Florentine architect and sculptor Bernardo Rossellino, was assigned to a cathedral project, the papal palace and town hall (all buildings have been completed within three years from 1459 to 1462). Grandiose plan – to build the model of the Renaissance city has never been realized. Some ideas of how the town could looks, you can see at Palazzo Piccolomini, the former papal palace which served until 1968.

You can see there for example Pius bedroom and library. The main highlight is a stunning panorama, which opens to visitors from the balcony and the arcaded courtyard in the back of the palace.

A pleasant walk, and another amazing spectacle you can enjoy by the village walls.

Pienza is surrounded by nature and it is home to 3,000 inhabitants. It is famous for its cheese production, which you can see everywhere in the town. The cheeses are aged here for several years, stored in underground and are made with different flavors.

View Pienza – the model of the Renaissance town in the heart of Tuscany, Italy in a larger map

The post Pienza – the model of the Renaissance town in the heart of Tuscany, Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

Crete Senesi means clay of Siena. And right this very unusual composition of the local soil is responsible for the enchanting harmony of colors, which is so typical for this area. It’s a real paradise for every photographer. The medieval towns are spread over the hilltops.

The largest town in Crete Senesi, Asciano, has retained its medieval atmosphere. It is felt everywhere, even in the narrow streets, or in ancient churches. Of all these churches you should visit at least Basilica Sant’Agata, which construction began in the 11th century, then churches San Francesco and San Bernardino. The best time for your visit to Asciano, is september, when the town hold a historic celebration – Palio dei Ciuchi. Palio dei Ciuchi includes a donkey race and parade, in which the local residents perform in medieval costumes.

On the outskirts of town lies the most important monastery in the province of Siena – Monte Oliveto Maggiore.

At the south of monastery there is the favorite fortified village – Buonconvento.

Another interesting point is Monteroni d’Arbia, the town at whose center lies an impressive mill dates from 1322. The building of mill has been preserved almost complete, including the brick tower and a mill-race.

The best place for relax is Rapolano – wonderful town with spa that served already to Old Etruscans. There are several swimming pools with thermal water in different temperatures.

Crete Senesi is ideal for growing corn and vine. E.g. Brunello di Montalcino comes from this area.

View Crete Senesi – Siennese Clays with its diversified “lunar” landscape in Tuscany, Italy in a larger map

The post Crete Senesi – Siennese Clays with its diversified “lunar” landscape in Tuscany, Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation’s most visited tourist destination, especially during Palio di Siena. The best known place is Piazza del Campo.

Siena, together with the cities of Pisa and Florence, creates triangle of the most visited cities in Tuscany. There are lots of travel agencies that organise trips for tourists to those three cities. The best option how to get there is probably via plane to airport Galileo Galilei in Pisa.

What to see in Siena

• The Piazza del Campo, piazza at the centre of the city, where Palio di Siena takes place twice a year
• The Palazzo Pubblico, Siena’s City Hall with Torre di Mangia tower, from whose top you can see a beautiful panorama of the countryside of Siena.
• The Duomo, Siena’s magnificent black and white Italian Romanesque cathedral including the Libreria Piccolomini, Baptistery, and an attached Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
• The Pinacoteca, full of Sienese painting from the city’s Medieval heyday.
• The Palazzo Salimbeni, built in 1472, is the world headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the major banking corporation which has a hand in much of the economic and cultural life of the city.
• The house where St. Catherine of Siena was born is just a few blocks from the duomo. This 14th century mystic is one of the principal patron saints of Italy.

View Siena – medieval traditions in the heart of Tuscany Italy in a larger map

The post Siena – medieval traditions in the heart of Tuscany | Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

Parco dell’Uccellina, Italy by Rik & Ste

While consisting as an animal reserve today, the area where Parco dell’Uccellina has been inhabited since the Lower Paleolithic Era. There has been evidence uncovered which dates the first human settlements in Parco dell’Uccellina back 500,000 years ago. Other artifacts have been uncovered which dates back to the Wurm Ice Age which occurred 90,000 years ago.

There are a number of caves in Parco dell’Uccellina which were inhabited by Neanderthals. The most important of these caves is the Fabbrica Cave in which a number of High and Medium Paleolithic Era artifacts have been uncovered. Then there is the Golino Cave in which artifacts dating back to the Medium Paleolithic Era were uncovered back in 1865. Finally, there is the Scoglietto Cave in which some of the oldest known discoveries were made.

In Parco dell’Uccellina, near the city of Grosseto, you will find the ancient San Rabano Abbey which dates back to the 9th or 10th century. There are many other monuments, and churches which can be found throughout the region which dates back to the 13th century.

Countless people make their way to Parco dell’Uccellina to not only see some of Italy’s wildlife in their natural habitat, but to also see some of the oldest known human settlements in the country. There is a lot of history hiding in and around the natural reserve of Parco dell’Uccellina that is just waiting for you to explore and experience firsthand.

The post Parco dell’Uccellina – oasis full of natural beauty in Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

When you see on a bottle of wine, a reference to Sienese Chianti then you know that the wine comes from province of Siena. At the same time Florentine Chianti comes from the province of Florence. However, all of them belong to the Chianti wine region.

Chianti, Italy by H. Hoffmeister

The entire region features gently rolling hills that are covered in large vineyards, small olive groves and many countryside villages. The homes and villages throughout the countryside are all made of stone and bring to mind the many pictures that one sees of the wine regions of Italy. The region is so beautiful, that they have inspired postcards, photographs and calendars which are distributed throughout the world today.

Every year, the many vineyards throughout the Chianti region annual produce more than eight million cases of some of the finest wines in Italy. The region is known to produce the largest volume of wines that are available throughout Italy.

There are several popular destinations throughout the Chianti region to stay. From these you can join any number of guided tours throughout the countryside. You will be able to stop and visit some of the finest wineries in Italy and even be able to taste a glass or too as you go. While it is great to visit Rome, the crowds can just be too much. For a more restful Italian get-away, millions of people over the years have opted to visit the Chianti region instead.

The post Chianti – the region of unique wine | Tuscany, Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.