Welcome to Tuscany: see the main cities of art between Tuscany and Umbria

Cortona - (10 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, who died in 1362. The Medici fortress affords the best views of the town and countryside. In the north east of Cortona you can tour the hermitage Eremo delle Celle, founded by S. Francesco in 1211.

Castiglion Fiorentino - Situated on a hilltop (345 m. above sea level), Castiglion Fiorentino has splendid views overlooking the Val di Chio and Preappenines, silvery, up to a certain altitude, with beautiful olive groves. The panorama is dominated by the 10th-century castello di Montecchio, home of the famous captain of mercenary troops, John Hawkwood.
The town it self originated on the hilltop in Etruscan times in the 8th century B.C.
The old town provides a suggestive scene of the Medieval period with its city walls, gates, torre del Cassero (14C), Pieve di Retina (11C), chiesa di S. Angelo (12C), chiesa di S. Francesco and that of Sant'Agostino (both 13C), chiesa di Santo Stefano (14C) and the Palazzo Pretorio. Erected in the subsequent Renaissance period were the Loggiato Vasariano (1513) in the Piazza del Comune, the chiesa del Gesù (1545) and the chiesa della Consolazione (1607). The Pinacoteca comunale houses a fine collection of goldsmith's works and paintings by important artists. Examples of the former include the Croce Santa by Fra' Mansueto (13C) and the Busto Reliquiario di S. Orsola (14C Rhine art). Paintings can be found by Margarito, Bartolomeo della Gatta, Vasari, lacopo del Sellaio and Taddeo Gaddi. Next to the Pinacoteca, in the Palazzo Pretorio, is the museum of archaeological finds unearthed from the surrounding territories, among which the particularly eye-catching Sima with the Gorgons, an Etruscan work of the 4th century B.C. The archaeological itinerary continues in the neighbouring underground archaeological walkway, which testifies the area's extraordinary continuity of building, from the original Etruscan town to medieval times.
Castiglion Fiorentino is ideally located on the border between Tuscany and Umbria, making it easy to get to the main cities in central Italy. Tourists can also enjoy typical genuine cooking and fine local organic produce, as well as a variety of craft products.
The Castiglion Fiorentino town has been awarded the 'ORANGE FLAG' for tourism and the 'EDEN PROJECT' has rated it as one of the top forty European destinations.

Arezzo - (18 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 major things of interest to see are the Church of Santa Maria that contains the Lorenzetti paintings and the Church of San Francesco with the frescoes of Piero della Francesca.

Castiglione del Lago - (29 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 circle of walls and the ancient castle are still well preserved.

Montepulciano - (38 Km) The highest of the Tuscan hill towns, Montepulciano, offers stunning views and fine example of Renaissance architecture. Montepulciano is also known 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.

Pienza - (44 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.

Perugia - (59 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.

Siena - (60 Km) To the south west of Arezzo, edging through 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 recreate their medieval heritage in the Palio, a sumptuous pageant-cum-horse race around the field. Important things to see are the Palazzo Pubblico, the museum and the Cathedral built in 1196.

La Verna e Camaldoli - (63 e 62 km) The sanctuary of La Verna is located on the Tuscan Apennines perched up on a mountain covered with beech and fir forests. The sanctuary is clearly visible from the whole of the Casentino and the Tiber valley and stands out for its unique shape with its peak ( m 1283) being divided into three parts.
The large sanctuary complex stands at the top of a cliff shrouded by forest and houses several treasures of spirituality, art, culture and history. Another important religious place in the area is the monastery of Camaldoli where around the year 1000 Saint Romuald founded the Camaldolesian order.

Montalcino - (63 Km) is located on the hill top that over look the three valleys of D’Orcia, D’Arbia and D’Ombrone.
It is structured in a typical medieval way and it offers places of interest to visit, such as the Town Hall Palace, the Cathedral and S. Agostino, S. Egidio and S. Francesco churches.
In the Archeological Museum there are displays of archeological discoveries from the area, which dates back from Prehistoric to Etruscan period; while in the Civic Museum we can admire two earthenwares by Andrea della Robbia.
Above all, Montalcino is best known for one of the most important red wines of Tuscany and Italy, the Brunello of Montalcino. This wine is made from only Sangiovese grapes that are cultivated in the hilly country surrounding the village. It is one of the best expressions of a territory and scenery that are the hearth of Tuscany.

Assisi - (77 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 to the 5th century. Attached to the Basilica is the Franciscan monastery founded by Saint Francis in 1206. Another magnificent example of gothic architecture is the 13th century church of Santa Chiara where the crucifix, which allegedly spoke to Saint Francis, is painted.

Gubbio - (77 Km) The Roman town of Gubbio has the most medieval appearance of the northern Umbrian towns. It is famous for its local crafts and well preserved medieval traditions, including the procession of Candles in May. The place to start a tour of the town is Piazza Quaranta Martiri, named after the forty citizens shot by the Nazis in 1944. The Duomo, a 13th century building, is an exception to the other churches of Gubbio with its simple Gothic interior. Other main attractions to see are the Plazzo Ducale, the Palazzo dei Consoli and the Roman Theatre, a well preserved 1st century amphitheatre at the foot of the town.

Firenze - (87 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 its highest splendour between the 11th and the 15th century, as a free city. Then, it 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 painters Cimabue and Giotto, the innovators of the Renaissance Brunelleschi and Donatello, the universal men like Leonardo and Michelangelo lived here. There are many other monuments to see, such as The Uffizi, the Buonarroti House with Michelangelo’s sculptures, the Academy, the Medici Chapel, the Baptistery with its mosaics and the Duomo.