Colle di Val d'Elsa

Colle di Val d’Elsa, the Town of Crystal: Art and Nature along the Via Francigena
In the heart of Tuscany, among the gentle hills of the Valdelsa countryside, lies Colle di Val d’Elsa—a town that enchants visitors with its authenticity and surprising cultural richness. Born along the historic Via Francigena and nestled in a harmonious landscape, “Colle” – as the locals call it – is a place where the ancient and the contemporary blend in perfect balance.

The town, divided into Colle Alta (Upper Colle) and Colle Bassa (Lower Colle), offers visitors a journey through time. Colle Alta, with its medieval village, preserves towers, bastions, noble palaces, and the Cathedral, which houses the relic of the Holy Nail. Here you can also find the San Pietro Museum, home to a beautiful collection of civic and religious art; the Archaeological Museum; the Teatro dei Varii—one of the smallest Italian-style theatres; and the tower house of Arnolfo di Cambio, the renowned medieval architect and sculptor.

Colle Bassa, on the other hand, is the vibrant heart of the modern city. The renovated Piazza Arnolfo, designed by Jean Nouvel and Daniel Buren, is a brilliant example of contemporary public art. Just a few steps away, the Crystal Museum tells the story of crystal-making production that made the town famous worldwide: Colle produces over 95% of Italian crystal, thanks to the skill of its master glassmakers.

However, Colle is also renowned for its natural landscapes: the SentierElsa, a hiking trail along the river bearing the same name, offers evocative landscapes and direct contact with the flora, fauna, and ancient hydraulic works—such as the gore and the steccaia—that have supported the city’s economic and cultural life for centuries.

As a major stop along the Via Francigena, Colle offers pilgrims spirituality, hospitality, and beauty. Between the two “mansiones” mentioned in the diary of Archbishop Sigeric—San Martino in Fosse and Aelse—today you will find a path that passes through the historic center, where you can find the San Pietro Museum, the Cathedral, and follows along the SentierElsa river park, reaching the thermal springs known as Le Caldane. An alternative route leads into the countryside toward the Abbey of Santa Maria a Conèo and Le Vene, springs that bring the Elsa River to life.

Finally, Colle surprises visitors with its wealth of contemporary art scattered throughout the town: from the open-air museum under the arches of the San Francesco Bridge, which hosts installations by contemporary artists, to works of artists such as Sol LeWitt, Marisa Merz, Kiki Smith, and Tadashi Kawamata—art that interacts with the town’s ancient soul, creating bridges between memory and innovation.

Colle di Val d’Elsa is therefore much more than a simple stopover: it is a destination where history comes alive and beauty is everywhere—from the hand-crafted crystal to the landscape that surrounds it.