Full day tour in the southern Tuscany to visit two Etruscans towns: AREZZO and on the border with UMBRIA region, CORTONA.
We do our first stop in Arezzo, the city was founded by the Etruscans (Aretium) and passed into the hands of the Romans, around IIIC B.C.

The buildings run down, from Duomo square, the side of a low hill, AREZZO is a classic walled hill top medieval town.
The XIIC-XVIC Duomo of AREZZO to crown the city, is one of the most perfect expressions of the Gothic architecture in Tuscany. WE start our tour from there.

Down the Duomo, the main street is crossing Piazza Grande, also called VASARI square, one of the father of the Renaissance has born here, in the square his beautiful Palazzo delle Logge. The square is the scenes of the Giostra del Saracino and the famous Arezzo Antique Fair. We walk until San Francesco square, the centre of the city where is located the XIIIC church of San Francesco, it’s worth while to admire the frescos inside. We can visit the Vasari and Petrarca houses, before to leave the city.

We take the road to lead Arezzo to Perugia (Umbria region), crossed same mails of the China valley we view, on our left side, the outline of CORTONA. The VIIC B.C. Etruscans city of CORTONA is overlooking the whole Chiana valley, after the Romans has been an important cultural centre between the XIVC-XVIIC. We drive up the low hill to get inside the walled historical city. On the way, the church of Calcinaia a typical example of Renaissance architecture built in the XVC by G. Martini. We stop in Signorelli square, the political city centre.
    
The square is the old city centre, here we find the XIIC Palazzo Comunale. We take a walk. We are gonna to visit the XIC Duomo, close, the interesting Diocesano museum, to delight our eyes with the works of art by FRA ANGELICO, SIGNORELLI (born in Cortona), LORENZETTI, SASSETTA. Before to leave the city one short visit to the Accademia Etrusca..
  

   THE VAL D’ORCIA: MONTEPULCANO AND PIENZA

Full day sightseeing tour in the south west, the Val d’Orcia. This part of Tuscany has many facets, ruins from Etruscans, broad acres of fertile land, grain, sunflowers, corn, wheat. Small vineyards and olive trees on top of the hills surroundings MONTEPULCIANO.
 
Montepulciano is a majestic small town, generally Renaissance aspect with enchanting palaces and XVIC fortification by Antonio Sangallo, on a hill overlooking the Valdichiana. One important agricultural centre, famous for the production of the prized Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
 
We stop in Piazza Grande, the main square. Surroundings the square the XIVC Palazzo comunale by Michelozzo, the XVIIC Duomo, by P. Scalza and a series of austere elegant palaces by A. Sangallo.
We walk down the Ricci street and we get in a beautiful Redi palace, trough a door the staircase to reach the downstairs wine cellars of the palace. One wine tasting before to leave the city.

We get out from the walled historical Montepulciano, it’s inevitable one quick stop at the XVIC church of San Biagio, the masterpieces by A. Sangallo
Regaining the same country road and driving west, the landscape became more open until we arrive in PIENZA.
   
Pienza is an enchanting little Renaissance town built in only five years by the architect Rossellino from Florence, XVC under the patronage of the Pope Pio to be born here.
For sure Pienza is one walled town. WE park the car just outside the city wall to take a nice walk on the central main rod to cross all the small town.
We can see the Piccolomini Palace (the Pope Pio II), the Duomo and the Public PalacE, and a lot of small stores to offer several kinds of Pecorino di Pienza, the famous sheep cheese.
 

THE SOUTHERN SIENA, MONTALCINO AND THE BRUNELLO COUNTRY

Full day sightseeing tour in and around MONTALCINO and the BRUNELLO country.
Montalcino is one charming small walled medieval hill top town, on the south west Siena. Left Florence and crossed Siena, we arrive on top of the hill where is setting the town, driving first the ancient Cassia road, and then one country road of the Brunello wine country.

Arrived on top, we can understand the strategic and beautiful location above
Vines and olive trees and a wide panorama of the surrounding Brunello countryside. Booking in advance, is possible to visit a couple of private farm to produce the Brunello wine , the Rosso di Montalcino, the Moscadello, the Vin Santo.

We leave the car close to the XIVC FORTEZZA with its notable XVIC ramparts by Cosimo I Medici. On the ground floor inside a famous Enoteca where is possible to taste the local wines. Crossing the main square, Piazza del Popolo, we see the XIIIC Palazzo dei Priori, the town hall with numerous coats of arms over a portico and the statue of Cosimo I. I would like to say hello to my friend Mr. Tullio, one of the real professional oenologist, famous in the area. Today he owns one Enoteca wine-bar where you can taste hundreds different wines from all over Italy eating Pecorino cheese, salami, ham, wild boar sausages, bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil and garlic.

After our private wines tasting and slow food, we drive to nearby abbey of SANT’ANTIMO.
The VIIC Abbey is said to be founded by Carlo Magno but handled until the XIIC. To underline the organ concerts in July and August and the Gregorian chants.
 

   THE WEST COAST AND THE ETRUSCAN RUINS

Long trip to the south west coast. Left Florence we drive to Siena and then to Grosseto the administrative centre of the Tuscan Maremma. Close Grosseto, situated at the foot of one hill rise the VIC B.C. Etruscans Roselle, the archaeological park is a very important Etruscans and Romans excavations site.
 
 
 
 
We get inside through the city wall built of enormous stone blocks. The north part is the ancient, from VIC B.C., walking to the centre of the city the ruins of monumental Roman buildings, of the Anfiteatro, of the Imperial forum... and one Roman villa.
We leave the archaeological park we drive south to reach PITIGLIANO.
 

 
Etruscans origin, Pitigliano is a picturesque small town situated on a rocky spur excavated by three small rivers.
The medieval stone houses give us the impression that the town is growing out from the rocks. Very good is its the wine, the excellent Bianco di Pitgliano.
  
The town part of the GRANDUCATO DI TOSCANA from XVIIC has been a jewish colony protect by the Medici family, named the little Gerusalemme.
  
We get inside the Ghetto, The XVIC Synagogue the old stores where still today you can find the Pane Azzime.
 

ASSISI, THE CITY OF SAN FRANCESCO

Full day excursion to visit the capitol of the new Christianity, ASSISI. Left the main highway A1 on the south east of Tuscany, we drive the connection until Perugia. Same mails crossed Perugia we see the outline of ASSISI to extend itself over the western slopes of the Monte Subasio like a comet.
  
We do the first stop in SANTA MARIA DEGLI ANGELI, at the foot of Assisi.

We are gonna to visit the PORZIUNCOLA. The little church, one of the most touching and biggest symbols of Christianity, is inside the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. The Porziuncola has been the first and favourite refuge of SAN FRANCESCO.
Near the Porziuncola there is the “CAPPELLA DEL TRANSITO” where the Saint abandoned his tired body, Oct. 3th 1226.
     
We keep the road to Assisi. Got inside the walled city centre we park the car to go to visit the ST. FRANCI’S BASILICA. The lower church where there is the tomb of the Saint, and the upper, built with white stones in Gothic style, we can admire the famous Giotto’s paintings.
Arrived in Piazza del Comune, the city centre we stop to take lunch. Surroundings the square the XIIC Palazzo del Popolo, the Palazzo dei Priori, the seat of the city government, the 1st C MINERVA TEMPLE transformed into the church of Santa Maria over Minerva.

After lunch we go to visit the Basilica di SANTA CHIARA. The Basilica was erected in 1257 in Gothic style but with the characteristic Franciscan sobriety. Santa Chiara founded the order of the Poor Ladies. Inside the CAPPELLA del CROCIFISSO so named for the Crucifix which spoke to San Francesco at the beginning of his conversion.