Concealed in the green and lush hills of Montalbano, half way between Valdinievole and Valdarno, in the territory of the province of Pistoia, we encounter the Municiaplity of Lamporecchio and the four towns included in the municipal territory: Papiano, Porciano, Orbignano and San Baronto.

Art and culture, nature and gourmet traditions come together in the small Montalbano municipality to grant surprises to the visitors who, during the weekend, or on a Sunday, decide to immerse in the green of the hills of the typical Tuscan landscape, coloured in olive grove silver, long stripes of vineyards and stately cypresses.

Scattered in this glory of nature, artistic wonders to surprise accidental tourists. So many little jewels and works are kept in the country churches of the towns included in the Lamporecchio municipality, a few kilometres from Vinci.

Just to quote a few places to visit: in Lamporecchio, in the Chiesa di Santo Stefano, depictions on the altar (1524-1525) to be attributed to Giovanni Della Robbia and the artists of Robbian schooling; the prized white and green marbles of the Chiesa di San Baronto of evident Romanic origin, or still, the frescoes of the Pieve di San Giorgio in Porciano where works of remarkable value are kept, such as the pictorial one of Gerino da Pistoia.

And then, after a very pleasant walk in the green, or discovering the historical wonders, you cannot exempt yourself from tasting the traditional products the area offers: the famous «Brigidini», a small wafer made of sugar, eggs, flour and aniseed produced in the municipality of Lamporecchio which is the emblem of the small town in the Pistoia territory. A product to which, every year in the summer period, the «Sagra del brigidino» is dedicated. And then, don't forget the excellent Montalbano olive oil and wine.

March.2002

Montalbano
Province of Pistoia (In Italian)
Tourism in Tuscany