The Castle of Querceto has always had a strategic importance since the Middle Ages. Conquered by Volterra’s bishops in 1186, it voluntarily became part of the Volterra municipality on the 20th August 1252 by its people’s will. In 1447 the castle was purchased by Alfonso of Aragon’s troops, who completely destroyed Querceto’s houses, leaving only the castle intact. After thirty years of decay, it was finally in 1472 that the Castle of Querceto was conquered by Florence and became part of the Valdicecina Administration. Besides the castle, the houses around it and the church of St. John the Baptist are of great architectural interest.

wine has always been one of the most important products of the local economy of Montescudaio and of the Valdicecina towns in general, as shown by the so-called Montescudaio urn (7th century A.D.) on which a wine bowl is sculpted. After World War II the production of wine in Montescudaio became increasingly important and in 1977 its wines obtained the D.O.C. denomination, one for its red wine made of Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Malvasia, Canaiolo and Colorino grape varieties and one for its white wine made of Trebbiano, Malvasia and Vermentino grape varieties. The latter can be also produced as Vinsanto, dry, medium-dry or sweet. These wines are produced in a vast area, mainly characterized by a specific microclimate (caused by the river Cecina) and by numerous vineyards spread on the hills, up to the altitude of Montecatini Val di Cecina, i.e. 450m a.s.l. In the 90s some wineries invested much in their wines’ quality and started a superior-quality production highly appreciated on the market. These wineries include Castello del Terriccio, Sorbaiano and Poggio Gagliardo.

Many are the charming towns along the coast stretching from Livorno to Piombino: Castiglioncello, Quercianella, Rosignano,Vada, Cecina, Bibbona, Marina di Castagneto, San Vincenzo, etc. Here you can find both white sand beaches (in San Vincenzo and Baratti) and darker beaches (Marina di Castagneto, Bibbona and Cecina) as well as wind-eroded cliffs overlooking the deep sea teeming with fish.

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