Municipality of Castiglion Fibocchi
Piazza Municipio, 1 - 52029 Castiglion Fibocchi (AR)
Tel: +39 0575 1686
Fax: 0575 47516
E-mail: segreteria@comune.castiglionfibocchi.ar.it
PEC: c.castiglionfibocchi@postacert.toscana.it
Tax Code and VAT 00284440518
CARNIVAL AND SECRETS OF THE VILLAGE
ITINERARY 1
1. The Carnival Museum and Places
On Via Enrico Fermi, you’ll find the House of Carnival, a creative workshop where local volunteer seamstresses bring every detail to life. Though not permanently open to the public, it can be viewed from the outside and reached with a scenic walk through olive groves. You can also become a member of the Associazione Carnevale di Castiglion Fibocchi – APS to actively take part in the event, even wearing a costume during the festivities. Visit www.carnevaledeifiglidibocco.it for more information.
During Carnival, the masks appear in the most scenic spots of the village, often framed by artistic installations that enhance their theatricality. The entire village becomes an open-air stage, where every alley is a backdrop and every view a painting. After allowing themselves to be admired, the masks slowly parade through the streets, offering moments of wonder and reflection. On the final Sunday, the event culminates with a grand parade in the open-air amphitheater on Via Giangeri, where the solemn speech of King Bocco is followed by spectacular fireworks. There are no floats or confetti — just beauty and awe. This is a Carnival that fascinates, tells stories without words, and invites the eye to slow down.
The masks of the "Figli di Bocco" also travel beyond the village, featured in events throughout Italy and abroad, carrying with them the elegance, mystery, and history of Castiglion Fibocchi.
This is just the beginning. The journey continues through churches, towers, galleries, and hidden corners — an itinerary that unveils the village’s truest soul, where Carnival is living culture, shared memory, and beauty in every season.
Welcome to Castiglion Fibocchi, where Carnival is not merely an event but a deep expression of the village’s identity. Amid cobbled alleys and historic palaces unfolds the Carnival of the "Figli di Bocco" — one of the most elegant and evocative celebrations in Tuscany. Founded in 1997, the modern Carnival draws inspiration from centuries-old traditions and is tied to the emblematic figure of Bocco de’ Pazzi, a 14th-century lord of the village. A nobleman with wit and a satirical spirit, Bocco’s legacy has become a symbol of expressive freedom and theatricality.
The journey begins at the Carnival Museum, set up in the Palazzo delle Ex Stigmatine in Piazza delle Fiere. Here, visitors can take a true journey into the Carnival’s imagination, through spectacular hand-crafted costumes — genuine sartorial works of art. Some feature internal structures, elaborate draping, lighting systems, and precious details such as gems, feathers, fine fabrics, and gold leaf. The inspirations span from classical mythology to baroque symbolism, the seasons to rural memory, allegory to contemporary psychology. The museum also houses historical photographs, oral testimonies, and multimedia installations that narrate the origin and evolution of the event.
Over the years, more than two hundred costumes have been created, but each edition highlights a single winning mask, chosen by a jury and visitors. This recognition rewards not only the visual impact and sophistication of the costume but also its evocative power and alignment with the edition’s spirit.
The Carnival atmosphere extends outdoors through a permanent photo exhibition in the village. These images depict parades, costume creation, rehearsals, and the enchantment of the village during the two winter Sundays when the event takes place.
Next Stop Directions
The Exhibition Room of the Archaeological Finds from the Pieve of San Quirico in Alfiano, the second stop, is also inside the Palazzo delle Ex Stigmatine.
2. Exhibition Room – Archaeological Finds from the Pieve of San Quirico in Alfiano
Those wishing to reach the actual pieve and enjoy the surrounding landscape can follow Itinerary 3, a walking route along a dirt road immersed in Mediterranean scents and countryside views. This site marks not only the village’s origin but also a place of stunning natural beauty. Since 2020, it has been enhanced by the Big Bench No. 111, a panoramic bench inviting visitors to pause and take in the peaceful scenery.
Excavations are currently paused, but the community and researchers are hopeful they will resume. The San Quirico site still hides many clues within its stones and layers — precious elements that could further enrich the village’s historical mosaic and help connect past and present in Castiglion Fibocchi’s evolving identity.
Nestled on a ridge among ancient olive groves and silent woods, the Pieve of San Quirico in Alfiano overlooks the landscape just a few kilometers from Castiglion Fibocchi’s center. Mentioned in a document from 1099, it is one of the oldest examples of Christian presence in the Aretine territory. For centuries, it was the spiritual heart of the area, welcoming pilgrims, farmers, and nobles along the old paths of faith connecting rural parishes.
As settlements moved toward the plains over time, its central role diminished, but its memory endured. Since 2013, thanks to the efforts of Associazione San Quirico Archeologia, with support from the Archaeology and Heritage Office and the Municipality, archaeological digs have brought back to light a valuable fragment of the past.
The excavations, carried out in phases, revealed not only the church’s original walls but also a finely carved stone rose window, broken columns, decorated capitals, sculpted tomb slabs, medieval alloy coins, glazed ceramic fragments, decorated glass, and liturgical and domestic tools. These artifacts show a long stratification of life — between religious devotion and rural daily life.
To preserve and share these findings, an exhibition room was set up in the Palazzo delle Ex Stigmatine, now a multifunctional center and tourist information point. Here, explanatory panels and display cases offer an engaging journey through history, archaeology, and memory.
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Next Stop Directions
From the Palazzo delle Ex Stigmatine, turn right and cross the square. Just past the monument dedicated to the Carabinieri, on the left is a passageway leading to a stunning view of the valley — perfect for a photo stop.
Proceed into the village via Piazza Roma, with its warm-colored houses and central fountain. Shortly after, turn right onto Via di Porta Fredda. In just a few steps, on the left, you’ll find the quiet churchyard of the Church of the Company of the Holy Crucifix — a silent place inviting reflection.
3. Church of the Company of the Holy Crucifix
The side altars preserve more recent works, including an altarpiece attributed to the school of the Nasini, a family of painters from Siena active between the 17th and 18th centuries, and a copy of the Madonna del Rifugio, modeled after the image venerated in the Sanctuary of the same name in Arezzo.
The church is not always open to visitors, but it can be admired from the outside, especially in the light of morning or at dusk, when the warm stone reflects the sky and the silence is filled with meaning.
Hidden from the bustle of the village and shrouded in an intimate silence, the Church of the Company of the Holy Crucifix is a place of reflection and mystery. Built in the 16th century and later modified in the 18th, it was entrusted to a lay brotherhood that supported the sick and needy, and played a major role in community life. The term "Company" recalls these ancient charitable confraternities, born as expressions of civic devotion and solidarity.
The façade is simple and austere, yet the small interior hides a surprising artistic treasure. On the main altar stands a wooden crucifix from the late 15th century, the work of an anonymous master sculptor from the Arezzo area. The figure of Christ is deeply expressive, rendered with raw realism and intense emotional power. Its suffering is not theatrical, but human — capable of inspiring silent empathy in the observer. On Good Friday, during Holy Week, the crucifix is still carried in a candlelit procession through the streets of the village.
Next Stop Directions
Return to Via di Porta Fredda and continue along the gentle uphill street until you reach the base of the tower — one of the most iconic points in the village and the next stop on the itinerary.
4. Porta Fredda and the Tower of the Castle
Above the arch stands the castle’s tower, partially rebuilt in modern times but retaining the ancient layout. Today, it houses a small gallery that during Carnival hosts themed exhibitions and sometimes temporary art shows. The view from here opens onto the rooftops, the valley, and the church spires, offering one of the most evocative panoramas in the area.
The name Castiglion Fibocchi itself recalls this ancient stronghold: "Castiglionum Fulcobi", that is, the Castle of the Fulcobi, a noble family of Longobard origin tied to the feudal order and the first to give structure to the settlement between the 11th and 12th centuries.
This is one of the most scenic and historically rich corners of the village. Porta Fredda, whose name likely refers to the chilly wind blowing through it, is the northern gate of the ancient castle, the only one still preserved in its original layout. This passage, flanked by tall medieval walls and surmounted by a massive stone tower, once represented the fortified entrance to the upper part of the village.
The architecture clearly reveals its defensive function: the pointed arch, the thick masonry, and the slit windows for archers. But there is more. In the Middle Ages, this was also the entrance to the most noble and sacred area — the "castrum", or castle proper — where the lords resided and where the parish church stood. Passing through Porta Fredda thus meant entering a place of privilege and power.
A plaque dated 1703 still marks the border between the two terzieri (districts) into which the historic center was divided: Poggio Piano and Poggio del Castello, a sign of how even the smallest villages were governed by precise spatial and social codes.
Next Stop Directions
From Porta Fredda, take the uphill path leading to the small square in front of the Town Hall. This area, once the heart of the medieval castle, now hosts important civic institutions and offers another exceptional viewpoint.
5. Town Hall
This is not just a place of scenic beauty, but also of symbolic value: here, where the feudal lords once wielded power, today decisions are made collectively, and the community gathers for events, ceremonies, and village festivals.
At Carnival time, the square becomes one of the key stages for performances, and in summer it hosts open-air cinema and other cultural events. During the day, it is a quiet and peaceful place, ideal for taking photos, reading, or simply enjoying the breeze and the silence.
From here, one can continue the visit by descending toward the Church of Saints Peter and Ilario, the next stop on the Art and Faith Itinerary — or explore one of the nature walks that begin just beyond the castle walls.
The Piazza del Comune stands on the highest point of the ancient castle — once occupied by a tower-house that served both as noble residence and lookout.
Today, it is the heart of civic life in Castiglion Fibocchi, hosting the Town Hall, where municipal administration offices are located. The building was restored in the 20th century and features a minimalist stone façade that echoes the lines of the historic architecture.
In the square, a stone bench invites visitors to pause and admire the view: to the north, the slopes of Pratomagno; to the east, the winding course of the Arno; and to the south, the gentle descent toward Arezzo and the Val di Chiana.
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Next Stop Directions
Passing under the brick archway to the right of the Town Hall, follow Via Marchese Alessandro dal Borro and, after a few meters, on the right in Piazza della Chiesa, you will find the Church of Saints Peter and Hilary, the next stop on the itinerary.
6. Church of the Saints Peter and Ilary
The Church of Saints Peter and Hilary is not only a place of worship but also a vital space for the community. Weddings, solemn Masses, religious feasts, and commemorative ceremonies are celebrated here. Events such as processions, the Stations of the Cross during Easter, the blessing of bread, and the patronal festivities reaffirm every year the deep bond between liturgy and popular tradition, transforming the church into a crossroads of collective memory and shared life.
Particularly meaningful is the revival of the Passion of Christ performance, which each year during Holy Week engages the community in an evocative costumed reenactment with readings, theatrical moments, and music. This event brings together faith, historical memory, and civic participation, restoring to the village a tradition rooted in the 20th century and successfully brought back to life thanks to the commitment of local associations.
In every stone, in every decorative detail, one can sense the continuity that links different generations. The church is not merely a building but truly a space of the soul: a place where time seems interwoven with history, making visible—and tangible—the deepest identity of Castiglion Fibocchi.
In the historic center of Castiglion Fibocchi, overlooking one of the village’s most intimate little squares, the Church of Saints Peter and Hilary has for centuries been a spiritual and cultural landmark for the community. Its origins date back to 1304, when it was a simple castle chapel dependent on what was then the Parish Church of San Quirico Sopr’Arno, later known as San Quirico in Alfiano. Over time, reflecting the growth and transformation of the village, the church changed its appearance: in the 17th century it was elevated to a parish church, and in 1857 it was completely rebuilt, enlarged, and transformed into an archpriesthood.
The present façade, built in the 1930s, displays sober yet elegant classicist lines, with a pediment and pilasters crowned by Corinthian capitals. On the left side stands the 19th-century bell tower, built on the remains of an ancient civic tower—a reminder of the constant intertwining of religious life and civil society.
Inside, the single nave is punctuated by eight side niches, separated by pilasters and round arches. The austere ceiling creates an intimate and meditative atmosphere, ideal for prayer and reflection. In the apse hangs a canvas depicting the Crucifixion, while one of the side niches houses a fresco of the Madonna and Child, dating from the late 15th to early 16th century. Attributed to Agnolo di Lorentino—son of Lorentino d’Andrea and part of the circle of Piero della Francesca—the fresco originally came from another building in the area and was preserved and relocated to the church, where it now stands as one of its most precious treasures.
Other Itineraries
Itinerary 2 – Past, Present, and Future Along the Setteponti: A journey through rural landscapes, historic architecture, and everyday life testimonies along the ancient connecting route.
Itinerary 3 – Big Bench and Gello Biscardo: A path through nature, breathtaking views, and traditions, blending contemporary installations with ancient stories to uncover the most picturesque corners of the territory.
