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| Casa Elena enjoys a prominently
strategic position as from here all most historically, culturally
and gastronomically interesting towns of Tuscany and Umbria
may be easily reached within minutes. Here are some of the most
interesting towns together with some brief historical information
and their distance in miles: |
Cortona
- (8 Km) The town of Cortona
stand high on a hill (650) and has a spectacular views of the
Valdichiana, Lake Trasimeno and Mount Amiata. Originally, an
Etruscan stronghold, Cortona was conquered by the Romans and
Goths before becoming a free commune in the 12th century when
it enjoyed a period of notable splendour. The centre of Cortona
is Piazza della Repubblica. The nearby Palazzo Pretorio houses
Cortona’s Etruscan Museum. The most important artifact
is the famous bronze lamp which dates back to the V century
B.C.
The Diocesan Museum opposite the cathedral contains the Annunciation
by Beato Angelico and works by other major Tuscan artists, including
Luca Signorelli, native of Cortona. Amongst Cortona’s
most beautiful churches are the Gothic Church of S. Francesco
and the Sanctuary of S. Margherita which contains the tomb of
the saint dead in 1362. The Medici fortress affords the best
views of town and countryside. In the north east of Cortona
the visitor can tour the hermitage Eremo delle Celle, founded
by S. Francesco in 1211. |
| Arezzo
- (35 Km) The provincial capital in the region of Tuscany, Arezzo
lies 80 Kms south of Florence and it dominates the beautiful
valley in which Valtiberina, Valdichiana, Casentino and Valdarno
valleys all join together. The higher part of the town, dating
back to the middle ages, has a Cathedral, a Medici Fortress,
aristocratic palaces and picturesque towers. The lower part
is modern and constantly expanding. Arezzo was an important
town during the Etruscan period, as shown by the two statues
of the Chimaerz and Athene (now in the Archaeological Museum
in Florence). It continued to be important under the Romans
and was famous for its vases, beautiful ceramics with bas-relief
decorations. The mayor things of interest to see are the Churc
of Santa Maria that contain the Lorenzetti paintings and the
Church of San Francesco with the frescoes of Piero della Francesca. |
| Montepulciano
- (25 Km) The highest of the Tuscan hill towns, Montepulciano,
offers stunning views and fine exemple of Renaissance architecture.
Montepulciano is also know as the pearl of the 15th century
where there are many famous buildings to see such as the Cathedral,
the Loggia del Mercato, the Avignonese and Tarugi palaces and
also the Bucelli Palace with burial urns and Etruscan and Latin
inscriptions. Other places of interest include the Church of
St Agnese, the patron of the town and the Civic Museum. |
| Siena
- (60 Km) To the south west of Arezzo , edging throught the
Chianti region, enter Siena and step back to the Middle Ages.
Formed by the meeting of three hills on which Siena is built,
the square is divided into nine sections , commemorating the
council of nine who governed the town in the 13th century. Twice
a year, in July and August the Sienese faithfully ricreate their
medieval heritage in the Palio, a sumptuous pageant-cum-horse
race around the campo.Important things to see are the Palazzo
Pubblico, the museum and the Cathedral built in 1196. |
Firenze
- (105 Km)Florence is almost in the middle of the Italian peninsula,
and it is one of the most important cities for art, architecture,
culture, commerce and industry.
Florence began its rebirth after the decadence of the Barbaric
ages and reached the highest splendour between the 11th and
the 15th century, as a free city. Then came under the rule of
the Medici Family , who later became the Grand Dukes of Tuscany,
this in fact was when the city was at the height of its glory
in art and culture, in politics and economic power.The Italian
painting Cimabue and Giotto, the innovators of the Renaissance
Brunelleschi and Donatello, the universal men like Leonardo
and Michelangelo lived here.The Uffizi, the Buonarroti House
with Michelangelo’s sculptures, the Academy, the Medici
Chapel, the Baptistry with its mosaics, the Duomo and many other
monuments to see. |
Assisi
- (70 Km) Assisi, the most enchanting and spiritual town in
Umbria lies at the foot of the biggest hillside in Umbria, Mount
Subasio. Founded by the Etruscans and later became part of the
Roman empire,the town is the birthplace of Saint Francis (1182-1226),
Patron Saint of Italy.
The main attraction of Assisi is Basilica of Saint Francis.
It consists of two churches.. The lower one was built from 1230
–1253, the entrance to the basilica dates back the 5th
century.Attached to the Basilica is the Franciscan monastery
founded by Saint Francis in 1206. Another magnificent exemple
of gothic architecture is the 13th century church of Santa Chiara
where is painted the crucifix, which allegedly spoke to Saint
Francis. |
Perugia
- (50 Km) The city of Perugia is divided into five quarters,
each named after the original city gates: Sant’Angelo,
Porta Sole, San Pietro, Eburnea e Santa Susanna.
Piazza IV novembre is the city’s main square here you
will find the San Lorenzo Cathedral finished in 1430 and the
Fontana Maggiore designed by Fra Bevignate.
Just opposite is the 13th century Palazzo dei Priori which still
houses the municipal offices and the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria
one of the central Italy’s biggest and best. The Collegio
della Mercanzia in the Corso Vannucci side of the Palazzo dei
Priori and in the same building is the Collegio del Cambio,
the towns medieval money exchange, its walls superbly frescoed
by Perugino.
At the southern end of Corso Vannucci are the small Giardini
Carducci from where there are excellent views of the countryside.
Underneath the gardens is a 16th century fortress Rocca Paolina:
destroyed after Italian Unification, the ruins remain a symbol
of defiance against oppression. |
| Gubbio
- (80 Km) The Roman town of Gubbio has the most medieval appearance
of the Northern Umbrian towns. It is famous for its local crafts
and for its well preserved medieval traditions, includine the
procession of Candles in May. The place to start a tour of the
town is Piazza Quaranta Martiri, named after forty citizen shot
by the nazis in 1944. The Duomo, 13th century building is an
exception to the other churches of Gubbio with its simple Gothic
interior. Others main things to see are the Plazzo Ducale, the
Palazzo dei Consoli end the Roman Theatre, well preserved 1st
century amphitheatre at the foot of the town. |
| Castiglione
del Lago - (15 Km) The town of Castiglione del Lago
rises on a promontory which once formed the fourth island of
the Trasimeno Lake, the fourth largest lake in Italy. The area
of Trasimeno is very pretty, there are boat trips in the summer
to visit the three islands in the middle or to cross from one
side to another. The best beaches are situated around Castiglione
del Lago, nice Etruscan town, where the medieval circe of walls
and the ancient castle are still well preserved. |
Pienza
- (50 Km) The medieval village of Pienza is to be regarded as
a real monument as a whole in its orderliness and rationality
and offers some incredible views of the Val d’Orcia as
in a painting by the best Renaissance artists.
Particularly interesting are the Duomo, Palazzo Piccolomini
and the Museo Diocesano, where works by Sodoma and a number
of magnificent tapestries are collected. Pienza is famous all
over the world for its production of sheep cheeses produced
in the countryside of the Val d’Orcia with its ravines
and its rolling hills, the so-called “Crete”, and
seasoned in a variety of different flavours ranging from walnut
leaves to “pecorino di fossa” seasoning. |
Montalcino
- (60 Km) Montalcino is perched on top of hill overlooking the
Val d’Orcia, the Val d’Arbia and the Valle dell’Ombrone.
A town having atypical medieval layout, Montalcino offers its
visitors the Palazzo Comunale, the Cathedral and the churches
of S. Agostino, S. Egidio and S. Francesco. In the Archaeological
Museum you may see a number of interesting prehistorical and
Etruscan findings from the area whilst in the Museo Civico may
see two terracottas by Andrea della Robbia. Montalcino, though,
is, above all, the home to one of Italy’s and Tuscany’s
most important wines: the Brunello di Montalcino: made from
pure Sangiovese vines grown in the nearby hills this wine is
one of the best expressions of a territory and a landcspae which
are the very heart of Tuscany. |
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