Surroundings

Villa Chiara is located betwen Arezzo, Firenze and Siena.

The taown of Pergine is an altitude of 361m above sea level.

The oldest inscriptions uncovered in Pergine read AQUAE FERVENTES SIVE NINFAS. Signs of Etruscan-Roman civilization have left a profound mark – and not by chance – on this area, which has always been intersected by some of the longest, most important roads. The very name Pergine seems to be of Etruscan origin. Among the various vestiges of the past, this lead sheet with an inscription dedicated to the gods of water – aquae ferventes – stands out.

Among the most carefully guarded “memories” of our local tradition are olive growing and production of renowned extra-virgin olive oil. This historic work is such a key part of our tradition that it’s literally shaped our land: you can see how that looks and what that means by exploring the Via dell’Olio (Oil Road), an approximately 10 km loop.

 

 

About 15 kilometres from Pergine there is a city called Arezzo,  rich in art and dates to Etruscan times.  Situated along via Cassia, during Roman times it played a crucial role and was well know for its pottery products.  The historic centre can be reached on foot: stroll up the pedestrian street called Corso Italia towards the main square, Piazza Grande. Piazza Grande shows different styles, from medieval towers to the Renaissance Loggiato Vasariano, from the Gothic-Renaissance Palazzo della Fraternita dei Laici to Palazzo delle Logge designed by Vasari. Every first weekend of the month, Piazza Grande hosts the famous antiques fair and it is also the location of the “Giostra del Saracino”, a medieval tournament.

One of the most important religious buildings in Arezzo is the Basilica of San Francesco (13th-14th century), with the astonishing Cappella Bacci  with the frescoes of Piero della Francesca depicting the Legend of the True Cross and dating to the second part of the 15th century. In Arezzo there is also a cathedral named after San Donato and a Romanesque church of Santa Maria della Pieve  documented since 1008. The interior has a Gothic style, while the bell tower with five rows of mullioned windows is in Romanesque style.    The church of San Domenico is situated outside the city centre. It is a Romanesque church founded in 1275 and hosts a crucifix of Cimabue, a masterwork of 13th-century Italian art. Visit the Medicean Fortress  which provides 360-degree stunning views of the city In Arezzo you will find also a Roman amphitheatre and many other churches. the Vasari’s House and the Museum  of Medieval and Modern Art.

 

 

Siena is 49 km from Pergine and is one of the most famous Italian cities and a place every tourist aims to visit during a trip to Tuscany. It is famous for its Palio that takes place twice a year, and for its characteristic narrow streets flanked by brick buildings

The historic city is filled with beatifull place to visit like Piazza del Campo, Torre del Mangia, the cathedral, the Baptistery, the complex of Santa Maria della Scala, the Public Palace, the Civic Museum, the churc of San Donato.

 

 

It should come as no surprise that Firenze is one of the most popular travel destinations in Italy. One of the wealthiest cities during the Italian Renaissance, Florence is home to classical works of art, historic architecture and of course, natural beauty.

Firenze has some of Italy’s best museums, most beautiful cathedrals and churches, and interesting streets and squares with elegant buildings and shops.

Here are the top attractions tourists want to see: Duomo (Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore), Battistero and Campanile (Bell Tower),Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio, Galleria degli Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio, Galleria dell’Accademia, Boboli Garden and Palazzo Pitti, Santa Croce

 

The Chianti Region offers a unique landscape, with green, gentle hills covered with wide fields of vineyards and olive groves, small stone villages, characteristic parishes and countryside homes in stone.
The Chianti landscapes are so beautiful and particular that they inspire many photographs which then become postcards and calendars distributed across the globe.

The  borders of the Chianti region are not clearly defined but in general it extends over the provinces of Florence and Siena, covering all of the area between the two cities and extending to the east toward the Valdarno and to the west to the Val d’Elsa. The Chianti wine area extends further beyond the two cities, all around Florence and even toward Arezzo, Pistoia and Montepulciano.

Chianti Classico  includes the municipalities of Greve, Panzano, Radda, Gaiole and Castellina.

Cortona is the Tuscan hill town made famous by Francis Mayes  in her book Under the Tuscan Sun.  Surrounded by 3,000-year-old Etruscan walls, Cortona retain much of its history through its layers of architecture.Cortona’s stately buildings include the Abbazia Farneta, and the Chiesa San Francesco. 

 

San Gimignano, known as th City of Beautiful Towers, is a classic medieval walled hill town famous for its 14 surviving medieval towers. These create a distinctive skyline visible from the surrounding countryside.
Be sure to visit the Museo Estrusco and the historic Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta.

 

 

Montepulciano is yet another walled city in Tuscany, built on a sloping and narrow limestone ridge. Montepulciano has one of the most impressive main squares in Tuscany and has many beautiful Renaissance buildings, including the Chiesa di Sant’Agostino. Visit  Montepulciano’s many wineries for a taste of the famed Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

 

 

Pienza, designed to be the ideal city, is a pretty Renaissance town in the Val D’Orcia of Tuscany. Pienza is famous for its pecorino cheese, Piccolomini Palace, and balcony overlooking the beautiful Val D’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.