Etappe 5 - woensdag 11 mei Vertrekpunt: Piombino - Orvieto Afstand: 201 km

FROM PIOMBINO TO ORVIETO

Follonica (Gr)
Follonica, located in the Gulf of Follonica, is an animated tourist locality with a long sandy beach protected by pine forests and maquis. Vacationers can enjoy an enchanting panorama going from Punta Ala to Piombino, and on the opposite side the Isola d’Elba. Sightseers can visit the Museo del Ferro e della Ghisa (Iron and Cast-Iron Museum) and the Pinacoteca Amedeo Modigliani. The S. Leopoldo Church (1836-38) is a curious example of industrial-religious architecture: The church is known as the “cast-iron church” since the pronaos, the pulpit, the altar balustrades and the candelabrum are made of cast-iron fusion.

Paganico (Gr)
Originally this small town was a feud of the Aldobrandeschi family, which then passed under the Sienese Republic which during the years 1292-1293 fortified the town, which thus became the most important fortified town within its southern border, in defense of the Ombrone Valley. Paganico still has a large part of its rectangle plant shaped walls, with square towers and portals, among which it is worth mentioning "Porta Grossetana" with a Gothic Sienese arch. The Church of S. Michele Arcangelo houses a beautiful fifteenth-century crucifix, and in the apse, a cycle of fourteenth-century frescoes.

San Casciano dei Bagni (Si)
This small medieval town, classified among the most beautiful in Italy, is famous for its thermal waters and the landscape beauties, surrounded by forests of pines, oaks and chestnuts. Among the monuments worth being mentioned: the two pentagon-shaped medieval towers, the Church of the Santissima Concezione, a sixteenth-century oratory which houses a fresco by the Pomarancio, the Church of S. Maria della Colonna, which has been built on a small temple dedicated to Igea, the Goddess of health (IV-V century). The inside houses a Renaissance altar many frescoes made by maestros of Siena and Orvieto schools. The town is also famous for its gastronomy, and among the dishes it is worth mentioning the “Buglione”, made with lamb meat and stewed chicken and the “Ciaffagnoni”, large fritters made with water and flour and sprinkled with pecorino cheese or sugar.