La Via del Tartufo di San Miniato
( brevi descrizioni prese dall’ opuscolo creato da San Miniato Promozione tradotte liberamente dagli alunni del Cattaneo)
The enchanting Via del Tartufo is located in San Miniato and its surroundings. This medieval city, located in the heart of Tuscany, is one of the most important truffle areas in Italy and in the world.
SAN MINIATO
The Via del Tartufo begins right in the city centre of San Miniato, where the National White Truffle Exhibition takes place during the last three weekends of November.
The event called Sagra del Tartufo was created in 1969.Later on, it became known as the National White Truffle Exhibition.
During this event the city squares host over one hundred stands selling truffles, wine, food products and delicacies produced in San Miniato, Tuscany and even in other Italian regions.The exhibition is so famous that tourists associate the city of San Miniato with truffles.
The National White Truffle Exhibition attracts about 70,000 visitors every year and it is one of the largest open-air markets for typical products in Italy, offering a great variety of excellent food and wine products. It also offers cooking shows, art exhibitions and meetings with famous people and combines truffles and excellent products with history and art.
Visitors can wander through the cobbled streets of this unique medieval city, enter the shops offering all kinds of food products and buy or taste delicacies at the stands located in the city centre.
THE MONUMENT DEDICATED TO THE BIGGEST TRUFFLE IN THE WORLD
In 2012 Massimiliano Benvenuti, a blacksmith from San Miniato, world champion of wrought iron forging, together with 16 other forgers, built a wrought iron monument dedicated to the largest truffle in the world, found by Arturo Gallerini, called “ Il Bego”.
This truffle hunter is represented in the act of collecting the great white truffle found by his dog Parigi in October 1954.
The Via del Tartufo starts from this monument located on a grassy flower-bed near Piazza Dante.This statue symbolizes the importance of truffles, truffle hunters and their dogs for the city of San Miniato.
ASSOCIAZIONE TARTUFAI DELLE COLLINE SANMINIATESI
Piazza del Popolo, 19 San Miniato
Tel. 0571 42014
The Truffle Hunters’ Association of San Miniato hills was set up in 1982 and is composed of over 400 truffle hunters. It was the first trufffle association in the region and one of the first truffle associations in Italy and has always collaborated to organize the National White Truffle Exhibition and other events. Their charter provides for promoting the protection, collection, production and enhancement of San Miniato white truffle. They have also organized meetings and conferences about truffles and created the brand of San Miniato Truffle in 1987.
RISTORANTE MIRAVALLE
Piazza del Duomo,4 San Miniato
tel. 0571 400105
https://www.hotelmiravallesanminiato.it/it/
The well-known Sagra del Tartufo was created by Renato Tozzi in collaboration with San Miniato Pro Loco Association in 1969.On that occasion he started to offer excellent “truffle risotto” under the stairs of his restaurant. Renato Tozzi was a very refined chef and the owner of the famous Miravalle restaurant.
The lovely Ristorante Miravalle has always been considered the temple of the truffle in San Miniato, because the white truffle became ” the king of the table” thanks to the excellent white truffle dishes such as Risotto alla Miravalle, which were served here in the mid-sixties. Even today, you can taste delicious truffle dishes in this restaurant.
CASA GEMIGNANI STORE
Via Conti, 4 San Miniato
tel. 0571 43954
https://www.gemignanitartufi.it/index.php/it/
Gemignani Tartufi offers fresh truffles and delicious truffle products in a small, picturesque shop. The owner has also won international awards for its products. This shop offers tourists the possibility to purchase truffles throughout the year.
SAN MINIATO BASSO
San Miniato train station, which is one of the first train stations built in Tuscany at the beginning of the nineteenth century, is located at the end of Viale Guglielmo Marconi. From here during the first years of last century, two companies Gazzarrini Tartufi and Gemignani Tartufi sent San Miniato truffles by train all over Italy. An event called Tartufo al Pinocchio is held in San Miniato Basso. It takes its name from the famous puppet, Pinocchio, because Pinocchio was the name of San Miniato Basso in the past. This truffle exhibition is held in San Miniato Basso on the first Sunday of November.
AZIENDA GEMIGNANI TARTUFI
Viale G. Marconi,89 San Miniato Basso
tel. 0571 419470
www.gemignanitartufi.it commerciale@gemignanitartufi.it
Filippo Gemignani’s company is located in Viale Marconi in San Miniato Basso. It was set up in Balconevisi, a small village near San Miniato in the 1930s.
They discovered that the famous white truffle, which was appreciated especially by dealers from north of Italy, could be found in the woods of the area where they lived.
They had a small grocer shop in Balconevisi and started to buy the precious white truffle from the local truffle hunters and sell it to truffle dealers.
Nowadays their products are highly appreciated and are sold in the most exclusive Italian and international shops. You can taste them in many restaurants.
You can find detailed information about this company and its products on their website.
AZIENDA SAVITAR
Via Luigi Capuana ,4 San Miniato Basso
tel. 057142710 -fax 0571 419883
savitar@savitar.it-www.savitar.it
The company carries out the truffle processing in a modern factory in San Miniato Basso, where truffle products can be purchased and tasted in a beautifully furnished tasting room. The factory was set up in 1987 and it is immersed in the splendid Tuscan countryside. The company selects the best truffles for the processing of its products and sells excellent fresh truffles. It boasts its presence in many countries of the world: The United States, Brazil, Iceland, Korea, China, Thailand , India , Europe , Australia and Russia. Their truffle-based products are appreciated by many restaurants and are distributed directly in the best Italian and worldwide stores.
You can find detailed information about the company and its products on their website.
LA SCALA
TRUFFLE IN TUSCANY
Via Covina ,44 La Scala
tel. 3479030371
www.truffleintuscany.it
Truffle in Tuscany organizes guided truffle hunting excursions (both in Italian and in English) in the woods of the area. Massimo and his family are very keen on truffle hunting and share this passion with people, who want to discover this fascinating world.
During each tour, you can learn about truffle traditions, history, legends and typical truffle dishes. You will be immersed in the magical atmosphere that truffle hunters and their dogs enjoy while hunting for the “diamond of the table“. It will be a fascinating experience.
CIGOLI
Cigoli is a historic town famous for its Pieve and “Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Bambini”.It gives its name to the famous mannerist painter Lodovico Cardi, called “Il Cigoli”, who was born here.
Cigoli has been organizing the Marzuolo Truffle Exhibition in March since 1998. The event takes place in Piazza Cardi . It is the best Marzuolo truffle exhibition in the area and gives people the chance to taste truffles in spring.
PARCO DEL TARTUFO
presso Villa Sonnino via Castelvecchio, 9 La Catena
tel.0571484033
www.villasonnino.com
The famous Parco del Tartufo is located at the end of a long avenue lined with cypresses leading to the marvellous 16th-century Villa Sonnino, which belonged to important families such as the Grifoni family and the Sonnino family.
The park is full of hundred-year-old oak trees and other symbiotic plants and features an extremely interesting habitat for the white truffle. You can hunt for truffles in the woods and enjoy a unique experience in this “truffleland”.
The park also offers the possibility of an educational itinerary about the precious tuber .You can enjoy excellent truffle dishes in a welcoming and refined atmosphere in the restaurant of Villa Sonnino (Ristorante Castelvecchio) hotel, where refined ceremonies such as “Tartufo in Villa”,which takes place in October, are also held.
SAN DONATO
AZIENDA GEMIGNANI FRANCESCO
Picci Food’s, Via Cimarosa, 58 San Donato
tel/Fax 0571 360827-cell.328 9748273 333 3737953
info@francescogemignani.it
“Francesco Gemignani,Tartufi nel Cuore” is another truffle company belonging to the Gemignani Family, who offers truffles and its products in their shop located in San Donato. Here you can find an elegant and appreciated restaurant, where you can taste delicious truffle dishes. The company also offers truffle- hunting tours.
You can find detailed information about the company and its products on their website.
ASSOCIAZIONE TOSCANA TARTUFI
via Artigianale Est, 9 San Donato
cell. 347 685282
www.toscanatartufi.it
The company, presided by Riccardo Nicosia, offers different experiences and activities about truffles.It organizes guided truffle hunting excursions in the woods of the area with truffle tasting, competitions, meetings, courses for truffle hunters, courses about the use of GPS during truffle hunting and training courses for truffle dogs.It also offers Agility Truffle activities and competitions for truffle dogs.
PONTE A EGOLA
The well- known Sagra del Tartufo has been organized in Ponte a Egola during the last weekend of October since 2014.
You can taste delicious truffle dishes in “Contrada La Ruga”.
LA VALDEGOLA
The Egola Valley is a green lung between the River Chiecina and San Miniato hills and it is rich in artistic, historic and natural beauties. The river Egola flows through a long valley surrounded by gentle hills dotted with castles,Medici villas, tobacco mills, farms,churches, ancient boroughs, cypresses,woods, vineyards, olive groves and orchards.
The Tuber Magnatum Pico, or white truffle, can be found in large quantities in this area from September to December. This top-quality truffle has an unforgettable flavour and taste.
BALCONEVISI
Balconivisi is the land of truffle hunters. The first truffle hunter, Stanislao Costa, called Stagnazza, married a girl from Balconevisi and lived in this village at the beginning of the 1900s.
Arturo Gallerini, called “Il Bego”, and even the first truffle dealers such as Eugenio Gazzarrini, Zelindo Savini (in the 1930s) and the Gimignani family lived in this area.
In the 1950s most people from Balconivisi were truffle hunters and had a truffle dog.
STAGNAZZI’S HOUSE
Stanislao Costa, called Stagnazza, was born in Casola Valsenio in Emilia Romagna in 1875. He moved to Balconevisi and married Amelia Pieragnoli in 1902.He came to Balconevisi with other workers in order to reclaim the Egola Valley.
He was a truffle hunter and he taught the people from Balconevisi the art of truffle hunting with Langotti dogs. His house is the first house on the right as soon as you arrive at Balconevisi.
PIAZZA DEL TARTUFO
The famous Sagra del tartufo bianco e del fungo has been held in Piazza Primo Maggio or Piazza del Tartufo since 1979. It was created on the occasion of the 38th Sagra del tartufo bianco e del fungo. Piazza Primo Maggio is the heart of the event.
The wrought iron monument ’’ Andar per Tartufi’’, ’’Bastardo o di razza pianta il muso nella terra…. ed ecco odor d’Oro Bianco’’ was created here in 2016 by the forger Massimiliano Benvenuti, a blacksmith from San Miniato, world champion of wrought iron forging, together with other forgers.
The monument depicts a dog which is digging up a truffle by using a “sbarrino”, the small spade used by truffle hunters.
AZIENDA GEMIGNANI TARTUFI
Via di Castello, 5 Balconevisi
tel.0571460474 fax 0571460121
cell3387901313-info@alessiogemignani.it
Alessio Gimignani is the owner of the company, which has been dealing with truffles since 1930.
Leonardo Gimignani and his wife Mistica started to sell truffles in their shop in Balconevisi many years ago.
“Il BEGO” ’S HOUSE
Arturo Gallerini, called “Il Bego”, was a famous truffle hunter and he lived in Saccuccio near the church in Balconevisi.
“Il Bego” found the biggest white truffle in history on 26th October 1954.
He found the biggest white truffle in the world (2,5 kg) with his dog Parigi, in Valina, in the woods near Balconevisi.It was given to the President of the USA , H. Truman, as a gift .
AZIENDA GAZZARRINI TARTUFI
Via Balconevisi, 19 Balconevisi
0571 460047
The well-known Azienda Gazzarrini Tartufi owns a shop located in Balconevisi, where you can buy their products. The Gazzarrini family has been trading truffles in San Miniato, Italy and abroad for over 120 years.The family has always run a grocer’s shop, where the truffles found by the local truffle hunters were sold.
Eugenio Gazzarrini started to trade the precious truffle at the beginning of the 1900s and made it famous all over Italy.
He also started to preserve white truffles in tins. He was awarded a silver medal for this method of natural preservation in 1924.The company improved the quality of their products in the following years.
Nowadays the company sells excellent truffles and produces a large variety of products such as butter and oil with truffle, truffle pecorino, truffle honey…These refined products are sold all over Italy.
They sell delicious fresh black and white truffles depending on the period of the year. They also sell products which are preserved in a natural way and can be purchased throughout the year.
White truffles can be found from October to December, while black truffles can be found in March and April.
You can find detailed information in English about the company and its products on their website.
About-us – Gazzarrini Tartufi Snc
RISTORANTE GENOVINI
via Balconevisi, 14 Balconevisi
tel 0571 460116
The simple and lovely restaurant is located in the Egola Valley. It offers truffle dishes prepared by Dino and Francesca. It has always been run by the Arzilli family.
The delicious , world-famous ” stracciatella al tartufo del Genovini” is a typical dish created by Dino .
CORAZZANO
Corazzano is another important centre for truffles in the Egola Valley and it is famous for the stunning parish church, ” Quaranthana”, which is the most ancient church in the area.
The association ARCI has been organizing the famous Fiera Mercato del tartufo since 1985.The event is held in the sports field and near Casa del Popolo and attracts many visitors every year. It offers a large variety of activities and events and a restaurant where you can taste delicious truffle dishes.The association ARCI and the nearby cafe have always been important for the sale and purchase of truffles.
AZIENDA TARTUFI NACCI
Via Zara, 110 Corazzano
Tel 0571 462846
cell.338967807-3398759017
Monica Nacci is the owner of this company located in the town centre. The company offers fresh truffles depending on the season and a large variety of truffle products. It features a shop and a typical well- furnished and comfortable enotartufoteca (wine-truffle house), where you can taste truffles, typical local products and excellent wines .
You can find detailed information in English about the company and its products on their website.
https://www.tartufi-nacci.com/home/eng/welcome
LA BELLA MARGHERITA
The best white truffles in the world can be found near Corazzano, in the area called “Il Triangolo d’oro”,between the farms of Collegalli and Barbialla.The area is situated near the river Egola, in the municipality of Montaione, between Doderi, a hill close to Collegalli, Poggioderi, a farmhouse close to Barbialla, and Montoderi, a farmhouse on the road connecting Collegalli and Barbialla. .
This is an area with a particular uncontaminated environment, where you can find a lot of truffles and mushrooms.
In the Middle ages it was said there was a beautiful, precious daisy – “una bella Margherita”- in this area.The beautiful daisy was probably the white truffle.
LA SERRA
You can find a great deal of truffles in the hills and in the valleys near La Serra and in the area of the ancient boroughs of Bucciano and Montebicchieri.
La Sagra del tartufo bianco e del fungo porcino has been held in la Serra since 2007.It attracts many visitors.The volunteers of the ARCI Association offer excellent truffle dishes during the event.
MORIOLO
ALLEVAMENTO DEL LAGOTTO ROMAGNOLO “LA CIVETTA”
Via Mugnana e Scorno, 17- Loc. Moriolo
Tel. 347 1884691
info@allevamentolagottoromagnolo.com
www.allevamentolagottoromagnolo.com
When people from Emilia Romagna arrived in the Egola Valley between the 1800s and the 1900s, they came with their Lagotti dogs, which were trained in the Comacchio valleys. They trained these dogs to hunt for truffle in our area.
Angelica Nardi breeds pure “Lagotti Romagnoli” dogs in her farm “la Civetta” in Moriolo. They are skillful,strong and extraordinary.
La Via del Tartufo does not finish here, but it continues on the tables of the restaurants which offer this “diamond of the table” in their menus. It is a great pleasure for people who have refined taste.
Don’t forget you can admire amazing monuments and landscapes along La Via del Tartufo and you can find accommodation facilities (www.sanminiatopromozione.it) , agritourisms where you can stay in splendid farmhouses and farms where you can taste excellent wine and olive oil and enjoy an enchanting landscape.
Besides, you can find restaurants and shops where you can taste local products such as excellent salumi such as mallegato and Slow food products, typical bread cakes such as Cantuccini di Federigo.
A TAVOLA CON IL TARTUFO BIANCO DI SAN MINIATO
ANTICO RISTORO LE COLOMBAIE
Via Montanelli, 5- Loc. La Catena- San Miniato
tel 0571484220-cell +39 340 9860605
lecolombaie@gmail.com-www.lecolombaie.com
CASTELVECCHIO VILLA SONNINO
Via Castelvecchio, 9/11-La Catena-San Miniato
Tel.0571484033-Fax 0571 485175
direzione@villasonnino.com-www.villasonnino.com
COLLEBRUNACCHI
Via Collebrunacchi, 6/a Loc, Collebrunacchi
San Miniato- Tel.0571 409593-409601
info@collebrunacchi.it-www.collebrunacchi.it
DA RINA
Via T. Romagnola Est 538-San Miniato Basso
Tel.0571418231- cell+ 39 3925004568
FIDELIA-LA CASA DI LOCULLO
Via Maremmana,33- Loc. Palagio- San Miniato
Tel.0571 460399
info@ristorantelacasadilocullo.it
GENOVINI
Via Balconevisi,6- San Miniato
Tel.0571 460116 -cell +39 3407116246
IL CONVIO
Via San Maiano, 2- San Miniato
Tel.0571 408114 401813
ristoranteilconvio2016@gmail.com-www.ristoranteilconvio.com
IL SORRISO
Via Fontevivo, 5- San Miniato
Tel.0571418014-cell +39 3331533055
info@ristoranteilsorriso.eu-www.ilristoranteilsorriso.eu
LA CORTE DEGLI ULIVI
Via Poggio al Pino, 10 -Ponte a Elsa-S. Miniato
Tel.0571 409013-cell +39 339 8482360
info@la-cortedegliulivi.it-www.la-cortedegliulivi.it
LA GRIGLIA DI CANAPONE
Piazza Buonaparte, 5- San Miniato
Tel.0571 419842-cell +39 3922151025
info@lagrigliadicanapone.it-www.lagrigliadicanapone.it
LA GIOCONDA
Via San Regolo,84-La Serra- San Miniato
Tel.0571460318- Fax 0571 403168
info@ristorantegioconda.it-www.ristorantegioconda.it
LA TAVERNA DELL’OZIO
Via Zara,81-Corazzano-San Miniato
Tel.0571 462862-cell +39 3381001152
LOCANDA DEL CASALE DI SAN MINIATO
Via Casale, 3-San Miniato
Tel.0571 409427-cell +39 3490595510
info@casaledisanminiato.com-www.casaledisanminiato.it
OSTERIA ENOTECA L’UPUPA
Via Conti, 15-San Miniato
Tel.0571 400429- cell +39 3386815994
lupupaducale@gmail.com- www.ristorantelupupa.com
PAPAVERI E PAPERE
Via Dalmazia, 159/D- San Miniato
tel.0571 409422-cell +39 347 7295133
info@papaveriepaolo.com-www.papaveriepaolo.com
PIAZZA DEL POPOLO ENOTECA
Piazza del Popolo, 10- San Miniato
Tel.0571 42548
info@piazzadelpopolo.eu-www.piazzadelpopolo.eu
PEPENERO
Via IV Novembre,13- San Miniato
Tel.0571 419523-cell +39 339 8684460
info@pepenerocucina -www.pepenerocucina.it
PICCOLA OSTERIA DEL TARTUFO
Piazza del Popolo, 3- San Miniato
tel.0571 543632
piccolaosteriadeltartufo@gmail.com
TAVERNA DEL BARBAROSSA
Via Pestalozzi, 6- San Miniato Basso
Tel. 0571 400919-cell +39 3398684460
brigidavito@gmail.com- www.tavernabarbarossa.it
TERRAZZA MIRAVALLE
Piazza del Castello, 3- San Miniato
Tel.0571 400105
info@terrazzamiravalle.it-www.terrazzamiravalle.it
TRATTORIA CANTINI
Via Conti, 1- San Miniato
Tel.0571 43030 +39 3384763459
VECCHIO CINEMA
Via IV Novembre, 30- San Miniato
Tel. 0571 42518
info@pizzeriavecchiocinema.it- www.pizzeriavecchiocinema.it
Further Information
Truffle History
- 1 MONUMENTO AL TARTUFO PIU’ GRANDE DEL MONDO
- 2 ASSOCIAZIONE TARTUFAI DELLE COLLINE SANMINIATESI
- 3 RISTORANTE MIRAVALLE
- 4 PARCO DEL TARTUFO
- 5 LA CASA DI STAGNAZZA
- 6 LA ‘’PIAZZA DEL TARTUFO’’
- 7 LA CASA DEL BEGO
- 8 RISTORANTE GENOVINI 9
- 9 LA BELLA MARGHERITA
How to find truffles
- A TRUFFLE IN TUSCANY
- B ASSOCIAZIONE TOSCANA TARTUFAI
- C ALLEVAMENTO DEL LAGOTTO ROMAGNOLO ‘’LA CIVETTA’’
Where to buy truffles
- I CASA GEMIGNANI STORE
- II GEMIGNANI TARTUFI
- III SAVITAR
- IV GEMIGNANI FRANCESCO
- V ALESSIO GEMIGNANI TARTUFI
- VI GAZZARRINI TARTUFI
- VII TARTUFI NACCI