Silence as a new frontier: Tuscany inaugurates its first "silent zone."

The protection objectives are four: to reduce the harmful effects of environmental noise, to avoid the increase of noise in the surrounding areas, to maintain the high quality of native natural sounds and to reduce noise in the surrounding areas, so as to protect the ecosystem.

November 11, 2025

A view of the Tuscan Apennines

No ambulance sirens, no clatter of tram wheels, no jackhammers cracking thick layers of asphalt, no roar of planes taking off. A magical and protected place , almost utopian for those accustomed to living immersed in the hustle and bustle of urban centers , which just a few days ago became a reality . In the heart of Tuscany , on the hillsides of the municipalities of Borgo San Lorenzo and Pontassieve, the creation of Tuscany's first "Silent Zone" has been officially announced, a place where the sounds of nature are the priority.

What is Stay Quiet, the all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden that lets you discover the benefits of total silence?

The recognition came after a complex process involving local and national authorities, with the Tuscany Region recently officially demarcating the area affected by the new protection restrictions. The area, called " Poggio Ripaghera - Monte Giovi ," was recently included in one of the latest decrees from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, which concluded the identification and definition process.

The protection objectives described by the Tuscany Region are four: reducing the harmful effects of environmental noise, avoiding the increase in noise in local areas, maintaining the high quality of native natural sounds , and reducing noise in surrounding areas, thus protecting the ecosystem.

Noise as hyperstimulation

Whether it's the incessant social media notifications or the ambient noise from busy city streets, noise has become a constant in our lives. This overstimulation , in quiet areas, can be limited, allowing us to once again appreciate listening to nature, made up of gentle, now unfamiliar sounds.

The Poggio Ripaghera – Monte Giovi area, thanks to its scenic and natural beauty and environmental protections, is destined to become a place where you can reconnect with nature, leaving behind the noise and productivity to rediscover a more intimate and slower side to what we are forced to face in everyday life.

Silence as a collective resource

The establishment of these zones, however, is a resource not only for tourists who choose to spend a few hours, perhaps walking in the woods, but also for those who live in the identified areas. Zones like Poggio Ripaghera – Monte Giovi reduce stress for those interacting with the ecosystem, encourage sustainable and nature-conscious tourism , and improve air quality. These kinds of measures are increasingly lacking in urban centers, although some constructive administrations are pedestrianizing city centers and reforesting parks and public spaces.

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