There are places in Tuscany where time seems to slow down — where every street corner tells a story, and craftsmanship still shapes daily life.
One of these timeless gems is Impruneta, a small village just outside Florence, known as “the capital of terracotta.”
Where Earth Becomes Art
Between Petroio and Impruneta, the bond between earth and artisans has endured for centuries. The red clay of this land has been part of Tuscan culture since the Etruscan times, molded into forms that blend utility, beauty, and tradition. Here, history doesn’t live in books — it lives in the fire of the kilns, in the rhythm of hands shaping clay into art.
The town is famous for its Cotto di Impruneta, a unique and durable terracotta chosen by Brunelleschi for the dome of Florence’s Cathedral in 1419. This decision sealed an eternal bond between Florence and Impruneta — between art, architecture, and the timeless beauty of handmade work.
Today, you can still visit traditional furnaces where master artisans create elegant vases, sculptures, amphorae, and garden ornaments, using techniques passed down through generations. In the Museo della Terracotta, ancient Etruscan pieces stand beside modern designs — proof that in Impruneta, earth itself becomes art.
A Village with Deep Roots
At the heart of Impruneta lies Piazza Buondelmonti, the town’s main square and the beating heart of local life. Here stands the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Impruneta, surrounded by Renaissance loggias and the Treasury Museum. The square’s history traces back to the Buondelmonti family, whose fate — as Dante noted in The Divine Comedy — played a role in the conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines.
Today, the square hosts some of Tuscany’s most beloved traditional festivals.
Every last Sunday of September, locals celebrate the Festa dell’Uva (Grape Festival), where Impruneta’s four districts — Pallò, SS. Marie, Fornaci, and Sant’Antonio — compete with spectacular floats, some towering over ten meters high. This joyful event, held since the 1920s, is a living expression of community, creativity, and pride. The Festival Archive Museum, opened in 2020, preserves the spirit and history of this century-old tradition.
In October, Impruneta also celebrates the Fiera di San Luca, one of Europe’s oldest livestock fairs, dating back nearly a thousand years. The streets fill with music, food stalls, laughter, and the irresistible warmth of Tuscan hospitality.
A Personal Journey Through Clay and Countryside
I first reached Impruneta almost by accident.
Invited by friends to the nearby Ugolino Golf Club — one of the Top 50 most beautiful golf courses in the world — I expected a day of sport, not a journey into Tuscan heritage. Nestled in the rolling hills of Impruneta, the 18-hole course is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards — a landscape so peaceful it feels like a painting.
While I didn’t master the art of golf that day, I did discover something far more captivating. After the game, we visited a local terracotta furnace, where I watched artisans shaping red clay into exquisite wine amphorae — the same vessels used today by organic wineries across Tuscany. The air smelled of earth and fire; every movement was an act of creation.
The day ended at a nearby family-run farm, with a wine and olive oil tasting that celebrated the flavors of this land. As the sun set behind the Chianti hills, a glass of Chianti Classico in hand, I realized that Tuscany always rewards the curious traveler — especially those who wander off the beaten path.
Impruneta – Where Craftsmanship Meets Culture
Impruneta is more than a village — it’s a living link between art, earth, and time.
Its ancient kilns, olive groves, villas, and vineyards form a cultural landscape that defines the true spirit of Tuscany. Here, every amphora and every brick carries a story — of artisans who transform clay into legacy, and of a land that continues to inspire with its quiet, timeless beauty.
So next time you’re in Florence, take a short drive south.
Lose yourself among the hills of Impruneta, where the heart of Tuscany still beats in terracotta.