By Simone Bandini
Let’s catch up with Natascia Volpi, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Torrita di Siena, on the upcoming autumn season at the Teatro degli Oscuri and discuss in depth the Vinsanto Festival to be held in the hamlet of Montefollonico. Meanwhile, the commitment to public works in the tertiary sector continues, to which the administration has allocated significant resources for the safety and expansion of school buildings.
Starting in early November and continuing, as is now tradition, for the entire winter, the 2026-27 season of the Teatro degli Oscuri will be a long festival of performances. Keep an eye on the link https://www.teatrogiovanitorrita.it/ for updated and detailed information, and to purchase tickets and season passes.
The origins of the Teatro Comunale degli Oscuri in Torrita di Siena date back to 1763, the year the Accademia degli Oscuri was founded – a cultural association that adopted a lantern as its symbol and “Ab umbra lumen” – “from shadow, light” – as its motto. The Academy initially obtained its own space in 1776, on the ground floor of the Palazzo Comunale. Then, in 1870, the current theatre was built, which still retains its intimate dimension and typical Italian theatre structure: 120 seats in total, including the auditorium, boxes, gallery, and upper gallery.
At the entrance, a marble bust commemorates the renowned Giulio Neri, the great operatic bass native to Torrita. Since 2005, the theatre has hosted the International Lyric Singing Competition dedicated to him, an annual international event that attracts young opera talents from around the world.
For several years, the theatre’s management has been entrusted to the Compagnia Teatro Giovani Torrita, a cultural association founded to promote theatrical culture and art in a broader sense. Under the artistic direction of Laura Ruocco, the Company curates the theater season with a program ranging from lighthearted theatre to comedy, offering performances in double showings (at 7:00 PM and 9:15 PM). The Company also distinguishes itself through its commitment to research and experimentation, staging its own productions and collaborating with national-level artists. The theatre, renovated in 2017, is now a vibrant and dynamic venue, capable of combining tradition and contemporaneity in one of the most interesting cultural hubs in the Valdichiana.
From December 4th to 6th, an unmissable event for lovers of ancient rural traditions, such as the art of making Vinsanto, will take place.
An intense aroma and amber tones will once again fill the medieval alleys of Montefollonico during the days of the renowned “Il Borgo del Vin Santo” festival – historically known by the welcoming phrase “Would you like a drop of Vin Santo?” – which this year will reclaim its original and evocative winter setting. The Tuscan village will evoke the peasant hospitality of yesteryear, in a three-day celebration of culture and taste. The choice of timing is not coincidental: December historically coincides with the period when the ‘caratelli’ (barrels) are emptied, making way for new musts. A return to origins strongly desired by the community and the Pro Loco of Montefollonico, in collaboration with the Municipality of Torrita di Siena and the Mountain Associations, to highlight the deep connection between this prized dessert wine and its chosen territory.
The packed schedule of events promises to liven up the streets of the historic centre with guided tastings of the best local labels, paired with the excellences of Tuscan confectionery and gastronomic tradition. There will also be artisan and short-chain markets, where visitors can discover the outstanding food and wine products of the Valdichiana Senese. Finally, there will be punctual cultural entertainment, including folk performances, guided tours of historical sites, and debates related to the ancient art of winemaking.
The pulsating heart of the event will remain, as tradition dictates, the highly anticipated competition dedicated to the “Best Homemade Vin Santo,” which will award artisanal producers who jealously guard their family recipes for the “sweet” and “dry” categories, celebrating that spirit of hospitality which once led farmers to offer a glass of their most precious nectar only to their most welcome guests.
An unmissable opportunity to experience the approaching Christmas spirit, immersed in the warm atmosphere of one of Tuscany’s most authentic villages. “Il Borgo del Vin Santo” is, therefore, not just a simple festival, but a true journey through time and space, a unique and original event to experience the magic of a Tuscan winter encapsulated in the warmth of a glass of liquid history.
While the calendar of events that will attract residents and visitors to the historic centres of Torrita di Siena and Montefollonico in the coming weeks is taking shape, the municipal administration continues its work to complete projects that will offer greater services to the community.
In this regard, the school year began with new developments in the municipal schools, which reopened with new spaces available. Starting with the “Arcobaleno” Nursery School, where the kitchen has been expanded, a new canteen has been built, and a space for a daycare center has been created. “An agreement between the Municipality of Torrita di Siena and the I.C. G. Parini is in the process of being signed for the creation of a 0–6-year-old educational hub – starting from the 2026-27 school year. Regarding the daycare center, an expansion of the services offered is planned starting in January 2027, with the admission of children between 3 and 12 months of age. Currently, the daycare center only accepts children who have reached one year of age,” specifies Natascia Volpi, Deputy Mayor with responsibility for Education. The project, which is part of the Plan for Nursery Schools and Preschools and Early Childhood Education and Care Services, has received 1.1 million euros in PNRR funding (to which the Municipality has added 510 thousand euros).
Also at the same school, seismic retrofitting interventions have been carried out, with the final phase of works expected in the summer of 2027: “Upon completion of this process, the nursery school will be partly new, and the existing part will be seismically adapted to current regulations – as it has already been made energy-efficient.”
Regarding the “E. De Amicis” Primary School, which has been expanded on the ground floor, a new canteen with attached services has been built. “On the first floor, the final finishing work on some classrooms is underway. For this reason, the first-grade classes, which have so far been located in the premises on Via Meucci, will be housed in the nursery school building for the 2026-27 academic year,” she concludes. The project, which ranked fourth among those presented in Tuscany for the Extended Full-Day Program and Canteens Plan, received 577 thousand euros from the Next Generation EU fund and 207 thousand euros from the municipal budget.
Info: For more information, please refer to the websites www.comune.torrita.siena.it and www.torritadisienaliving.it or the social media pages Instagram and Facebook / info@torritadisienaliving.it / Tel. 0578717484 / 388 6525977
