Guide to Gambassi Terme

"It's like the land of make believe in Gambassi – this ancient town is so in touch with its natural side, you can picture the birds flying down from the trees to eat crumbs from your hand. It's a real sleeping beauty."

Gambassi has a history stretching back to the Neolithic period, a virtually unbroken tradition of agriculture and artisan craftsmanship. The area was very popular from the time of the Etruscans to the late Roman period a thousand years later. Later still, in the 1300's it was known for its glass production – its drinking vessels were particularly prized throughout Italy. Today, as you walk through the jaw-droppingly beautiful countryside. you could imagine that very little has changed. And that's not far from the truth. In fact, the area is now protected by the Dolce Campagna, Antiche Mura project, designed to preserve the area for future generations. The fragrant pine trees that surround Gambassi provide a natural habitat for a wide range of indigenous wildlife, birds and plants. The cool, dark green woods also provide a fascinating natural habitat for visitors. If you like to walk quietly, at your own pace, through shaded forests, this is your ideal spot. You can stroll through lush olive groves, or take a mountain bike into the hills to explore the countryside off-the-beaten-track. Horse riding is also popular and an unrivalled way to appreciate the countryside. And then there is Gambassi itself. It is a step back in time. It is also a step into a fairytale world; a village tucked away in deep woodlands, built with mellow, local Tuscan stone in the characteristic style. Terracotta roofs meander gently across the skyline, sitting above the arched windows so typical of the region, complementing the 14th century Florentine frescoes at the entrance to the town, and the incomparable terra cotta statues of the church of Misericordia.

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