The Village on Paradise: Montebotolino between Art and Storytelling
“You lean against a slender wooden railing over an abyssal void, and dizziness takes hold at once. We no longer know whether the sky is above or below us. We are the sky, and our gaze flies free across the broad valley of the Marecchia Montebotolino, a tiny hamlet of Badia Tedalda, is capable of stirring such feelings. Perched high on a cliff edge — known locally as Il Paradiso (The Paradise) — stands this ancient village, once a stronghold of the Catani, nobles of Lombard origin who later settled in Florence.
Set upon a rounded hilltop, the layout of the settlement of Montebotolino, clustered so tightly around its church, clearly points to medieval origins.
Documented as a castrum (fortified settlement) in 1232 and as a palazzo with tower in 1290, when it was sold to the abbot of Badia Tedalda, no visible traces of these ancient buildings remain today. Inside the church stands an altar ancona featuring a glazed polychrome terracotta depicting “The Incredulity of Saint Thomas”, attributed to Santi Buglioni (c. 1530) and recently restored by the Soprintendenza alle Belle Arti (Fine Arts Authority) of Arezzo
From generation to generation, popular memory has passed down its “favolelli” — ironic tales in which the village’s inhabitants gently and playfully poke fun at themselves (see “Il Paese sul Paradiso”, published by Pro Loco Badia Tedalda). In 1998, Montebotolino was the focus of a conference held in Badia Tedalda, attended by authorities and representatives from Tuscan localities that share an identical tradition.
The University of Padua subsequently launched a research project into this distinctive oral culture across various European countries, known as the Arianna Programme, funded by the European Union. The project highlighted the similarities present in the collective oral heritage of peoples from the shores of the Mediterranean to those of the Baltic, specifically researching texts similar to those of Montebotolino on the theme of “simpletons” and their behaviour. Stories have so far been found in France, Denmark and Finland (see “Tutto il mondo è paese” — (Every Country is the Same)).
A living tradition
History has handed down to us an unmistakable product — a treasure chest of local history, culture and tradition, of which we in Pieve Santo Stefano are truly proud.
We are pleased to collaborate with
For further informations
Ass. Pro Loco di Badia Tedalda
Via Alpe Della Luna, 4
452032 – Badia Tedalda (AR)
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If you would like to take part in our cultural or sporting initiatives, or contribute to the project with your own skills and expertise, please get in touch. We welcome new ideas and collaborations to make our territory even more vibrant and alive. Write to us and become an active part of the change!