fiogf49gjkf0d COLLE VAL DELSA
A VISIT TO COLLE VAL DELSA IS A MUST, ITS MOST
FAMOUS CITIZEN, ARNOLFO DI CAMBIO, WAS THE GREAT
ARTIST-ARCHITECT, DESIGNER OF PALAZZO DELLA
SIGNORIA IN FLORENCE.
OF ETRUSCAN-ROMAN ORIGINS, COLLE GAVE LIFE TO A
FREE TOWN COUNCIL THAT MAINTAINED ALTERNATE
ALLIANCES WITH THE POWERFUL CITIES OF FLORENCE
AND SIENA, UNTIL IT BECAME A FLORENTINE GOVERNED
TOWN IN THE 14TH CENTURY. ITS POSITION ON THE
RIVER ELSA MADE IT RICH AND POWERFUL, THUS
ALLOWING THE ARTS AND CRAFTS TO FLOURISH *IT WAS
ALSO THE BIRTHPLACE OF CENNINO CENNINI, APART
FROM ARNOLFO DI CAMBIO*. THE TOWN IS DIVIDED INTO
THREE PARTS THE CASTLE *THE OLDEST PART OF
COLLE*, THE BORGO OR VILLAGE AND THE PIANO OR
PLAIN, FAMOUS TODAY FOR ITS GLASS INDUSTRIES.
VISIT THE CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS ART MUSEUM AND THE
R. BANDINELLI ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM IN PIAZZA
DEL DUOMO. THE WALK ALONG VIA DEL CASTELLO,
THROUGH THE ANCIENT CASTLE OF PITICCIANO, PASSES
FASCINATING VIEWS OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE
BETWEEN MEDIEVAL HOUSES, CHURCHES AND TOWERS.
S.G.
TOURING THE CHIANTI REGION
SIENA
VISIT SIENA, ITS MAIN GOTHIC MONUMENTS AND ITS
FAMOUS PIAZZA DEL CAMPO WHERE EVERY YEAR ON
JULY 2ND AND AUGUST 16TH THE WORLD-KNOWN PALIO
*HORSES RACING* TAKES PLACE. VISIT THE
HISTORICAL PALAZZI AND ADMIRE THE FRESCOES OF
IMPORTANT PAINTERS LIKE LORENZETTI AND SIMONE
MARTINI.
THE CHIANTI
VISIT THE HISTORICAL WINE CELLARS IN THE RENOWNED
CHIANTI AREA WHERE YOU CAN TASTE THE EXCELLENT
WINE. VISIT THE PIEVI *SMALL ANCIENT
MONASTERIES*, SMALL VILLAGES AND ANCIENT CASTLES
SURROUNDED BY WIDE VINEYARDS AND OLIVE GROVES.
LA VAL D ELSA
FROM THE MEDIEVAL FORTRESS OF MONTERIGGIONI S
CASTLE TRAVEL TO COLLE VAL D ELSA TO SEE THE
MANUFACTURE OF ITS CRYSTALS, AND TO THE GORGEOUS
VILLAGE OF SAN GIMIGNANO, DOMINATED BY ITS
TOWERS, TO ADMIRE AN UNFORGETTABLE VIEW FROM THE
TOP.
|
