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| Villa
Certano, rental accommodation in the Tuscany countryside |
| Siena |
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Volterra, S. Gimignano and surroundings |
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The 15 medieval towers (a reminder
of the 72 towers that used to rise during the period of greatest
splendor) announce from far away the town's magnificence.
The amazement continues after entering one of the town gates,
that open in the double enclosed wall,
and walking up the silent streets flanked with ancient buildings.
The streets unexpectedly lead into three squares on the summit
of the town, where the severe medieval buildings that surround
them may be admired.
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Lonely on a hill (that has its boundless view from the Appennini
up to the Tyrrhenian sea), stern and peaceful at once, this
town has a particular glamour that is different from the others.
Once you reach its threshold, you will be impressed by the
mighty wall, both of the Medieval times and Etruscan ones,
where there are many gates.
The most famous of them is Porta dell'Arco Etrusco (the gate of Etruscan Arch). Indoors you will find
remembrances of the severe town of Volterra during the Medieval
times. All this is helpful for us to understand the charming
of its beauty.
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Monteriggioni is without a doubt
one of the most classic and well known Italian fortresses.
It is also completely intact, and covers a length of 570 meters
with 14 towers and two doors.
The Porta Franca rises at the base of the larger tower while
the one of S. Giovanni opens at the wall and is protected
and defended by one of the towers in the fortified perimeter.
The borough was constructed by the Senesi from 1213 to 1219
on a hilltop which held authority and ruled over the Cassia/Francigena
road. Its ideal position allowed control over the Elsa valleys
and of Staggia towards Florence, the historic rivalry of Siena,
which in that period was expanding its territory as far as
the eye could see.
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| The design of Monteriggioni was created to limit
the weak points with maximum level of excellence. The doors
give access to the outside on only one main road in the direction
from east to west. This great historical work of military architecture
is distinctly recognized from the closed habitat inside which
is well seperated from the outside walls as if it were wrapped
up, although in past times the houses were more crowded than
today and consequently “wrapped” tighter together. |
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The San Galgano abbey rises in
the Merse river valley, between the medieval boroughs of Chiusdino
and Monticiano, in the Siena province. The Cistercense abbey
ruins of San Galgano emerge greatly with the sun shining on
the vast countryside. The imposing building, which exerts
a fascination impossible to describe, remains only an external
structure. The church, by now completely without a top, has
the stars as its roof. Suggestively, in the springtime, the
floor of the church is blanketed in daisies. Today, because
of its strange beauty, it is even home to classical music
concerts.
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| The abbey gets its name from Guidotti
Galgano, a noble horseman, first a hermit then a saint,
originally from Chiusdino, were he was born in 1148. From San
Galgano comes the story of the sword in the stone. It is told
that Galgano put his sword in the rock to symbolize the cross.
"The sword in the Stone" can still be seen inside
the Montesiepi church which rises next to the San Galgano abbey.
Incredibly elegant, the dome of the church is made up of alternating
rows of red and white stone. It is also home to the roman tombs
of Ceveteri and Vetulonia |
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Sant'Animo abbey, found in the solitary Starcia valley; is one of the most
beautiful roman monuments, probably Cistercian, with obvious
Lombardic elements. According to an ancient legend, the abbey
was made by the will of Emperor Carlo Magno in 781. It tells
that the Emperor on his return from Rome, while crossing the
Francigena Road, ran the risk of catching the plague like many
of his soldiers, which ran rabid in the region situated between
the Amiata mountains. When close to the Starcia river, the Emperor
took a pause to pray for himself and for his people that the
powerful scourge would come to an end; for having his prayers
answered he built The Sant'Animo abbey. |
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The actual church had substituted, in 1118,
the pre-roman basilica, as the writing etched on the steps of
the main altar attests to. The name of the comissioner, Bernardo
degli Ardengheschi, is also found on a column.
The construction of the church and convent demanded a task much
too expensive for the economic situation of the Benedictine
monks. This period of ruin led to the eventual substitution
of the Benedictine monks for the Gugliemites in 1291. In 1462
the abbey was suppressed by Pope Pio II and incorporated into
the Montalcino diocese.
Later, in a part of the matrons area (gallery reserved for women,
set in the side aisles, which faced the central nave), the Bishop's
apartment was created. |
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