Archive for 'Small Towns'

In the scenic Val d’Orcia in the Siena province of Tuscany, is the rural yet elegant town of Radicofani. This stunning Orange Flag awarded town surrounds the base of a hill on which a majestic castle, Rocca di Radicofani has stood since 973AD. Tourists would thoroughly enjoy a day or two of exploring this exquisite place, full of history, art and wonder. There are a fine selection of villas available in the Val d’Orcia area to book into for a tranquil few days of meandering around the splendid architecture of this little town.
If you would like to begin the day with a trek up the steep hill to the Castle of Radicofani, then allow some time to walk around the trees and see the ancient wells, arches and vaults that are hidden by the thick forest.     Read More

Visit one of the most scenic places in all of Italy, the rustic town of Sarteano in the south of Tuscany! It’s an ancient town with an intricate network of narrow streets and alleys built at the base of a huge medieval castle dating from 1038. It stands on a plateau of Mount Cetona at over five hundred metres above sea level and is a perfect blend of manmade structures and nature.

This harmonious coexistence and varied range of interesting tourist attractions has earned it the esteemed Orange Flag award. Tourists wishing to stay here for a few days have a great choice of vacation rentals in Sarteano.     Read More

If you’re holidaying in Tuscany, it’s highly recommended to take a few days to explore the wealth of historic, artistic and environmental treasures of the Val di Merse area of Tuscany. A day trip of the towns of Radicondoli, Sovicille and Murlo would be an excellent start to this trail of discovery! Related articles describe another thrilling day trip to embark on and a general description of the main towns and attractions of Val di Merse. Tourists wishing to stay in Val di Merse for a few days have plenty of holiday villas and other exclusive accommodation to choose from, where they can enjoy a peaceful scenic stay.

Start off an exciting day of touring with a trip to the Orange Flag awarded town of Radicondoli! It’s a magnificent walled town on a hill surrounded by forestry which is one of the finest examples of authentic Tuscan living. The people here are very welcoming of tourists and enjoy showing off their artisan crafts and delicious food specialties. Visit the revered Collegiata dei Santi Simone e Giuda which houses splendid artworks by Pietro di Domenico and Alessandro Casolani. Visitors can also enjoy walks around the old town where they can admire many tower houses and ancient town houses that were built in typical Sienese style architecture.     Read More

A fantastic way to see a lot of Tuscany in a short time is to enjoy a few day trips of different scenic regions in the area. One such day trip that tourists would enjoy is a day trip of the Val di Merse area, namely the towns of Monticiano and Chiusdino. Two related articles describe the general tourist attractions of this area as well as another planned day trip of the main towns. There is a wide range of excellent holiday rentals in the Val di Merse area for visitors who’d like to stay here for a few days.

The large town of Chiusdino is a popular tourist spot, mainly because it’s the home place of St. Galgano when he was born in 1148.

His home, a simple grey stone building is now a shrine. In the simple Romanesque chapel of the Compagnia, there’s a decorative bas relief depicting St. Michael’s apparition to St. Galgano. The saint’s head is now conserved as a sacred relic in the nearby Propositura di San Michele! Tourists should visit the famous monastery he founded a short distance away, the Abbey of San Galgano. A small circular chapel on a hill beside it is where the popular legend of the Sword in the Stone is thought to have originated!     Read More