What to do in Tuscany: Events in July-August 2011

Dear Friends,
Today I want to highlight some interesting shows and events taking place this summer in Tuscany, geared to both adults and children, especially for those who are just about to set off on their holidays in the coming weeks.

- The first event I´d like to mention is the classical music concerts taking place in Siena in the beautiful Accademia Chigiana in one of the most beautiful theatres of the Italian Renaissance. For the concert program see the following link: http://www.chigiana.it/

- Another popular event in Tuscany is the prestigious Festival de la Música de Radicondoli which begins on the 29th of July and continues until the 7th August. Here you will be able to enjoy pleasant evenings with music. Please visit the following site for more information: http://www.radicondoliarte.org/


- Another interesting festival is the Teatro Povero di Montichiello, where actors and musicians improvise to create a typically Tuscan scene. See the official website: http://www.teatropovero.it/

- I´d also like to recommend another interesting music festival, at San Galgano (see the above photo), an impressive roofless church situated in a spectacular enclave in Tuscany. Over the next weeks in this unique place various musical performances and operas will take place. A couple which particularly stand out are Carmina Burana and Swan Lake. For more information you can see the following webpage: http://www.festivalopera.it

- For something a bit different, from the 24th of July up until the 7th of August, in Siena, the jazz concerts are taking place. The Jazz school of Siena is one of the most important in the whole of Italy. For more information and the concert program visit the official website: http://www.sienajazz.it/


- Other notable musical events include: the Music festival of the Valdorcia (1st-16th August), the festival of the Crete Senesi from the 14th to the 22nd August and the Sarteano Jazz Festival from the 24th to the 26th August.

There are also events not exclusively devoted to music and particularly appropriate for children as well as adults.

- The Pontassieve: Summer in the Park festival overflowing with concerts, cinema, musical theatre, children’s events and dance takes place from 26th July until 13th September (Florence Province). See the following link: http://www.estatealparco.it/default.asp

- Finally, a 10 day festival of music, food, dance, markets, entertainment and shows to celebrate the Patron Saint of Borgo, San Lorenzo, will take place in the Borgo itself (Florence Province) from the 7th to the 15th August. Tel: 055 845 6230 / 84966229.

As always, I hope that this information is useful to those planning their upcoming holidays and that you enjoy any of the events you go to.

Emma.

Discovering the corners of Montepulciano

Montepulciano is one of the most enchanting towns of Tuscany. It lies to the south of the region between the agricultural region of Valdichiana and the ravishing and wilder Valdorcia (Unesco World Heritage). The town was built on the highest point of a 500-metre hill and enjoys spectacular sights that take in Umbria and Lake Trasimeno. Montepulciano’s style is typically medieval with dramatic walls surrounding the town and historical buildings, mainly medieval, but also of Renaissance architecture turning this spot into one of the best preserved jewels of the artistic heritage of Tuscany.

As it is a medieval town, Montepulciano has no easy access. Therefore, from the parking area located outside the walls, the visitor has to go up along the little medieval lanes of town to get to the pretty cathedral and its "Plaza Grande"(main square).

It is important to take into account that the ascent to the highest point of town though tiring it may be, it is filled with beautiful corners and seducing historic palaces abounding in charm, such as for example the famous Caffe Poliziano very frequently visited in by the celebrated Italian director Federico Fellini in his time. Another charming spot found while going up towards the cathedral is the celebrated Piazza San Francesco, from whose vantage point it is possible to relish the ravishing Valdorcia (World Heritage by Unesco).

Around the Piazza San Francesco you should stop at the Caffé "Lucevan le Stelle" which serves an interesting selection of local wines in an atmosphere of jazz offering live performances throughout the summer.

The ascent towards the beautiful square of the cathedral will also provide travellers with many spots with lovely views to the right of the enchanting Valdichiana and Lake Trasimeno, to finish in the Redi cellars which are an obligatory stop for wine and art lovers. The cellars are impressive and very well preserved in a charming medieval palace. They are a one-of-a-kind free-of-charge outing which cannot be missed in a visit to Montepulciano.

The ascent ends in the pretty Piazza Grande where the marvellous cathedral is.

Here is a web offering an interesting guide to Montepulciano and a video of some scenes of the famed Twilight, whose sequel was filmed in Montepulciano last summer.

Castiglione D'Orcia and Bagni San Filippo. (Sylvia visiting Tuscany)

Yesterday morning, departing from my Villa in Monticchiello, whose beauty and comfort as well as stupendous service they give their guests still captivates me, I decided to go on an excursion by car to Castiglione D'Orcia and Bagni San Filippo.

Villa Montecchiello is so well situated that by car all towns of Val D'Orcia are within easy reach, each with its peculiarities making it hard to say which one is the most beautiful and interesting.

Castiglione D'Orcia is a very old and precious town. It was a fortress, dominated by the Aldobrandeschi in the 1^st century. From the park next to the fortress ruins situated atop a hill, there are marvellous vistas dominating the whole town, the nearby Fortress of Tentennano and Monte Amiata. It makes true pleasure.
The little streets of Castiglione D’Orcia are made of cobblestones and in the heart of town there is an original and pretty square, known as Piazza Il Vecchietta, an artist of the 15th century that as many other humanists of the Renaissance in Tuscany , was a prodigy in painting as well as in sculpture and architecture.
In the square I was visiting the town hall that extends from one side to the other of the square, creating an emblematic atmosphere. Besides I visited the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria Magdalena and the Renaissance Chiesa di I Santi Stefano e Degna, considered the most important in town, as until recently it housed sacred masterpieces by Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti, today under restoration in Siena.
In the meanwhile, I got terrible hungry, so after visiting the shops and handicrafts galleries of town, where very tasteful and affordable specialities are sold, I took a car and head for a restaurant that the very charming owner of one of the shops had recommended. You cannot imagine how enchanting and polite the people I am meeting here are¡
The restaurant is "I tre Rioni" and is situated in Campiglia D'Orcia, a very little nearby village.
It is an elegant Bed and Breakfast, with a restaurant where to eat superlatively.
I eat pecorino salad (an exquisite typical Tuscan sheep cheese) with pears and rucula, and after that a very tender veal escalope with authentic aromatic and delightful forest mushroom ("funghi porcini"), all of that accompanied by a very fresh and excellent white wine: Collazzi Bianco di Montepulciano. After the dessert and coffee, the maitre invited me to drink a drop herb acquavite, a strong liqueur yet of a very delicious flavour.
I left the restaurant so pleased, not only because of the liqueur...but for the food had been stupendous and the relationship quality/price is very fair. I spent €35 including tip.

Bagni San Filippo is a very little and pretty town with a one-of-a-kind scenery, because of the whitish limestone deposits surrounding the thermal baths. They were already very prestigious in the Ancient Romans epoch and were restored in the 16^th century, under Cosme I Medici’s orders. In the "La Mandragora" by Maquiavelo there is a passage devoted to them (another book to read in Monticchiello after dinner).

This town has five springs of sulphurous waters of important curative properties whose temperature reaches 52º C. There are endless options of spa hotels chosen by the Italians and foreigners to enjoy healthy and relaxing holidays.

The following foreigner will be me, loaded with books and good music...emerging from water fresh as a daisy. Wait and see how some good writer includes me in a novel.

Sylvia

Empoli in the Middle Ages,the city that saved Florence from its destruction.

Empoli is a very beautiful, lively, rich and interesting city. It is located on the left bank of the river Arno, around 30 Km. to the southwest of Florence.
At the time when the Etruscans inhabited the area, the town was already well known for its splendid crystal handcrafts production used by artists and goldsmiths and silversmiths in this amazing manufacture of works of art and jewels. When the Romans conquered this territory, Empoli, at that time called Emporium, the city not only continued producing its famous glass, but being located between the Via Quinctia and the Via Salaiola, which connected the city with the most important Roman cities of the time such as Florence, Fiesole, Pisa and Volterra, it also tuned into a commercial city, strategically situated among other fundamental production centers, thing which made barter and the transportation of goods necessarily pass through the already highly prosperous Emporium.

At the beginning of the XII century the city turned into a feud of the Counts of Guidi, who surrounded it with walls and defensive constructions and turned it into practically an impregnable fortress. Due to its crucial strategic position, it was the object of greediness of the Republic of Florence for many decades. After various attemps of capturing it, in 1182, it forced the Counts of Guidi to swear loyalty to Florence. In this way, by mid XIII century, the Florentines obliged the Counts of Guidi to sell them the feud for the price that Florence had established.

Empoli, of long Ghibelline tradition, contrary to Florence, at that moment ruled by the Guelphs, was the venue of the famous Ghibelline Council of Empoli, which was held on Septiembre, 1260, soon after the defeat of Florence at the famous Batalla de Monteaperti, fought in the territorial area of Empoli. The person who lead the defeat was Manente degli Uberti, better known as "Farinata", who was in charge of the Ghibelline troops of Siena and Pisa (loyal to the Emperor) against the extremely powerful forces of Florence(the Pope followers). Manente degli Uberti, regarded as one of the best military men of the Tuscan territory in those times and a very well educated person of an impeccable loyalty towards the Ghibeline faction, belonged to one of the most notable families of the Ghibeline aristocracy in Florence, who had suffered a terrible persecution by the Guelphs.

The Council, now an assembly composed of the main Ghibeline representatives, unanimously voted in favor of the destruction of Florence, not only as a revenge against the traditional Guelphs’ attacks on the Ghibelines’ property or on their lives, but to make sure that by nipping their huge power in the bud those atrocities would no longer happen in the future.

But, Manente o Farinata degli Uberti, as you prefer to call him, pronounced himself against this decision, and unsheathing his sword he swore that, as long as he was alive, he would continue defending Florence (which he had seen in its origins and was now defeated) from such a vile resolution with the same courage and loyalty with which he had defended the Ghibeline cause, as long as he was alive.

And that’s how Florence was saved from being burnt to the ground.

As it was to be expected, once established the Guelph rule, Florence not only forgot it owed Farinata its life and its resurgence, but it snatched away all his family’s properties, who had to go into exile and leave the city without complaining.

Besides, the Florentine authorities accused "Farinata" of heresy, basing themselves on the fact that he had manifested that the Pope should not interfere in the power of the Emperor. Manente degli Uberti had to ask Siena for asylum, which was immediately granted to him in order to save his wife and daughter.
"Farinata" lived and died as the gentleman he had always been, giving a colossal example of generosity and coherence with his high sense of ethics.

However, not only the citizens of Empoli, but historians too keep on asking themselves how different Empoli would’ve been if the historical decision of the Ghibeline Council had been kept because if Florence had vanished from the face of the world, which would have been the capital of the future Tuscany?
The same hypothetical question goes to you after visiting the emblematic Empoli and plunging a bit into its fascinating story, which of course does not finish in the Middle Ages and continues and continues with episodes of fights and resistance, each time more significant and impressive.

Sylvia.

Livorno: a different city

Livorno, the second city in Tuscany as regards population density, is situated twenty kilometers away from Pisa and it is connected to it by means of a navigable canal. It is a peculiar city, whose structure, architecture and atmosphere have nothing to do with the rest of the capitals in the province of Tuscany. It changed from being a small port serving the Marine Republic of Pisa to becoming the Tuscan port, which is nowadays the third most important port in Italy after those in Geneva and Naples.
The Medicis decided to turn Livorno into a perfect city, whose social life, economic development and architecture were at the level of that impressive port, emblematic because of the fortifications which protected it, and whose commercial and military activity were going to produce great economic benefits to Tuscany, besides protecting its coasts from enemies’ attacks and mainly from the recurrent raids of Ottoman pirates.

So, just like that, as if out of the blue, appeared a splendid city, whose developing neighborhoods started to connect with the center by means of navigable canals, turning into a small and peculiar “Venice” to the whole of Italy’s amazement. Livorno could be considered a city which had been marvelously invented in the late Renaissance. Therefore, the best of its urban layout and its architecture starts with designs and monuments with clear cuts and mannerism character, successively passing from the baroque, to the rococo, to the neo classical style, to finally delight us with a Belle Epoque and Art Noveau architecture, which is mainly present in the marvelous promenade seafront and the areas adjacent to it, impregnating the city with a lyrical and nostalgic atmosphere.

In general terms, I guess you must have got the picture of what Livorno is like, but, its external aspect, in spite of being as fascinating as particular, is not the only thing that denotes the true idiosyncrasy of the city as it bases itself on the historical universality of the city, thing which would not be surprising in nowadays Europe, but we are talking about the late XVI century, when thanks to the Constitution of Livorno, enacted by Ferdinando I de Medici, Duque of Tuscany at the time, the doors of the city opened up to everyone who wanted to live in the city and to work there together with their families no matter their race, country of origin or religious belief. The Constitution offered full rights Tuscan citizenship, religious freedom and the indult of any crime they had been previously condemned of in their country of origin, as from then on Livorno would be ruled by local criminal and civil laws, regulated by their own courts, independent from those of the Grand Duchy.
Thus, the city became a new and true home to thousands of sailors, artisans, merchants and other workers, who found there the freedom and well being their countries of origin deprived them from.

People came from all over Italy, which, at that time, was completely fragmented and subjugated by the different local governments of Greece, Armenia, the east of Europe, the Middle East; and so did hordes of Jews and Muslims, who were forced to go into exile because of terrible religious persecutions. The same thing happened with the Catholics from the most diverse social classes and intellectual backgrounds, who arrived from England, Holland, Germany and some places in France to be able to live in freedom according to their beliefs.

They not only lived together peacefully sharing the same neighborhoods and places, but each community started to establish their own churches, cemeteries; and the Jews, who called Livorno the "new promised land", built temples, schools, a university, a museum and different cultural establishments. Working all together, side by side, they turned Livorno into a rich city, which at the beginning of XVII century was already “porto franco”, recognized as such by an international treaty.

Those stateless people, either by choice or forced to become so, exchanged, languages, customs and gastronomy giving birth to a singular language, or local dialect, which still runs, and in which they could understand each other perfectly well, despite their mother tongue. It was also as from that moment that the gastronomy of Livorno, considered in Italy as one of the best in the country, experienced an amazing development, both in quantity as in quality, as the recipes from one and other started to circulate all round the city, and to become adopted by the other cultures as their own. Nowadays you can indulge in the exquisite Mediterranean cuisine and savor the famous "cacciuco", a superb fish and seafood stew, accompanied with pieces of toasted bread with garlic and olive oil, as well as in the refined "cuscussú", a Jewish variety of the traditional "cous-cous", or enjoy many other dishes and extraordinary desserts from the most diverse countries, which are only properly stewed and served in Livorno.

You can’t miss Livorno. I can assure you visiting Livorno is a unique experience.

On the other hand, I can’t stop thinking about how convenient it would be for those who make and enact the current immigration laws to learn a little from the sensible and generous Ferdinando I de Medici. Deep inside, many of them would feel ashamed of their short intelligence and meanness, and maybe, some would change their ultra-conservative conduct, which only leads to confrontations and impoverishment.

Sylvia

Arezzo

Arezzo is a beautiful and elegant city in Tuscany, which has the bad luck of being near unique places such as Florence, Siena and San Gimignano, and for that reason it is sometimes excluded from the touristic routes of Tuscany.


I like Arezzo, maybe, because it still has a special spirit and it is still a city where the stores and restaurants have been built for the Aretinos and not for the tourists. Actually, the city continues offering excellent places where to eat at reasonable prices.

Arezzo is also a city rich in art and history. The city preserves unique pieces from Medieval Art such as "Cristo del Cimabue" (Christ by Cimbaue), where for the fist time in the history of Medieval painting movement and perspective is given to the figures. Likewise, Arezzo also houses paintings and frescoes by other major artists such as: Piero della Francesca. If you go to Arezzo I also suggest visiting the Casa di Vasari ( Vasari’s House) , who was a great architect, writer, painter and much more during the period of the Italian Renaissance. Then you will find the house of Francesco Petrarca, who together with Dante and Boccaccio are considered the fathers of the Italian language.


Arezzo is also a nice place because of its elegant aesthetics halfway between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The city preserves a wonderful square called Piazza Grande, where various monuments from both historical eras co exist in perfect harmony. Cinema lovers would definitely recognize this beautiful Piazza, in which Roberto Benigni chased his "principessa" in the mystical film "La Vita e' Bella". Many of the scenes of the movie were filmed in this city, and, in fact, in one of the buildings of this square there is a board which indicates the different places where the various scenes of this unforgettable movie were filmed.


Arezzo is also one of the most important cities in Tuscany for its tradition of Antique objects collection. Besides having many antique shops, the city offers an important market every first Saturday of the month.

If in your Tuscan itinerary you decide to come to this city, I’d like to recommend two eating spots:

The first one is called Scugnizzo (I’ve already talked in the blog about this restaurant. For more information visit the link)

The second one is way more expensive than the first, but if you’re in for Tuscan food, you can’t miss it. The restaurant is called "Logge del Vasari" and it is located in the same big square on Via Vasari n15.


As usual I hope this information is of great help for you to organize your stay in Tuscany.




Regards,

Giovanni

Pienza is a precious jewel situated in the heart of one of the most beautiful and elegant areas in Tuscany. Pienza is the outcome of the architectural project of a Senese Pope, Pope Piccolomini, who decides to turn this small village into an example of a Renaissance town in XV century.

The pope assigned the project to Rosellino, the famous architect of the time, who spent an unimaginable fortune and built this marvelous architectural jewel in the middle of nowhere.

The story goes that when the Pope got the bill and saw the amount the whole project had come to, he got furious. However, his anger completely vanished once he arrived in Pienza and saw the marvelous sites which have been raised.

As Pienza was not easily accessible as regards roads and seaways, it started to lose importance and its population to deplete little by little. This coincided with the process of the Italian industrialization, giving way to the advent of the Sardo farmers, who bought many of these lands in the 60s and started to produce the famous Pecorino cheese. Nowadays Pienza is back in vogue as a destiny in Tuscany thanks to the selective elite, which visits this incredible city.

Entering Pienza through any of its doors (they are fabulous medieval doors), one gets to the main street, where you can find different stores selling Pecorine cheese (similar to sheep cheese) in its thousands varieties, mingled with gift stores.

The town main square is superb and its spectacular renaissance church and the town hall building make up a wonderful architectural piece of work.


Pienza boasts of a breathtaking viewpoint with majestic views of Valdorcia.


If you want to dine in the city, there are two restaurants I would like to recommend. The first one is called “Il Chiostro di Pienza”, and it is located within the beautiful cloister of an old monastery, (now a Relais), just next to a Romantic church in Pienza main street.

Il Chiostro is an extremely refined restaurant, with a superb terrace graced with the marvelous views of the Tuscan countryside. Mauricio, a dear friend of mine, is the owner. If you happen to come by, don’t forget to tell him Giovanni has sent you; he will certainly treat you with a drink or a glass of wine.

The other restaurant I highly recommend is located in the main street of the town, and the end of the street, and it is called “Latte di Luna”. Even though it is not as elegant as “Il Chiostro”, it serves the best suckling pig I have ever tasted.

Another interesting place you shouldn’t miss is the viewpoint bar, where you can go for a drink. Unforgettable views with unmatchable wines.

I am uploading a video of the town, which will help you get to know beautiful Pienza better।

Vinci, where Leonardo was born.

If you are staying at the North of Tuscany, or near Florence it is worth dedicating half a day to visit the town of Vinci, where the famous Leonardo da Vinci was born.

 

The town is very small. It comprises 4 houses, a church, a gift shop, a trattoria, which bears the name of the master of the Italian Renaissance, and a most interesting museum, home to many of Leonardo’s writings and some of his scale models. I remember visiting this museum with my school when I was a very small child and being overwhelmed by Leonardo’s brilliant ideas and his vision 300 years ahead of his time.

 

Leonardo designed many of the machines we use nowadays. One of the most fascinating one was the war tank he designed in 1500, that is to say, 400 years ahead of time.

 

I am uploading a video in English, which I have found in Youtube. It is an almost professional and quite comprehensive and it offers a panoramic view of the town.

The story of Sting and his Tuscan Villa

The first town where I spent my first 7 years of life was Figline Valdarno, a charming village that still preserves beautiful Medieval and Renaissance palaces, just at 20 km from Florence. Like all kids of my age I used to go to a public school, which like most Italian schools of those times were managed by nuns and priests.

At the school of Figline (called Seristori school) I met my first friend: the Duke Simone Velluti Zati di San Clemente.

Simone's family were dukes and they owned lands, houses, castles and villas along many kilometers between the cities of Florence and Arezzo.

Simone and his family lived in "Il Palagio" a beautiful Renaissance Florentine Villa located very near to the town of Figline. The Villas was spectacular and wonderful with its Italian gardens, a lake, a soccer field and tennis court in the forest next to Villa, and huge halls where I played with Simone.


The rooms of the house were fabulous and we enjoyed the most delicious meals carefully served by the maids of the Villa. I keep this house as one of my earliest memories and those times as the special moment of meeting my first friend.

At the end of the school year, Simone's parents thought it was very important for Simon learning English perfectly so they moved to Rome where Simone went to an English school.

The years went by, but Simone kept returning to Figliene and to the Palagio in the weekends, and every year for his birthday which was always a great party!

My family moved to Paris and we lost contact until 2008, when thanks to Facebook we got in touch again and then Simone told me the story of the Palagio and Sting.

Simone told me that maintaining such a large Villa was too expensive and one day they received an interesting offer from Sting so they decided to sell it.

Today Sting lives in the Palagio near Figline Valdarno.....in the house that was my kindergarten .... unbelievable!

So if you're in Tuscany and you feel curious about it just go to Figline Valdarno and look for the Palagio. Everybody in the town will tell you how to get there! But pay attention....I think Sting is very shy so better avoid ringing the bell ...

Arrivederci,

Giovanni

Travelling while you are in Tuscany: Sightseeing Florenc

The best way to visit the city with a Florence car rental.

Florence


This itinerary will take you around Florence's hills. We will start from Piazzale Michelangelo, the most famous panoramic sight of the town and a visit to the wonderful Church of San Miniato al Monte, a jewel of the Romanesque style. We will then head north to Villa Pietraia, a tipical Tuscany Villa, one of the Medici Family's most remarkable summer residence.

Summer 2008 The opera Festival , Opera and Theatre season

Florence – at Giardino dei Boboli (what a wonderful location!!!)

Shows start at 9,15 PM

June 11-12-13-14
CATS

June 25 and July 10-30
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA

July 3-17-29
LA BOHEME

July 8-23
LA TRAVIATA

July 11
SIGUR ROS

July 14-15
THE BEST OF MOMIX 2008

July 22
FIORELLA MANNOIA – Italian Pop Concert

July 24
CARMINA BURANA
BOLERO

July 28
FILM MUSIC – Camera Orchestra

August 5
O.R.T.-ORCHESTRA DELLA TOSCANA – PUCCINI E VERDI A PARIGI

Chiusdino (Siena) – at Abbazia di San Galgano (just magic..google it for pictures!!)

Shows start at 9.00pm

June 13 – July 26
CARMINA BURANA
BOLERO

June 18-21-28 and July 4
IL FLAUTO MAGICO

July 24
SULLE TRACCE DI DIAGHILEV

Barberino di Mugello – at Villa Medicea di Cafaggiolo

Shows start at 9.00pm

July 11
LE STAGIONI


July 6
FAVOLE with Paolo Poli

July 13 at Chiostro Cennaio
LE STAGIONI

July 16 at Chiostro Cennaio
LAUDARIO DI CORTONA

July 20
LA BOHEME

July 27
CARMINA BURANA
BOLERO

Hystorical backgrounds of the town of Arezzo

The acropolis of San Cornelio, one of the hills of Arezzo, was fortified by the Etruscans. Etruscan walls, the Poggio del Sole necropolis, and the "Minerva" and the "Chimera of Arezzo", now in Florence, testify the Etruscan past of Arezzo. Trades with Greece allowed for fine Greek pottery, finer than the Etruscan, to be imported.
A piece of pottery from Roman-times Arezzo was found in India at Arikamedu. This is evidence that Arezzo vested an important exporting role during Roman times with was then called Persia.

In the Augustan period Arretium continued to flourish as Arretium Vetus (The Old Arezzo) and was the third largest city in Italy. This period saw Arezzo getting famous for its pottery manufactures, the well-known red, and black Bucchero clay vases and pottery.

The 3rd and 4th centuries saw Arezzo became throned by the Roman church bishops. These bishops used to be feudal lords of the city during the Middle Ages.
Unfortunately the Roman Arretium was demolished during the barbaric invasions and parly by the people of the city itself to reuse the stones to fortify the city. The only construction that still stands is the Amphitheater.

Between 1098 until 1384 Arezzo kept its status of independent city-state. The affiliation with Siena's Ghibelline made Arezzo an opposer of Guelph Florence. The year 1252 saw the university of Arezzo, the Studium, being founded. In 1289 the fortunes of the city started to decrease as in 1384 the city became a Guelph city, making of the city an appendix of Florence, inheriting its politics, history and culture with a consequent loss of identity. The Medicean family ruled over Arezzo. However, it was during this period of Medicean art patronage that Piero della Francesca created his beautiful frescoes in the church of San Francesco di Arezzo. The frescoes have been recently restored and represent Arezzo's most representative works; soon afterwards Arezzo began a cultural and economical decline, which somehow helped preserving the medieval center of the city.

Lunigiana, the land of the moon

Here you can reach the sea at Lerici, famous for its Gulf of poets, and Mary Shelley, who stayed at Lerici castle, a beautiful medieval sea-side castle of quite some fame.


We chose this area to live in above many other parts of Italy, and we have no regrets, in fact we now assist others,like ourselves, who want nice properties and locations, good prices, beautiful settings, sea access and general accessibility, and nice people! We are the team at Italy Simply and we can help and assist you with every little thing to do with getting here, being here, staying here, and much more.




Lunigiana is also the land of 100 castles, though they number more than this! The main family here were the Malaspina, a noble family dating back a long long time, thus named Malaspina 'bad spine' because one ancient ancestor, was out riding one day and ran into an Acacia spine, which caught him in the neck, and he cried out 'mala spina mala spina' which translates basically to 'bad spike bad spike!'




There is much to discover here, dont miss out on this area, come here and be delighted and amazed!



Zac B Mahoney

Folklore: Montepulciano Bravio

The Bravio is an extreme feat for the athletic pushers that alternate their strengths to compete with eleven pairs of rollers.
The huge and heavy wine barrels (hundreds of pounds) are rolled upwards the extreley steep uphills in town along a track of one mile and a half.

Just to let you have an idea of the extreme struggle, a couple of years ago one pusher died of a heart attack during the trials.

Here the Bravio in an 8 minute long video. It also is a good video to show the streets of Montepulciano.

Traditions and Middle age in the Medieval Festival

Volterra is a small town in Tuscany famous for its terracotta. The Medieval festival is called "Volterra - A.D. 1398" and is a one-week-long reenactment of the original Medieval Volterra as it was in 1398. The city center is closed and free from traffic during the weekend. The artesans create Tuscan artesanry in front of you and cook the medieval way.

This year 2007 the Festival also includes a noteworthy dinner at the castle on the 19th of August, 2007. A medieval dinner will be prepared and served by the "prisoners" in the courtyard of the "maschio" of the medicea fortress of Volterra.

Enjoy the video!

July 2007 is the Palio of Sienna on the 2nd

The Palio of Siena of July 2, 2007 has been a continued sequence of spectacular events. Jokeys to the ground, horses running counterways, and an unforgettable head to head finish feat that brought havok in Siena.
Do Enjoy it, the Palio of Siena of July 2, 2007, here it is for you!

Towns: Sorano in Tuscany

The Masso Leopoldino represents one of the most striking features of this incredible town.

The Rocca - as it is called in italian - has been appreciated for its strategical qualities since the Middle Ages and was probably fotified by additional structures before the 9th century.



Taking a drive in the south of Tuscany during your vacation, you will find a special little town. Park your car in the outside parking space and prepare to walk up hill into a fantasy world.




The buildings both historic and the modern day rental vacation villas are made from the particular type of material called tuff. It is unique in color, and malability. The Tuscan vacation rentals farmhouses in the southern part of Italy are made of tuff.



Visit the incredible fortress, which is without cars and intervention of modern day activity. You will feel as if you have walked back in time. The large sandy colored blocks are testaments to the local activity.

The town of Anghiari in Tuscany

The most important period in the history of the town is connected with the Battle of Anghiari which was fought in the year 1440 between the Visconti armies from Milan and those of Florence which were allied with the Pope. Machiavelli spoke about the battle in his Historiae fiorentinae and Leonardo da Vinci did a huge (short lived) fresco painting of it in Florence. The position on a dominant hillside in the middle of a vast plain made Anghiari an important strategic point.




You will find a great little outside bar where you can sit have a drink while admiring a one of a kind landscape. The classic dish of Anghiari is bringoli: thick spaghetti handmade from just water and flour by the village housewives, covered with a sauce made from porcini mushrooms gathered in the woods of the Tiber Valley, or else with a chianina meat sauce. Right across from the bar, In the heart of the old town, you can see signs of its past history, arched windows, a large fresco and a multitude of coats of arms in both stone and terracotta.



The old watch route was the road found at the northern section of the city walls. Since 1444 this stretch of the circuit of walls has undergone a number of reconstruction works in order to make the village impenetrable in the event of an artillery attack.


Together with the ancient Cassero, the bell or clock tower is one of the tallest points on the Anghiari skyline. The tower was built in the thirteenth century being completed in 1323 and then destroyed by Vitellozzi Vitelli on the 24th June 1502.





MAY 2005: LA SCAMPANATA (MORNING BELL): This is an event that occurs once every five years and lasts for the whole month of May. The members of the "Società della Scampanata" (virtually the entire town) make a date to be in the main square at 6 o'clock every morning. Anyone who is late is dragged out of bed, given a more or less "fair" trial and then hoisted up onto a special carriage and pulled around the town while everyone else throws everything they can think of at him until he is completely covered and entirely unrecognisable.

JULY/AUGUST: MUSIC, THEATRE AND SPECIAL EVENTS AROUND THE OLD WALLS : Special shows and events that enliven the centre of Anghiari all summer. A mixture of concerts, guided tours, dinners and shows scattered through the natural backdrop of the little squares and corners that are the real centre of gravity.

FROM 10 TO 18 AUGUST: "TOVAGLIA A QUADRI" (THE CHECKED TABLECLOTH) - 1TH Year : A traditional Tuscan open-air dinner entwined together with a musical play performed across four courses. This entertainment has achieved a prominent position amongst the best of all the events of the summer in Tuscany. It takes place in the natural "stage" of the little piazzetta del "Poggiolino" in the heart of the old town centre and is created by the Pro Loco and the Teatro Stabile di Anghiari.

Reaching for Paradise at the Island of Elba

I reached this paradise by ferry in just one hour from the city of Piombino near follonica in the province of Grosseto, just one hour from Siena and two from Florence.
The Mediterranean breeze was already talking of great promises that were all kept by the great hospitality and warmth of the Elba people.
The entire island is a natural reservation, and here you will find spectacular natural sights, wonderful landscapes, preserved fauna, and cozy seaside villas and apartments.
Sunsets have been unforgettable.
The Elba Island has a moltitude of small beaches and little gulfs that are almost unknown to the majority of people and that you can reach only by private boat. We rented a small boat and loved to spend the whole day at "our private beach".

Each town is a lovely step to simple life, and nightlife is truly enjoyed at towns such as Marina di Campo, Procchio, Porto Azzurro, Capoliveri, Riomarina and many others wichoffer clubbing, dancing, live music, lovely strolls along the beach and plenty of fun for the wee ones.

Waging war and tasting food in Angiari

During the middle Ages, Anghiari was under the dominion of the Lords of Galbino subsequently passing into the Camaldolesi’s power.

Florentine’s State army was conducted by Giampaolo Orsini and Micheletto Attendolo and Milan’s army by Niccolò Piccinino.
The victory of the Florence State was such as decisive as to consent them to stay over the control of central Italy.
According to Machiavelli’s writes, the battle was held in about 20 hours and, nevertheless the hard combating, only one soldier died, felling off his horse, as faithfully represented in the mural “The Battle of Anghiari” which Florence, many years later, entrusted to Leonardo da Vinci to commemorate the epic achievement.
Leonardo started the work on cartoons transferring them to an internal wall of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. While he was working on the mural several main artists were coming to the capital to watch the painting and to learn about Leonardo’s innovative technique.
Peter Paul Rubens made a copy of “The Battle of Anghiari” hosts in the Louvre and Biagio di Antonio, from Paolo Uccello’s school, made another one kept in Dublin, in the National Art Gallery of Ireland.
The mural was unfinished and definitively lost during the drying process in Florence. However, it was substituted in Palazzo Vecchio by a same object Giorgio Vasari’s mural.

What to visit in Anghiano:

- The Fortress: an imposing defensive structure completed in the 14th century, further destroyed and rebuilt in different periods. Together with the ancient castle the fortress is keeping the clock tower coming back from the 17th century.
- Palazzo Marzocco: built up in the 15th century, it was the residence of the aristocratic Angelieri family. Nowadays is hosting “The Battle of Anghiari Documentation Centre”.
- Palazzo Taglieschi: a beautiful Renaissance building with an elaborated façade, houses the National Museum of Arts and Popular Tradition hosting an interesting collection of paintings, frescoes, terracotta, statues, sacred furnishing and instruments coming back from different artistic periods. Its masterpiece is the wooden sculpture by Jacopo della Quercia representing “The Madonna and Child”.
- The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie: it was built up between the 17th and the 18th century and hosts a wonderful glazed terracotta named “Madonna delle Grazie” by Della Robbia’s family.