Placed right in the medieval historical centre of S. Gimignano, Palazzo Mari can be the starting place for those who want to discover new landscapes, with a unique atmosphere that only this area can offer.
Can anyone who comes to stay with us not visit Florence, cradle of the Reinassance? Florence is universally known as a city of art, with an invaluable heritage of architecture, paintings, sculptures, historical and scientific memoirs that make up the urban fabric like a pulsing scattered museum. For that reason, Florence has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982.
Siena, city of the Palio and the Contrade, is a work of art under the sky, full of history and culture. The buildings, the squares, the churches and every small corner of the city are witnesses to a glorious past. An Etruscan, Roman and Gothic past that lives in the monuments and in the refined facades.
Monteriggioni represents one of the most significant fortified hamlets (protected by its walls and 14 towers) of the land. During the years, it has remained incredibly well preserved, and is characterised by an antique and mysterious charm, dominating the surrounding land from the top of a hill. Videogames aficionados will know that, like in S. Gimignano, some of Assassin’s Creed scenes were set here.
Historically relevant because it represents the focal point of the battles between Guelfi (supporting the pope) and Ghibellini (Supporting the Emperor), Colle Val D’Elsa was an ally to Florence against Siena. This town became world famous because of its widespread and world significant plate glass production. Its oldest part is sheltered on a high hill, and the narrow valleys that surround it actually divide its urban fabric in three different areas, which have been known as such for hundreds of years: “Piano”, “Borgo” and “Castello”.
Boccaccio’s hometown, it is one of Tuscany’s most characteristic hamlets. The historical part, also known as Castello, is gathered within walls upon which the old access gates open: Porta Alberti, Porta al Sole and Porta al Rivellino. It is possible to get access to this area through ripid roads known as Costa Alberti and Costa Vecchia, the modern via del Castello, or through a funicular railway. Nowadays, it is one of the most visited by historical towns aficionados.
In Volterra it is still possible to taste the atmosphere of a historical town, whose authenticity is still protected by its relative isolation which has limited industrial development during the industrial revolution, saving the town from construction related speculations. Sheltered on a hill, it divides the Val di Cecina from the Val d'Era. This village is enriched with an artistic heritage of high level, which can be admired while walking through the streets of the historical centre. Volterra is also important for the artisanal production of alabaster.
It is filled with Etruscan testimonies between the sweet hills of the Chianti. Placed on a bedding of hills, it greets you with the sweetness of its surrounding landscape. The small town impresses the traveller with patrician buildings, born out of the refurbishment of pre-existing military strongholds. Castellina in Chianti is placed in an area which is rich in woodland and wild animals, and with widespread remains of the Etruscan civilization This area was a connection point between the maritime and northern Etruscan towns . Nowadays, Castellina in Chianti participates widely in the production of olive oil and Chianti wine.
Placed right in the centre of the Chianti, it is named Borgo delle Vigne (Village of the vineyards), for the widespread presence of vineyards around the village walls. The middle ages arrived to the modern times, with many castles present throughout the area, like Volpaia, Albola and Monterinaldi, but also for its rich agricultural production which originated in tha period, characterised by the production of oil and wine.
Important area to visit in the Chianti Classico wine area, is one of the few hamlets that had a commercial rather than a military significance, thanks to its position at the bottom of the valley. Nowadays it is one of the most important production sites of Cinta senese (a classic Tuscan meat) and focal point of gastronomical and wine-related shopping. The surrounding area is mainly characterised by woodland with plenty of oak trees, vineyards and olive tree groves . Witness of its middle ages past are its many surrounding parish churces and castles, like for example the Meleto Castle, the Brolio Castle, Spaltenna Castle, Badia a Coltibuono, the Vertine hamlet, ecc..
Considered the access gate to the Chianti area, its history is bound to the splendid Montefioralle castle, which is placed above the village It is the only village in the Florence department to entirely fit into the Chianti area. Its old artisans workshops and butcher’s shops are typical, as well as the many museums and churches, like the Museum of sacred arts and the essential to visit Wine Museum.
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