations on these architectural assets.
I also noticed some children playing in the village streets, something you rarely see in large cities these days. Fortunately, in these smaller places, it's still a common sight, partly because cars would struggle to navigate some of the narrow streets in this village.
I was also impressed by the beauty of the Belforte church, a beautiful Romanesque church from the outside, but unfortunately, I was unlucky because it was completely closed.
It might seem incredible, but there's a post office within this village, although it's not open every day. Still, it's a service that's still hanging on here. I also noticed several historic shops scattered around the village, but unfortunately, some of them have been closed for a while.
As I always say, taking a walk through these places is like stepping back in time, because it truly feels like time has stood still here.
I only took some photos of the village, with its cobbled streets winding between houses, and in some cases, passing beneath them. The designers of this village must have been quite clever to plan it all out.
In any case, the surrounding area is filled with nature, with plenty of hiking trails for nature lovers, as well as mountain biking routes, which I didn't capture in photos. But trust me, they're truly beautiful.
As usual, thank you for reading. I hope I took you with me virtually, and I hope you'll be able to visit these places someday. Have a great day, friends. See you soon!