In this episode we will go back to one of our original missions: shed some light into the least known corners of this land and tell you what makes them so special. In Tuscany it's still possible to just bump into amazing stuff, as it happened to me many years ago while I was roaming the back roads of my region on my motorcycle. The place is, frankly, baffling: what does a great cathedral, a lovely piazza and many ancient palaces do in a town literally in the middle of nowhere? As it happens quite frequently, this little-known town hides some incredible stories and a rich past. If you come here on the 4th Sunday of May, you will also have the chance to witness one of the most famous crossbows competition in the land. That's why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you to the hidden masterpiece that is Massa Marittima to tell you everything there is to know about this remarkable gem of a town. If you listen to the full episode you will learn how mining made this town rich enough to buy out its freedom and tough enough to defend itself for more than a century. I'll tell you about the lovely square and its quirky secrets, before delving deep into the history of the crossbow festival, how it was resurrected 60 years ago and how it still celebrates to this day the grit and determination of this fierce little town. in the last chapter, you will also know about a peculiar wine trail that will let you know some very special products, a mysterious lake that, according to local legend, would hide an entire town and a theme park dedicated to the history of metalmaking and the mining industry. While it may not be as popular as Chianti, this part of Tuscany will find many ways to surprise you. If you give it a chance, it will definitely steal your heart. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY) https://www.societaterzierimassetani.it/balestro-del-girifalco/ https://www.societaterzierimassetani.it/126-balestro-del-girifalco-28-maggio-2023/ https://www.visittuscany.com/it/idee/massa-marittima-5-motivi-per-visitare-la-citta/ https://www.massamarittima-toscana.net/storia_1.html https://www.toscanaovunquebella.it/it/massa-marittima BACKGROUND MUSIC Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental) Profound Beats - Lo-fi Pipe Choir - The Opening Closing Pipe Choir - Coffee and Time WUFO - Hyde Park Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental https://soundcloud.com/profoundbeats/profound-beats-lo-fi-free-download https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-the-opening-closinginstrumentalcreative-commons https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/p-c-iii-coffee-and-time-creative-commons-instrumental https://soundcloud.com/argofox/wufo-hyde-park https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons http://www.pipechoir.com/