A vacation
Art, History, Nature and Poetry to Live and Love

In the heart of Tuscany, amidst art, history and unforgettable landscapes, you’re just a few minutes from the prettiest and most important cities and towns of a region which will fill you with absolutely unique emotions.

The city of Siena
Siena is the perfect antidote to Florence. Self-contained and still part-rural behind its medieval walls, its great attraction is its cityscape, a majestic Gothic whole that could be enjoyed without venturing into a single museum. As a provincial capital, Siena has good transport links with some of the finesse sites of Tuscany. The most popular trip is to the multi-towered village of Sam Gimignano, to the northwest; it's worthwhile, though packed out in the midsummer. Far fewer people take the trouble to sample medieval and ancient Etruscan town of Volterra, a rewarding stop on route to Pisa. In the centre of Siena there is its great square, the Campo, but at the convergence of the city's principal roads, the Banchi di Sopra, Banchi di Sotto and via di Citta. Each of the roads leads out across a ridge, straddled by one of the city's three medieval terzi, or quarters: the Terzo di Citta to the southwest, the Terzo di San Martino to the southeast, and the Terzo di Camollia to the north. This central core - entirely medieval in plan and appearance - has, since the 1960's, been effectively pedestrianised. Finding your way around is therefore simple and enjoyable; everywhere of interest is within easy walking distance. Siena feels distinctly provincial after Florence. The main action of an evening is the passeggiata fromj Piazza Matteotti along Banchi di Sophra to the Campo - and there's not much in the way of nightlife to follow. For most visitors, though, the Campo, the City's universal gathering place, provides diversion enough, while the presence of the university ensures a bit of life in the bards, as well as a cluster of cheaper trattorie alongside the 'pricier' tourist restaurants. Posters for city events are to be seen around Piazza del Mercato to Via di Salicotto. The local administration organises a range of concerts (mostly rock and jazz) the Monte dei Paschi and Accademian Chigiana put on some impressive classical concerts throughout the year.

Certaldo
In Valdelsa, one of the most scenographic landscapes of Tuscany for its sweet hills, bordered of cypresses, castles and towers, Certaldo draws the characteristic sky line of its castled village of reddening bricks. Certaldo is situated at the border between the province of Florence - of which it is the most southern town - and the province of Siena, practically at the same distance from the two cities (about 40 Kms); it looks at the mountains of Chianti at east and the high ground between San Gimignano and Volterra at West. Certaldo Alto, the ancient village, is surrounded by walls - largely well kept - on which you can admire the Gate of Alberti, the Gate to the Sun and the Gate to Rivellino. You can arrive there climbing up the most ancient and fascinating steep ascents, called "Costa Alberti" and "Costa Vecchia" or the most modern ascent "of the castle". The scenery, you see, is a rare example of town - planning characterized by a medieval style even if with Renaissance developments - which culminates in the impressive Pretorio Palace situated on the top of the hill. Also interesting are the church of SS. Jacopo e Filippo, which have got frescos and pieces of pottery belonging to XV Century, and Giovanni Boccaccio's House, the wellknown author of Decameron. Certaldo is also famous for its onion, so important to appear in its coat of arms.

Florence
Situated on the banks of the Arno river valley and set among low hills, covered with olive groves and vineyards, Florence is immediatly captivating. Cradle of the renaissance and sometime home of Machiavelli, Michelangelo and the Medicis, the city seems unfairly burdened with art, culture and history. Most of the major sights are within easy walking distance, from the Piazza San Giovanni (also Piazza Duomo), to Via De' Calzaiuoli, you can reach the Palazzo Vecchio, then Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio and the Basilica di Santa Croce. Other monuments or museums are nearby. The city is unique and incomparable and an astonishing percentage of the great artists of the Renaissance lived and worked there: Leonardo, Raffaello and Michelangelo. Florence is the resulting marriage between the very old and the very new: it is a bustling metropolis that has managed to preserve its predominantly medieval street plan and predominantly renaissance infrastructure while successfully adapting to the demands of the century life. Visitors who wish to live a short as if they were in the medieval and renaissance age should come to Florence and enjoy it magic ancient atmosphere. If you decide to visit Florence and the area of Greater Florence, city buses bring you to the village of Fiesole, and to the nearest of the various Medici Villas which where originally country retreats but are now consumed by the suburbs, and minutes by train or by bus away from here there are Prato and Pistoria. The day trips are pleasant with their medieval ensembles Florentine inspired to the Renaissance Art. On the way to Pisa, by train and by car, are worthwhile diversions to Vinci, Leonardo's birthplace and to San Miniato. To visit Chianti, which is to the south, you need your own transport. As you probably know Chianti is one of the most famous wine regions in the World.

San Gimignano
San Gimignano’s ancient medieval town, known for the 13 towers that still characterise its skyline in the Val d’Elsa landscape, rose from the ruins of an ancient Etruscan village. Only in the 10th century did the town assume the name of Modena’s Bishop San Gimignano who saved it from the barbarian invasions. From 1119 to 1354 the town enjoyed fortunate times as an independent commune. Later dire events such as plagues, famines, and factional political struggles, marked the decline and neglect of San Gimignano, leading to its eventual subjugation by the Florentine Republic. Because of its exceptional architectural beauty, the town is classed by UNESCO among humanity’s world heritage sites.

Pisa
Pisa is a historic town in Tuscany, near the mouth of the Arno river. Once a city of political and cultural importance, Pisa is now most famous for one of its architectural masterpieces, the Leaning Tower. Travelling through in the 1760s, notoriously critical Tobias Smollett found Pisa a 'fine old city' and admired the town's elegant palaces and 'majestic solitude'. Modern Pisa - away from the tourist hub - still has a quietness and an air of a town that has seen greater days. A thousand years ago, the naval town ruled a miniature empire, including Corsica, Sardinia and the Balearics. An influential power, Pisa was also the home of mathematician Fibonacci and the celebrated Galileo Galilei. Like Rome, Venice and Amalfi, Pisa's pride came before its fall, and as rival Genoa conquered the seas, and the Arno silted up, Pisa's light began to fade. Today Pisa is an important university town, with a population of 100,000, and a major tourist destination. Daytrippers flock in to marvel at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It's principal tourist attractions are grouped together in the Campo dei Miracoli, the Field of Miracles. It's hard to believe the place is real; the tourists flocking around are the only thing that gives the surreal scene a touch of reality. The setting is a flat space, green with lawns, at the edge of the town centre. Here rise the town's cluster of monuments, all architecturally exquisite, and all leaning at different angles. There is a grand Romanesque cathedral, a large striped baptistry, and, of course, the Leaning Tower. Also in the Campo dei Miracoli, another curious sight is the Campo Santo, the Holy Field. This is a cloistered cemetery, said to have been laid with earth brought back from the Holy Land by the Crusaders. Bombing, in the Second World War destroyed some of the works of art that were stored in the surrounding buildings; some frescos remain, however. In the same area are two museums, the Museo del Duomo (cathedral museum) and the Museo delle Sinopie, which contain art and sculpture from the monuments.

Volterra
Volterra still retains its medieval character charm and atmosphere. Its isolated position has hindered any progress and development. Small picturesque town 20 km far from Gambassi Terme, Middle Age characteristic aspect and an ancient relaxing atmosphere, surrounded by its second century Wall, Volterra knew its first "citizens" during Neolithic age. Thanks to Etruscans, who named it "Velathri", it had its first great development, when the 7 km Wall was built. After a long crisis after Roman submission, knew a golden period after the Middle Age, when become a free Municipality. This until the war against Florence in 1330 / 1400, ended with the "Sacco di Volterra" in 1472, and was submitted by Florence. Lorenzo il Magnifico built in that period the famous "Medicea Fortress". Renaissance was the real greatest age for Volterra, when most of its artworks and sights were built. This 30 centuries long history town will be pleased to show you all its magnificent Palaces and Fortresses, and great Museums such as The Civic Pinacoteca, the Diocesan Museum and The Guarnacci Museum.

San Vivaldo
San Vivaldo and its Holy Mount is situated amongst the graceful and gentle hills of the Tuscan countryside at 450 meters above the sea level in the territory of Montaione between Florence and Siena. The origins of San Vivaldo are dated back to the 14th century, when the blessed Vivaldo - a civil Franciscan tertiary born in San Gimignano - choose the area to do a life of fast and penance. Today is one of the most important religious places of Italy, and it has been recognized as national monument.