History and Culture of Tuscany Archives - Tuscany travel guide

Villa dell’Ombrellino

Anna Maria Baldini — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 19:50:15 +0000

Enthusiasts for the biographies, memoirs and letters of the Anglo-American community in Florence from the 1930's onwards, will be familiar with Villa dell'Ombrellino as home first to Alice Keppel and then to her daughter, Violet Trefusis, both of them scandalous by the standards of the time.

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Pieve di San Polo in Rosso

Anna Maria Baldini — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 16:41:52 +0000

One of the most photogenic and interesting mediaeval parish churches in an area rich with romanesque parish churches is the Pieve (parish church) of San Polo in Rosso which dates back to the 12 C. The name of the church is mentioned in a donation of 1070 preserved at Badia di Coltibuono where it is referred to as Sancti Pauli Scito Russo

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Museo Horne, Florence

Anna Maria Baldini — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 17:30:17 +0000

The Horne Museum (Museo Horne) is located in Florence at Via dei Benci, 6, a short distance away from the Arno and the Ponte alle Grazie, within an easy walk of the major sights around the Palazzo Vecchio. A visit to the gem is highly recommended to anyone bringing to Florence an interest in early Renaissance life and art.

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Pieve di San Giovanni Battista a Sillano

Anna Maria Baldini — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:57:02 +0000

Along the road that leads from the small village of San Dalmazio to the Rocca Sillana, not far from Radicondoli and Pomarance, are the remains of the ancient Pieve di San Giovanni Battista di Sillano (Parish Church of St. John the Baptist at Sillana). The church was a large building, which has been abandoned for centuries and is now reduced to a state of ruin.

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The Rocca (Fortress) of Ceserana in the Garfagnana

Anna Maria Baldini — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 14:28:22 +0000

The fortress of Ceserana is located in Garfagnana (Province of Lucca). It is located on a hill on the left bank of the Serchio river. Inside it is a Romanesque church dedicated to Sant'Andrea

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Sant’Antimo – the Abbey of Sant’Antimo near Montalcino

Anna Maria Baldini — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 11:17:01 +0000

The Abbey of Sant'Antimo (Abbazia di Sant'Antimo) is an extremely beautiful romanesque church and monastery located at in Castelnuovo dell'Abate near (10 km) Montalcino in a lovely rural setting. Sant'Antimo was formerly an important Benedictine monastery in part due to its situation about 9 km from the Via Francigena, the pilgrimmage route to Rome.

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Villa Gamberaia

Anna Maria Baldini — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 21:07:56 +0000

Villa Gamberaia and its italianate garden is one of the most famous of the classic Renaissance Tuscan villas and, indeed, is ranked among the most beautiful villas in Italy.

Villa Gamberaia is also one of the few truly spectacular Tuscan villas still in private hands. Villa Gamberaia is located in the beautiful hills of Settignano within easy reach of central Florence by car or bus. The gardens of the villa are open to the public for a small entry fee, and the gardens can be rented for events such as weddings and fashion shows. It is also possible to rent the villa itself.

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Tuscan Saffron

Anna Maria Baldini — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 13:00:39 +0000

Saffron is grown in small quantities but high quality in Italy where it is used in a number of regional dishes, most famously Risotto alla Milanese. The prized “Aquila” saffron (zafferano dell’Aquila) is characterised by elevated safranal and crocin content, shape, unusually pungent aroma and intense colour.

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Fiesole

Anna Maria Baldini — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 13:00:39 +0000

Fiesole is actually an older settlement than Florence but was long ago overtaken by its former rival in the Val d’Arno below. For centuries Fiesole has been the favoured retreat of Florentines during the hot summer months and it still provides cool summer air and magnificent views.

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Badia a Coltibuono

Anna Maria Baldini — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 13:00:39 +0000

Badia a Coltibuono was founded in 1051 by monks of the Benedictine Vallombrosan Order who also began planting the first vineyards in the Upper Chianti area. In 1810, when Tuscany was under Napoleonic rule, the monks were forced to leave Coltibuono and the monastery was deconsecrated and, after passing through a number of hands, was bought by the Stucchi-Prinetti family.

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