Libbiano, a 13th century caste once the property of the Monteverdi Abbey, the Cavalcanti family and the counts Guidi from Volterra still retains its village layout with the parish church dedicated to Saints Simone-Giuda and the riuns of a 13th century church and a lookout tower.
The road to Monterufoli passes through the Monterufoli- Caselli nature reserve wich belongs to the Upper Cecina
Valley and abounds in wild boars, deer, mouflon and Monterufolini ponies, so-called because they were once used to transport the copper extracted from th Monterufoli mines and the chalcedony, a semi preciuos stone used since the 16th century by the Opificio delle Pietre dure in Florence for the Grand duke of Tuscany.
In the vicinity of the Monterufoli Villa, park at the water fountain and proceed on foot to the "hundred
room" Villa. The 18th century villa was erected on the foundations of a medieval casle owned for centuries by the
Maffei family from Volterra. The Spanish painter Salvador Rosa who stayed in the villa in the 18th century was
artistically inspired by this unusual harsh landscape.

Micciano is also a medieval castle which dates back to the 12th century with a church dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel and a bell tower whose bell dates back to 1286.
The church of San Giovanni outside the caste in the vicinity of Lungaiano is worth a visit.

The village of Montegemoli is located about 213 meters above sea level, , built on a hill between the Cecina and the Trossa river. In antiquity Montegemoli was the property of the monks of the Monteverdi Abbey and was continually contested by the bishop and the commune of Volterra for the numerous salty water springs from which salt was extracted. For centuries Montegemoli belonged to the Guidi family from Volterra and presently belongs to the D'Albertis family from Genova. One of the three castle towers and the 15th century church of San Bartolomeo, whose feast day falls in the month of August, still stands today. In 1991 and 1993 the church was restored and the rusticated ashlars of the old romanesque building were brought to light. Inside you can admire the painting of La Madonna delle Grazie, a precious work of the 14th century, restored in 1993. The painting portrays the Madonna with the pomegranate and the Child on a golden background. The painting is attibuted to
Francesco neri Giuntarini called Francesco Neri of Volterra. The square in front of the Church was obtained from a tower knocked down in 1831, whose external walls can still be seen.

testi Jader Spinelli