CHIANTI: SURROUNDING AREAS
The Chianti area, with its “capital” Florence and Siena, embraces 70 thousand hectares of hills and valleys and includes the entire municipalities of Castellina in Chianti, Gaiole in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and parts of those of Barberino Val d’Elsa, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Poggibonsi, San Casciano Val di Pesa and Greve in Chianti.
Not only the municipalities of Chianti, but also the surrounding areas are rich with history and art, places of ancient beauty, characterized by a lush and generous nature of products and dotted with villages, churches and ancient settlements. We discover neighboring cities that are worth a visit.
MUGELLO
To the northeast of Florence, it is a valley of the Sieve river and surrounded by hills and mountains. Entirely included in the Florence area, are part of the municipalities of Barberino di Mugello, Borgo San Lorenzo, Scarperia and San Piero, money order and Vicchio. Mugello is distinguished for its rich landscape and natural, to be explored by bicycle and on foot; Also at Lake Sling Barberino di Mugello you can enjoy water sports and swimming.
In Mugello there are many villas and castles that belonged to the Medici family, including Park and Villa Demidoff in Vaglia, the Palazzo dei Vicari in Scarperia and Villa Cafaggiolo in Barberino. It is also a dense network of museums organized as “Diffused Museum” and dedicated to art, archeology and the natural and anthropological aspects of the area.
In the municipality of San Piero and Scarperia lies the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, also known as Mugello Circuit.
PRATO
Not far from Florence, it is one of the most artistically rich cities of Tuscany. To visit the Cathedral where you will find the pulpit of the Sacred Cingolo on which Donatello executed the famous relief of dancing cherubs and the Holy Girdle, important religious relic. The emperor’s castle from which to enjoy the view over the city and the Medici Villas. Prato is also a city with excellent food and wine, here come the cantuccini and the historic workshop of Antonio Mattei is open from 1858 http://www.biscottimatteideseo.it/. In Prato you can also visit the Textile Museum, the textile industry is not only soul but also the economy of culture and character of the city.
AREZZO
The charming town where you can still relive the atmospheres that inspired Petrarch and Piero della Francesca. To visit the church of San Domenico with crucifix of Cimabue, the church of San Francesco with paintings by Piero della Francesca, the Cathedral, famous for its beautiful stained glass windows, and Piazza Grande, also known for being the film of “set Life is bella “by Roberto Benigni. Here are also homes of people like Petrarch, Vasari and the Medici fortress surrounded by gardens of Prato.
PISTOIA
Medieval town rich in monuments and works of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance, a bit ‘off the beaten track but very interesting and enjoyable to visit on foot. Worth a visit Piazza della Sala market headquarters and other historic shops, Piazza Duomo with the Basilica of San Zeno, the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Corte, the Basilica of Our Lady of Humility with the dome by Vasari and the “underground Pistoia” , 650 meters of underground spaces under the old Yule Hospital.
GROSSETO
the southernmost city in the Tuscan capitals, its historic center is still completely surrounded by walls and is located about 10 km from the sea, in the so called Maremma Grosseto. To visit the Medici walls, the Duomo and the many religious and historic buildings. In Grosseto there are two important archaeological sites: Rosselle, site of the ancient Etruscan and Roman city that has given rise to the current and Scoglietto, temple area at the village of Marina Alberese. Close by are several natural parks and protected areas, such as the Park of Maremma and the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.
COLLE VAL D’ELSA
In the heart of Val d’Elsa, a small town perched on a hill, it is structured in a low part ( “Colle low”) and a high ( “High Hill”) and is the most important Italian center of the crystal production. Here you are housed the best glass masters of Tuscany, along with crystal engravers and decorators. Do not miss the Museum of Sacred Art and inside Palazzo Priori: a work of art that encompasses exceptional art collections. Important also the former Conservatory of San Pietro built by Vasari, the Theatre of Varii, Palazzo Campana and San Francesco Monastery.
SOVICILLE
Ancient Tuscan village where time seems to stand still. It is situated in the Merse river valley, along the Montagnola Senese. Antica is its history, including prehistoric and ancient Etruscan settlements, Roman, Byzantine and Lombard. Several churches of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. To see the Parish Church of Ponte allo Spino, a Romanesque building with three naves, the old historic center, the Lechner eighteenth-century villa, the church of San Lorenzo and the church of San Giovanni Battista.
FIGLINE VALDARNO
Common to the gates of Chianti, since 2001 have been found important archaeological finds of Etruscan, a insediamentiìo of the seventh century BC and fragments of pottery and bronzes. To see the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria, founded in 1257, the fourteenth-century Praetorian Palace, the former Spedale Serristori, the Gothic church of San Francesco, the monastery of the Holy Cross of the Augustinian and the Teatro Garibaldi.