Posted by internetauthor on August 15th, 2011 — in Tuscany
Anyone who has watched Under the Tuscan Sun is already familiar with Cortona. The Tuscan town is featured in the movie, and the actual town is just as interesting and beautiful in real life as it is in the book or movie. One of the oldest hill towns in Tuscany, you’ll certainly not be disappointed as you tour this beautiful city and its surrounding areas as well.
Touring Cortona
As you enter the city of Cortona, you’ll be immediately faced with some of the most important history of the town. The town walls are older than the Roman Empire, dating back to the Etruscans. These ancient walls are not the only Etruscan treasures in the town. Just getting into the city will bring you pasta series of Etruscan tombs.
Situated on the top of a hill, you’ll pass the Melone tombs as well as many others. The closer you get to the top of the hill and the actual city, the more modern the architecture – if you consider large Renaissance churches to be modern architecture, that is. (more…)
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Posted by internetauthor on July 31st, 2011 — in Tuscany
Long recognized as one of the most prominent artists of Italy, the work of Michelangelo Buonarotti is found throughout Tuscany and predominately in Florence. Michelangelo was born in Tuscany and true to his roots; he was raised in Tuscany and stayed true to his roots by working in the area and helping the city collect a regular treasure trove of amazing art pieces.
Florence and Michelangelo
Today you can see a huge assortment of items from Michelangelo during your visit to Florence and the surrounding areas.
Galleria dell’Accademia
Inside the gallery, you’ll find the original David sculpture, which is considered to be one of the most impressive works of art by Michelangelo. While the original stands inside the Galleria dell’Accademia, you can find impressive copies of the statue in front of the Pallazzo Vecchio, where the original once stood, as well as in the center of Piazzale Michelangelo, a picturesque square named for the work of the artist. While inside the gallery, you can also see “The Four Prisoners” and a statue of Saint Matthew designed by Michelangelo. (more…)
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Posted by internetauthor on July 12th, 2011 — in Tuscany
One of the most interesting and beautiful areas in Florence, the Piazza della Signoria is a true heart of the city. The square is especially important as it is located in the center of the city and is the home of the city hall, or Palazzo Vecchio. The piazza is also home to part of the Uffizi Gallery, which is a common meeting place for the Florence natives as well as many tourists who visit the “beautiful” city.
The Beauty of Piazza della Signoria
The Piazza della Signoria isn’t just renowned because it is so well located. It is, in fact, a beautiful location within the city. The square is the lovely home to many concerts, fairs and even rallies as well – all of which are striking set against the impressive backdrop of the old marvels located there. Among these impressive sites are two of the most important buildings in Florence as well as fine works of art. (more…)
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Posted by grazia on June 18th, 2011 — in Italy, Tuscany
Poppi is a small Tuscan village in the municipality of Arezzo located in the center of the Casentino Valley. The Casentino is one of the most beautiful valleys in Tuscany and the village of Poppi is on an isolated hill that dominates this green valley.
Poppi has medieval origins, when in the fifteenth century Conti Guidi built here their castle. This is a city still surrounded by walls topped precisely from the castle.
The castle, which can still be visited, is a work of great artistic value. The facade consists of mullioned windows and a tall tower in the center. The walls of the battlements remain intact and everything is surrounded by a wide moat.
Inside there is the Rilliana Library, housing hundreds of medieval manuscripts and incunabula. Very interesting to visit I is the chapel of the Counts where it is possible to admire a series of fourteenth-century frescoes by Taddeo Gaddi, a pupil of Giotto.
But the castle is not the only interesting work of art. Coming down from the castle to the village and inside it there are other ancient architectural structures worthy of note. (more…)
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Posted by grazia on June 9th, 2011 — in Italy, Tuscany
The Luminaria di San Ranieri is now a historic event that happens every year along the Arno in Pisa.
The history dates back to March 25, 1688, the day when the casket containing the body of the patron saint of 
Pisa, San Ranieri, was moved with solemn ritual in a chapel of the Cathedral of Pisa, in the famous Piazza dei Miracoli. From that day the city commemorates this event and its patron with approximately 70,000 lighting candles, placed in as many glasses, in the centre of the city.
These small lights are placed along the profiles of the facades of the buildings overlooking the river where they are reflected and mingle with the many candles floating on water and driven by the current towards the mouth.
The Leaning Tower and the city walls are lit by pans filled with oil, also magically illuminating the historic square.
In this night Pisa smells of magic and enchantment. This scene draws the outlines of the buildings and creates luminous figures by creating a truly amazing effect.
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Posted by internetauthor on June 6th, 2011 — in Tuscany
Just one of the beautiful vineyards located in Tuscany, Castello di Volpaia is a fully restored medival village that is also home to some of the most impressive wine cellars in the region. At around 15 Euros for the tour, it’s a bit pricier than some of the other vineyards in the surrounding area, but the amount of culture and history present throughout is impressive enough to make the additional costs well worth it.
Castello di Volpaia
Unlike a lot of modern wineries and vineyards, (more…)
Posted by internetauthor on February 27th, 2011 — in Tuscany
In the center of Florence, you’ll find the Piazza del Duomo. This city square is the hub of Florence with many of the major sites all located around its perimeter or in the general area. When you visit Florence, if you only had an afternoon – which would hardly be the best way to visit this great city – a brief trip to the Piazza del Duomo would give you a true taste of what Florence has to offer.
The Duomo
The large cathedral in Florence, or Duomo, is one of the most impressive structures in the city. It’s sweeping architecture is immense and the sheer size of the Duomo as well as the attention to detail are dazzling. (more…)
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Anyone who has watched Under the Tuscan Sun is already familiar with Cortona. The Tuscan town is featured in the movie, and the actual town is just as interesting and beautiful in real life as it is in the book or movie. One of the oldest hill towns in Tuscany, you’ll certainly not be disappointed as you tour this beautiful city and its surrounding areas as well.
