Azienda agricola Santo Stefano

Monuments, Religious Buildings and Other Places of Worship

The “Bucaccia”
A gravestone is located on the provincial street right outside the village where a tragic slaughter took place on 28/29 June 1944, when the Nazi troops killed 57 people from Guardistallo. They have never been forgotten and every year on the same day a procession gets to the place and pray for them.

Cistercian Monastery “Valserena”
Tel. 0586655072 – http://www.valserena.it

On the same street, which goes from Guardistallo to Cecina, at the number 47, there is the Trappist monastery “Valserena”. Here the nuns sell cosmetic products made of herbs and the delicious Norcino (a walnut liqueur) which they make on their own. In the monastery it is also possible to retire for a day of prayer.

SS Lorenzo and Agata Church
This building dates back to 1870 and it is the main place of worship in the village. It is situated in via della Chiesa and inside it is possible to find many frescos, like Il martirio dei due santi (The Martyrdom of the Two Saints) and L’ascensione (The Ascension). Moreover, there are some murals in memory of the Nazi massacre.

“Madonna del Carmine” Church
This church is also called “della compagnia” (of the company), because it belongs to the Brotherhood of Maria Santissima del Carmine. It was built at the end of the XVIII century as it is witnessed by the inscription on the altar where it is possible to read the date “1770”. People from Guardistallo are very devoted to the Madonna del Carmine and every evening in May they gather in the little church to say the Rosary.

Useful Numbers

Town hall tel. 058665151
http://www.comune.guardistallo.pi.it
http://www.guardistallo.tk

Local police tel. 0586651428
Carabinieri tel. 0586655016
Chemist’s tel. 0586655107
Doctor’s tel. 0586655364
Italian Red Cross tel. 0586650500
Postal service tel. 0586655146

Local Products
Guardistallo offers many products typical of Tuscany like salami, prosciutto, spalla and, moreover, ammazzafegato, ribollita (a vegetable soup), D.O.C. wines from Montescudaio and the delicious olive oil (biological).

Cultural Buildings

Library
It is on the ground floor of the town hall and it contains a lot of interesting books. Here it is also possible to receive tourist information.

“Virgilio Marchionneschi” theatre
The theatre of Guardistallo was built in 1883 and in the same year it was entrusted to the Accademia Teatrale of the village. Since then, its dramatic life has never ended and it was open again, after the Second World War, in 1990, when renovation works had restored it to its former beauty. During the year a lot of interesting dramatic leisure takes place at the theatre, which is used even for weddings.

Festivals

“The Carnival”
On Shrove Tuesday the village is animated by a lot of people who goes around the street masqueraded.

“Festival of the Crogiantina”
Second half of March. During the festival of the New Olive Oil there is a big show where typical products of Guardistallo and handicrafts are displayed.

“The Summer”
From June to September many local associations organise interesting events. Just to name some of them:
Nonna Papera, a culinary competition of cakes and old recipes;
Cinema sotto le stelle, painting and photography exhibition.
Furthermore, even many concerts, balls and other kinds of entertainment take place in these months.

“The Cacciuccata”
Second weekend in July. Cacciucco (the typical fish soup from Leghorn) Festival, where music, entertainments and a local street market of handicraft constitute the background of one of the most delicious gastronomic experiences that you can have in Tuscany.

“Gojazzin”
July & August, music festival.

Luglio e agosto, rassegna musicale.

“S. Lorenzo Day”10August and the following weekend. On 10August a religious ceremony with a procession along the streets of the village takes place to honour the Saint Patron of Guardistallo: S. Lorenzo. During the evening a group of people in medieval costumes walks down the streets, improvising performances, waiting for dinner and the following ball, after which it will be possible to admire falling stars.

“Polenta Festival”
Second Sunday in October. This is the most famous festival in the area, because of this very delicious product that is possible to taste cooked in a variety of ways. The most appetizing is with wild boar. During the same festival also the car rally of FIAT 500 takes place.

“Mushroom Festival”
Third Sunday in October. Mushroom show: mycological and cookery stands.

“Novello (new wine) Festival”
Second weekend in November. During this festival it is possible to taste both new wine and olive oil.