Abbadia San Salvatore

Abbey of Sant'Antimo

Albarese

Acquapendente


anghiari

Archipelago Toscano


Arcidosso


Arezzo


Asciano


Badia di Coltibuono


Bagni San Filippo

Bagno Vignoni

Barberino Val d'Elsa

Beaches

Bolsena Lake


Bomarzo

Brunello di Montalcino

Buonconvento

Campagnatico


Capalbio


Castel del Piano


Castelfiorentino

Castell'Azzara

Castellina in Chianti


Castelmuzio


Castelnuovo Bererdenga


Castiglioncello Bandini


Castiglione della Pescaia


Castiglione d'Orcia


Castiglion Fiorentino


Celleno


Certaldo


Chinaciano Terme


Chianti


Chiusi


Cinigiano


Città di Castello

CivitÀ di Bagnoregio


Colle Val d'Elsa


Cortona


Crete Senesi


Diaccia Botrona

Isola d'Elba

Firenze


Follonica


Gaiole in Chianti


Gavorrano

Gerfalco


Greve in Chianti


Grosseto


Lago Trasimeno


La Foce


Manciano


Maremma


Massa Marittima


Montagnola Senese


Montalcino


Monte Amiata


Monte Argentario

montecalvello

Montefalco


Montemassi


Montemerano


Monte Oliveto Maggiore


Montepulciano


Monteriggioni


Monticchiello


Monticiano


Orbetello


Orvieto


Paganico


Parco Naturale della Maremma


Perugia


Piancastagnaio


Pienza


Pisa


Pitigliano

Prato

Radda in Chianti


Roccalbegna


Roccastrada


San Bruzio


San Casciano dei Bagni


San Galgano


San Gimignano


San Giovanni d'Asso


San Quirico d'Orcia


Sansepolcro


Santa Fiora


Sant'Antimo


Sarteano


Saturnia


Scansano


Scarlino


Seggiano


Siena


Sinalunga


Sorano


Sovana


Sovicille

Talamone

Tarquinia


Tavernelle Val di Pesa


Torrita di Siena


Trequanda


Tuscania


Umbria


Val d'Elsa


Val di Merse


Val d'Orcia


Valle d'Ombrone


Vetulonia


Viterbo

Volterra




 
Walking in Tuscany
             
 
Certaldo

   

Certaldo, as you may have heard, is a burgh of Val d'Elsa situate in our country, which, small though it be, was once inhabited by gentlemen and men of substance. And thither, for that he found good pasture there, one of the friars of the order of saint Anthony was long used to resort once a year, to get in the alms bestowed by simpletons upon him and his brethren. His name was   Fra Cipolla and he was gladly seen there, no less belike, for his name sake than for other reasons, seeing that these parts produce onions that are famous throughout   all Tuscany"  

(Giovanni Boccaccio, Decameron - VI, 10 - 1866, translation by John Payne)     

album Surroundings
       
   

Certaldo

   
   

Boccaccesca market in Certaldo. September 20, 21 and 27, 28 in Certaldo Alto (Florence). Boccaccesca is a festival for wine and food lovers, where you can taste the best wine and products from the region.
Boccaccesca transforms the medieval village of Certaldo in the capital of taste. The streets will be full of artisans and local producers selling their handmade products.
A festival to honour the famous poet Giovanni Boccaccio. Cooking shows, pastry lessons, markets, wine tastings and educational children’s workshops on the streets of one of Tuscany’s best-known cities of art.

Certaldo is a small and unspoilt hilltop village with Etruscan origin, very well-preserved in every detail. Certaldo was the home of the family of Giovanni Boccaccio, who died and was buried here in 1375.

Other Festivals

The town hosts several festivals a year. The largest and most famous is Mercantia, a week-long Street Art Festival that takes place every July in Certaldo Alto. It involves numerous street performers from across Italy, Europe and even the Americas.

 

Boccaccesca market in Certaldo
Boccaccesca market in Certaldo

 

   
   
Boccaccesta festival in Certaldo
Boccaccesta festival in Certaldo
 
   
Certaldo’s Onion

   

The Certaldo Onion or Cipolla di Certaldo is one very special onion, is closely linked to the image of the land around Certaldo and has a special meaning for the inhabitants. The onion appears on the municipal coat of arms (a split shield, white and red, surmounted by an onion in a white background with the motto Per natura sono forte e dolce ancora / e piaccio a chi sta e a chi lavora [By nature I am yet strong and sweet / I please those who stay and work]), probably as far back as the times of the Counts Alberti who dominated the area in the 12th century.
Certaldo’s Onion is sought after for its original taste, as well as being representative of the region (it appears on the coat of arms since the Middle Ages).

Cited in Boccaccio’s Decameron, the Vernina variety is a symbol of its town of origin. Two varieties exist. The Statina is round in shape and purplish in color with succulent flesh. It is best eaten in the summer months. The bright red and pungent Vernina is harvested from the end of August through the winter months. Both varieties are excellent for soups and for francesina, a dish of boiled beef and onion. for soups, and also to make a jam; it is a product certified by a specific mark of quality.

"Per natura sono forte e dolce ancora/e piaccio a chi sta e a chi lavora"

Certaldo's motto is a metaphoric encomium to the onion, that can be translated as “by nature I am both strong and sweet, and I please those at work and those at rest” .

 


Fresco, Palazzo Pretorio.

Weekly Market Certaldo: Wednesday
Via Giacomo Matteotti, from 8.00 to 13.00.

Tourist Information Office - Certaldo
Piazza Masini c/o Stazione Ferroviaria
tel. +39 0571 656721

   

[1] Photo credits: Boccaccesca
[2] Photo credits: www.toomuchtuscany.com/
   

Bibliography



Comune Certaldo | www.comune.certaldo.fi.it

La cipolla di Certaldo | www.cipolladicertaldo.it

Holiday accomodation


Tuscan farmhouses | Tuscan Residency for writers and artists | Podere Santa Pia

 
Puccini Tower and beach
Podere Santa Pia
Podere Santa Pia, giardino

The Tagliata Tower, or the Puccini Towe, near Ansedonia in southern Tuscany



Notte Bianca in Montalcino
Gioco del Cacio al Fuson the cheese rolling competition in Pienza.
Arezzo, Giostra del Saracino

Notte Bianca in Montalcino




Montisi, Teatro della Grancia

Calici di Stelle, 10 agosto

Torre del Lago | The Puccini Festival