Situated high up in the Tiber valley in Tuscany, bordering Le Marche and Umbria is the charming town of Sansepolcro. Tourists with an interest in history and architecture will love it here and have an abundance of villas with pool and holiday rentals in the Sansepolcro area available for them all year round. A day or two spent here would be a perfect amount of time to explore this walled medieval town and learn about the culture and customs of the locals.
The legend of the origins of this town tells the story of two pilgrims who returned from the holy lands with a piece of rock from the tomb where Jesus was buried after his crucifixion.
They built a chapel in honour of this relic and made a shrine to it inside. A monastery grew around this chapel, and eventually, Sansepolcro town grew around that. The Romanesque Duomo of San Goivanni Evangelista was later built in the town centre from some of the rock from the original chapel and inside; tourists can see beautiful painting inside by famous Renaissance artists of the area; Perugini and Piero della Francesca.
The legend of the origins of this town tells the story of two pilgrims who returned from the holy lands with a piece of rock from the tomb where Jesus was buried after his crucifixion.
They built a chapel in honour of this relic and made a shrine to it inside. A monastery grew around this chapel, and eventually, Sansepolcro town grew around that. The Romanesque Duomo of San Goivanni Evangelista was later built in the town centre from some of the rock from the original chapel and inside; tourists can see beautiful painting inside by famous Renaissance artists of the area; Perugini and Piero della Francesca.
In the evening, why not do what the locals do by enjoying the traditional evening ‘passeggiata’, a casual stroll through the town centre. Old couples especially like to dress up for this sunset walk and enjoy some wine as they watch passers-by in the town square, Piazza Torre di Perta.
If your holiday here includes the second Sunday in September then you’re in luck! The town’s Palio della Balestra takes place which involved rival neighbourhood shooting at targets from over thirty five metres away to win the grand prize! This festival, dating as far back as the 1400s is in honour of the continuous attacks that this independent town had to defend itself from when greedy neighbouring lords wanted to seize control of it. Visitors can enjoy the parade of over four hundred medieval costumed townspeople marching to the beat of drums, the main event and of course all the merry music and feasting that is held in the town long into the night!
A visit to the beautifully designed historic town of Sansepolcro would be a valuable addition to your sunny holiday in Tuscany!
If your holiday here includes the second Sunday in September then you’re in luck! The town’s Palio della Balestra takes place which involved rival neighbourhood shooting at targets from over thirty five metres away to win the grand prize! This festival, dating as far back as the 1400s is in honour of the continuous attacks that this independent town had to defend itself from when greedy neighbouring lords wanted to seize control of it. Visitors can enjoy the parade of over four hundred medieval costumed townspeople marching to the beat of drums, the main event and of course all the merry music and feasting that is held in the town long into the night!
A visit to the beautifully designed historic town of Sansepolcro would be a valuable addition to your sunny holiday in Tuscany!
