Palaia landscape
PALAIA is a medieval village located on a high hilltop which divide the Arno valley from the Valdera valley and is surrounded by the gentle Tuscan countryside. Its good position, at only 10 minutes driving to the dual carriage way S.G.C. FI-PI-LI, allows you to easily move to the most important Tuscan cities (Firenze, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, S. Gimignano, Volterra) and to the Tyrrhenian seacost.
The village extends for 73,82 kmq and has nearly 4500 inhabitants.
Thanks to the natural beauty of its territory, its evocative landscapes and the important role it held since the year 1000, Palaia has become one of the most charming places not only in the Pisan province but also in the whole Tuscany.
The emperors Henry VI, Otto IV and Charles IV granted bishops of Lucca half of the fortress of Palaia, with privileges of the year 1191, 1209 and 1355, and they confirmed the Pisan rule over the territory.
In the year 1406 Palaia was under the sway of Florence.
Many medieval villages around Palaia have Etruscan and Roman origins but the castles in this area became very important only since the early Middle Ages.
Palaia and its territory are very rich in historical monuments.
The Pieve of San Martino is the main attraction of this historical village. It wa built on the designs of Andrea Pisano between 1270 and 1300 and the oldest section to be built was the apse. The church is in late Romanesque style with Gothic elements. On its facade you can admire the alternation between the brick courses and the decorative elements in stone, which create a very pleasing effect. The lateral walls are decorated with small arches and with corbels. On these corbels you can admire rich sculpted elements. The interior has three naves of five spans, with three chapels opening on to a raised presbytery.
The inspiring, evocative landscape of Palaia reveals a place that has a rich, historical and agricultural heritage: at any corner the tourists can feel the essence of rustic life while the timeless atmosphere of the village will bring them back to time. Here, tourists can go for long walks in the countryside, surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and cypresses or they can also enjoy the scenic routes dotted with isolated farms, farmhouses and villas on foot, on horseback or by bicycle.
They also enjoy the wild woods abounding with mushrooms, truffles and game; the beautiful gullies of Toiano, the carbon dioxide and the sulphurous anhydride emissions of Chiecinella and many others.
Predominately agricultural, the gently rolling hills are full of olive groves and vineyards. For this reason Palaia has a particular production of wines of excellent quality, like Chianti of the Pisan Hills, olive oil and many others genuine products.
In the last few years, farm holidays of high level and other holiday resorts have spread all over the territory together with restaurants, recreational facilities and other recreational establishments.
That's the reason why we can assure an unforgettable holiday to tourists from both Italy and the rest of Europe.
 La Rocca
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 La Pieve Romanica
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 Le vie del borgo |
 Vista di Palaia
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 La chiesa di Santa Maria |
During the spring and the summer season, the main attractions of Palaia are:
Sunday opening of the most important Churches:
Pieve di S. Martino a Palaia,
Pieve di San Gervasio,
Chiesa di Sant'Andrea a Palaia,
Chiesa SS: Annunziata a Montefoscoli
Museum of Rural Works and Customs, Montefoscoli
Museum of Rural and Farming Life, San Gervasio
Permanent Opening of the Natural Park of Toiano with the suggestive view of the Gullies.
EVENTS
Every Sunday, from 05 June to 25 September 2005, from 16,00 to 20,00 : STREET MARKET OF FRUIT AND TYPICAL PRODUCTS OF THE PISAN HILLS.
16 - 17 April "Festival of Rural and Farming Life"
Montefoscoli, Arts and crafts of the early 1900 take place through the village of Montefoscoli.
25 April - 01 Maggio "Festival of Jam and Pods"
Montefoscoli, Loc. La Tabaccaia, all day.
01 May "Sagra del Crostino (Festival where you can taste typical Italian crostini (fried bread or toast with savoury)"
Palaia, all day
15 May " 23 Internetional Parade of Holy Polyphony in Valdera"
Palaia, from 16,30 at the Pieve of San Martino
27 - 28 May "Blood Donor's Festival"
Forcoli, at l'Associazione Nuova Primavera
From 24June to 03 July - 8° Parade of the Country Theatre "Mauro Monni"
Villa Saletta
09 July - Lyric concert "M. Filippeschi"
Peccioli, 21.30
10 July - Lyric Concert "M. Filippeschi"
Montefoscoli, 21,30
23 July "Concert of the Philharmonic Society G. Puccini" of Palaia
Montefoscoli
23 July "Miss Cicciona" (Festival where the fattest woman will be elected)
Forcoli, Sports Ground G. Brunner, ore 21.30
01 August "Village Fair"
Palaia
12 - 13 - 14 e 15 August "Midsummer Festival"
Alica
03 e 04 September "Festival of Museum 2005 - Culture and Voluntary Apprenticeship"
San Gervasio
12 September "Village Festival"
Montefoscoli
18 September "Medieval Festival with Medieval customs parade, wavers of flags and musicians, antique trade exhibition and typical products exhibition.
Palaia from 14.00.
23 - 24 e 25 September "19° Exhibition - market of Truffle and Porcino mushroom"
Forcoli, Associazione Nuova Primavera
06 Ottobre "Village Fair"
Forcoli
23 October "Festival of Chestnut, Truffle and Wine"
Palaia, all day
