TRAVEL FEATURE - ITALY
FRANCESCO CICCARELLO
THE GIANTS OF PECCIOLI
Scattered across a vast area that covers the hills of Pisa and Siena , the works of Mauro Staccioli are man ' s gift to an area where nature has already done its best . Let ' s go to their discovery among magnificent streets , ancient cities and small villages to be rediscovered .
Our journey starts from Castelfalfi which has its roots in the Etruscan civilization , as evidenced by the funeral urns found here dated 135 BC . It is Sunday morning and the streets of the small town seem to be all for us . Reborn in 1982 after the purchase by a farsighted entrepreneur , its economy revolves around the resort and the golf course that attracts players from all over Europe . Today it offers walks between the cultivation of its 10,000 olive trees and hectares of vineyards where in every season you can enjoy the colours and scents of the Tuscan countryside .
Peccioli , not far away , is another example of a town that has returned to growth in recent decades thanks to the idea of using part of its territory to recycle and produce alternative energy . It is one of the richest municipalities in Italy with dozens of events that attract all sorts of visitors . In addition to boasting the Orange Flag , a symbol of tourist-environmental quality , it displays its refurbished buildings in the beautiful square where the inhabitants still love to meet . We are attracted by the ' Giants of Peccioli ' who come out with their mighty physique from the lawn of a lookout that dominates the view of the town and the Era Valley , the river that will accompany us for a good part of this journey .
The SR439 takes us to Lajatico , a town known to the world for being the birthplace of the tenor Andrea Bocelli . The small town , which has
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