We have been counting down some of Tuscany's strangest and most extraordinary attractions in a bid to help you plan an itinerary that is a little less ordinary. Just find a luxury villa in Tuscany and then add these final sights to your list!
8. Medieval Torture Museum, San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena in Tuscany. It is most well known for its many medieval tower houses and historic city centre. In this pretty centre there is a Medieval Torture Museum that is not merely a grisly and macabre tourist attraction but also an educational tool used to inform visitors about contemporary human rights abuses. Certainly a unique outing idea for any tourists in the town, it combines historic interest with modern awareness in a captivating and fascinating manner.
8. Medieval Torture Museum, San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena in Tuscany. It is most well known for its many medieval tower houses and historic city centre. In this pretty centre there is a Medieval Torture Museum that is not merely a grisly and macabre tourist attraction but also an educational tool used to inform visitors about contemporary human rights abuses. Certainly a unique outing idea for any tourists in the town, it combines historic interest with modern awareness in a captivating and fascinating manner.
The museum aims to combat violence by showing how human beings have been tortured throughout the centuries and reminds us not to be complacent from comfortable, privileged positions in the world today as forms of torture still exist.
Some of the most famous pieces on exhibit, including a Maiden of Nuremberg, more well-known as an Iron Maiden. These are huge coffin-like boxes with swinging doors that are lined with metallic spikes on the interior. The walls of the chamber are incredibly thick, allowing no screams to penetrate once the door is closed. Victims were left inside to be stabbed repeatedly for hours or, even, days. Other items seem less vicious such as the Masks of Infamy which, generally, were just embarrassing masks that the wearer could not remove on their own. However, this was often paired with physical torture and public ridicule to make it, suddenly, a whole lot more insidious.
Some of the most famous pieces on exhibit, including a Maiden of Nuremberg, more well-known as an Iron Maiden. These are huge coffin-like boxes with swinging doors that are lined with metallic spikes on the interior. The walls of the chamber are incredibly thick, allowing no screams to penetrate once the door is closed. Victims were left inside to be stabbed repeatedly for hours or, even, days. Other items seem less vicious such as the Masks of Infamy which, generally, were just embarrassing masks that the wearer could not remove on their own. However, this was often paired with physical torture and public ridicule to make it, suddenly, a whole lot more insidious.
9. Calcio Storico, Florence
If you're more of a sporty type and prefer a healthier form of violence in your life, attending the Calcio Storico is Florence is a must. A precursor to soccer, it is still played annually during the third week of June in Florence and is a brutal sport intimately interconnected with the city's history, rivalries and codes of honour. It is more like a blend of soccer with rugby and boxing. Not for the faint of heart, players often refuse to invite their families to games as they find it too difficult to watch. For the sports enthusiast however, it offers a unique experience. Yet, during the Renaissance, the game was actually reserved for aristocrats and even popes are known to have played! In the 20th century it was revived and recognised as an official Italian sport.
If you're more of a sporty type and prefer a healthier form of violence in your life, attending the Calcio Storico is Florence is a must. A precursor to soccer, it is still played annually during the third week of June in Florence and is a brutal sport intimately interconnected with the city's history, rivalries and codes of honour. It is more like a blend of soccer with rugby and boxing. Not for the faint of heart, players often refuse to invite their families to games as they find it too difficult to watch. For the sports enthusiast however, it offers a unique experience. Yet, during the Renaissance, the game was actually reserved for aristocrats and even popes are known to have played! In the 20th century it was revived and recognised as an official Italian sport.
Three games take place each year between teams from each of the four quarters of Florence; Santa Croce (the Blues), Santa Maria Novella (Reds), Santo Spirito (Whites) and San Giovanni (Greens). Teams are comprised of 27 players with no substitutions, there are few rules and a high level of violence is allowed. Sucker punches and kicks to the head are not allowed but head-butting, punching, elbowing and choking are permitted. Supposedly swords were once allowed in the game!
Certainly unique, it truly is one of the strangest and most extraordinary sights you'll see in Tuscany and one more reason to fall in love with the fascinating, complex and multi-faceted region – even if you're more interested in la dolce vita.
Certainly unique, it truly is one of the strangest and most extraordinary sights you'll see in Tuscany and one more reason to fall in love with the fascinating, complex and multi-faceted region – even if you're more interested in la dolce vita.
Photo credits
picture 1: epbechthold / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Lennaz / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: epbechthold / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Lennaz / CC BY-SA 3.0