The particular advantage
of Vasciano is that it is ringed with art and architectural jewels.
In the house is a comprehensive library of maps, many guidebooks (including
guides to Monasteries/Abbeys and Etruscan sites)
It is impossible to describe here all the magical places there
are to visit but some of the better known towns and places of particular
interest within easy reach are mentioned below. This gives just
a taster of what there is to see.
Some of the main places
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Cortona
(30 mins)
A medieval walled hill top town containing a major Etruscan museum,
and an art gallery with a small but select group of renaissance
paintings including Fra Angelica’s “Annunciation”.
There are bars, restaurant and a variety of interesting shops including
a book shop with books in English. There are views of the lake and
the Val di Chiana and a tree lined walk through a park and on around
the town overlooking the surrounding countryside. |
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Perugia
(45 mins)
The regional capital of Umbria and an old university town, built on
the remains of an Etruscan town on top of a mountain. The Umbrian
National Gallery contains a superb collection of the works of Piero
della Francesca and Perugina. The piazza at the end of the Corso (Main
Street) is surrounded by impressive medieval buildings with a beautiful
large 14C fountain at its centre. At one end of the city a medieval
medical herb garden, founded by the Benedictine monks of San Pietro
has been recreated by the university. At the other end of town, reached
by a spectacular pedestrian viaduct, is a very early circular church.
Perugia has very fashionable clothing and shoe shops and is well known
for its chocolates. There is an annual jazz festival (www.umbriajazz.com) |
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Assisi
(1hr)
A hill town built of soft grey and pink stone and the birthplace of
St Francis. The stunning Basilica di San Franscesco has two beautiful
upper and lower churches. The upper church contains the Giotto fresco
cycle of the lives of Jesus and St Francis. The lower church contains
the tomb of St Francis and those of his earliest followers. The shops
sell hand-woven and embroidered linen in traditional designs.
Nearby are: a hermiitage, Eremo dei Carceri,
high on the hill above Assisi, one of St Francis’s peaceful
places of retreat; and San Damiano, just
below Assisi, the sensitively restored original convent of the Poor
Clares. A tranquil haven. |
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Gubbio
(1hr)
An imposing fortified town made of huge carved grey stones. This impressive
town is perched on the steep hillside and opens onto a spacious piazza
with beautiful views down over a roman theatre and country side. A
cable car can be taken to the summit itself with panoramic views and
the pretty basilica of San Ubaldo. The
shops specialise in hand painted ceramics, wrought iron work and archery
artefacts. |
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Montepulciano
(75 mins)
A Tuscan city whose principal street climbs its way steeply up a mountain
spur to a beautiful piazza at the top. This street is lined with many
shops selling artefacts and crafts. As the centre of an excellent
wine producing area it is the place to buy Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
Below the town is the renaissance masterpiece Il
Tempieto di San Biagio. Near to this are the “cantine”
where you can sample the local wines. |
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Pienza
(20 mins beyond Montepulciano)
Reached by a road running along a high ridge with remarkable views.
This pretty town was built by Pope Pius II as a model of renaissance
urban planning. |
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Siena
(90mins)
Built on three hills and contained within its walls is a romantic
medieval city. The shell shaped piazza is noted as the most beautiful
medieval urban open space in Italy, with as its focal point the
Palazzo Pubblico, containing Lorenzetti’s “Good and
Bad Government”. At the top one of one of the hills there
is the majestic black and white striped cathedral with the Piccolomini
library. Beside it is the cathedral museum with Duccio’s “Maesta”
considered by the sienese to be their greatest treasure. Siena is
on of the best places for elegant clothing, smart handbags and shoes.
Between Siena and Montepulciano is the peaceful Abbazia
di Monte Olivetto. This is working abbey and is pure renaissance
with a fresco cycle of the life of San Benedetto and exquisite inlaid
wood (intarsi) choir stalls. Yet again the setting and views are
stunning. |
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Arezzo
(1hr)
Piero della Francesca’s frescos of “The Finding of the
True Cross”. |
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San
Sepolcro
(1hr)
Piero della Francesca’s birthplace. There is a small museum
containing a collection of his famous works. Not far is Monterchi,
home to Piero dell Francesca’s “The Pregnant Madonna”. |
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