Ghirlanda
Discovering Ghirlanda: history and development
If you are looking for a peaceful place full of history in the heart of Tuscany, then Ghirlanda might be the right choice for you. This hamlet of the municipality of Massa Marittima, in the province of Grosseto, is located in the plain north of the city, an area that in the past was marshy and inhospitable. Everything changed in 1605, when the first reclamation works made it possible to challenge nature and transform that land into a fertile area for the first human settlement.
Engineer Leonardo Ximenes designed the reclamation works that led to the birth of Ghirlanda and in 1774 the reclamation was completed. From then on, the town grew very quickly, becoming an important mining center thanks to the extraction of limonite. In 1930, the discovery of a rich deposit of pyrite in the valley of the Aspro stream led to the construction of a private railway that crossed the valley up to Ghirlanda, where the minerals were loaded onto the Massa Marittima-Follonica railway and then shipped to Germany. Today, the old station is the only sign of the mining presence of the past.
Discovering the monuments and places of interest of Ghirlanda
In addition to the old station, there are other tourist attractions in Ghirlanda. One of these is the Badii Mill, an architectural complex built in 1857 that became in 1918 the Ghirlanda Pasta Mill. The complex is interesting because it is formed by different structures that testify to different artistic and architectural styles: in 1924 and 1925, a building was added to the old nineteenth-century farmhouse, exquisitely decorated in the Liberty style with a clock tower, and in 1940, another building in fascist architecture was added. Today, the Badii Mill is in a state of abandonment.
The "Buffalo Springs" represent another place of interest in Ghirlanda, ancient public fountains dating back to the thirteenth century that had been built to serve the populations of Massa Vecchia. The current appearance of the Buffalo Springs is due to some 19th-century renovations, as well as the construction of adjacent washhouses. The building is famous for the stop Giuseppe Garibaldi made here on September 2, 1849.
The society of Ghirlanda
As for demography, Ghirlanda has undergone some changes over the years. According to official data, in 1961 the hamlet had 209 inhabitants, in 1981 only 105, while in 2001 the number of inhabitants had risen to 173 and in 2011 to 213. Nowadays, Ghirlanda is a welcoming community, where anyone can feel at home.
Culture and events in Ghirlanda
The Ghirlanda Fair is one of the most important events for the local community and is held every year on September 1st. It is an agro-livestock exhibition that lasts all day, with the sale of local typical products and shows for adults and children. The Ghirlanda Fair is also the perfect opportunity to witness the traditional performances of the butteri, the shepherds and riders who still practice the driving of herds in Tuscany.
Infrastructure and transport
Ghirlanda is connected to the city of Massa Marittima via a provincial road and is located a short distance from other places of interest such as Follonica and the Monterufoli-Caselli Nature Reserve. From 1902 to 1944, it was possible to reach the coast by the Massa Marittima-Follonica Railway, but today that line is closed.
If you have the opportunity to visit Tuscany, do not hesitate to make a stop in Ghirlanda. Its traditions, its monuments and its culture will make you feel immediately at home.
