Marradi: picturesque municipality of the Upper Mugello
Marradi is a village located in Tuscany in the Alto Mugello area. It overlooks the Tuscan-Romagna Apennine side with Senio and Fiorenzuola. Its name is famous because it is the birthplace of the great poet Dino Campana and also for the production of the IGP Marrone del Mugello. But that’s not all: Marradi is a place rich in history.
The history of Marradi
At the beginning of time Marradi was inhabited by the Gauls, the Ligurians and the Etruscans.
After the conquest by the Romans and the construction of the Via Faventina, the Middle Ages were dominated by peoples such as the Goths and the Lombards.
The town returned to shine in 1550 thanks to the Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo, who worked for the reconstruction of the church of San Lorenzo and the Teatro degli Animosi.
In 1893 the railway line was built, but in 1919 a serious earthquake destroyed important buildings. Subsequently, the disastrous bombings of the Great War arrived to worsen the situation.
What to visit in Marradi in Tuscany
Today Marradi, after the tragedies of history, presents itself to tourists as a very lively and colorful village.
The noble palaces are as if they contributed to creating a sort of theater of culture and tradition. If you pass through Florence, you can reach Marradi by crossing the panoramic road of the Passo della Colla, which allows you to quickly reach the town.
Immediately you can admire the Torriani Palace, which passed from a pre-Roman tower to a period residence, which houses precious works of art inside.
Piazza le Scalelle is the heart of the historic center. Here overlook the Palazzo Fabroni, the Palazzo Comunale and the Chiesa del Suffragio.
The aforementioned Teatro degli Animosi and the Church of San Lorenzo certainly deserve a visit.
A classic is the walk to Castellone, an excursion on a path that leads to an ancient manor used at the time as a fortress and object of recovery in the early 2000s.
Typical specialties and handicrafts
A typical specialty of Marradi is Marron Buono, a fine chestnut that is quite large in size, known as IGP Brown from Mugello.
These browns are used to produce cakes and marron glacé among the best in the world. Chestnut beer is also produced in Marradi.
Many events are dedicated annually to the marroni di Marradi, which attract many visitors. Among these there is a periodical which takes place every Sunday in October and is “Sagra delle Castagne e del Marron Buono”.
Here you can taste the most typical products such as tortelli, burnt, chestnut cake, castagnaccio, marron glacé and the most delicious chestnut jams.
Not just chestnuts though: honey production is also famous in Marradi.
But we’re not just talking about food. In the village there are carpentry workshops and a notable activity is the extraction of pietra serena, which is worked by stonecutters with techniques derived from the art of decoration and inlay.
Discovering Marradi with Villa Campestri
If you want to experience the charm of Marradi, as well as taste the tasty chestnuts, we are waiting for you at Villa Campestri Olive Oil Resort, to discover the most beautiful Tuscany.
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