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The visit of Colle Val d'Elsa can start from Colle Alta, this area of the town is surrounded by walls of the twelfth century.

You can park your car in a parking lot near the Porta Nuova (or Porta Salis), from where our walk begins, this gate is very beautiful, with two circular towers built in the 15th-16th century, probably designed by Giuliano da Sangallo.

We will enter then in the Borgo of Santa Caterina, in via Gracco del Secco flanked by buildings of the Conservatory of San Pietro and the Hospital of San Lorenzo (17th century).

Taking then the first road on the left, we arrived to a low circular tower, which was the old water cistern converted then into the tower in the eighteenth century. From here start an arched bridge that leads to the Church and the Convent of San Francesco (13th-18th century) with interesting inner cloisters with traces of frescoes.  

Going back and continuing along the via Gracco del Secco we reached the Palazzo Usimbardi and then the Church of Santa Caterina (15th century) it has, in the choir, an interesting stainde-glass window (15th century) and a terraccotta (17th century) perhaps work of the Cieco di Gambassi (Giovanni Francesco Gonnelli).

From the square in front of the church has a beautiful view of the Church and the Convent of San Francesco and part of the village of Colle. We continues along via F. Campana where are Palazzo Palazzuoli and Palazzo Portigiani (today the Town Hall) with brick facade and entrance and windows in ashlar stone.

From here the tour continues in the oldest part of Colle Val d'Elsa: the Castle of Piticciano.