Archive for 'Day Trips'

If you want to spend a few days exploring the attractive Casentino area then the large town of Bibbiena is a perfect base for you to embark on your adventures! There are a great variety of holiday villas in the area available for rental where you can enjoy your stay.

This charismatic town is home to the church of St. Lorenzo where two spectacular paintings by Andrea della Robbia called ‘Adoration of the Shepherds’ and ‘Deposition’ can be admired inside. Only two kilometres outside of this town is the monastery of San Maria del Sasso dating back to the 15th century where more of Andrea della Robbia’s work can be seen.

This stunning chapel is the perfect example of Renaissance architecture and decorative Florentine artwork as the frescos are painted all around the walls and the windows are stained in rich colours.     Read More

If you are staying in or even passing through the Casentino valley in Tuscany, a worthwhile visit would be one to the town of Chiusi della Verna. The sanctuary of La Verna, founded by St. Francis of Assisi, is located near the top of Mount Penna above the town of Chiusi della Verna. It is said to be one of the most peaceful places to be on earth.

There are many visitors to these parts because this is where St. Francis of Assisi lived for his final years in solitude with his fellow Franciscan monks. The nearby Basilica Maggiore contains terracotta sculpture by the famous Andrea della Robbia. Also to be viewed by the tourist is the Chapel of Relics which contains possessions of St. Francis when he was alive. There is a tablecloth, some crockery and a walking stick.

The most unusual artefact found is a ‘disciplina’, an iron handle whip used in a common Christian practice of ‘Mortification of the Flesh’, where monks would routinely whip their own flesh in penance for their sins. A relic of the saint’s blood staining a linen cloth can also be seen here. It’s carried around Chiusi della Verna during holy celebrations. After a visit to this sanctuary, a half hour of hiking would bring you to the summit of Mount Penna where the views are breath taking!     Read More

If you’re visiting the Casentino region in Tuscany for a few days, perhaps you’d like to explore this suggested day trip through four very interesting towns in the area that have plenty to offer in terms of sightseeing, food tasting and history.
You can enjoy a few day’s stay in a fine selection of tuscany villa rentals in the district.

Why not start the day’s activities in the town of Ortignano Raggiolo, just over seven kilometres southwest of the town of Bibbiena. Once two separate towns situated right beside each other, they decided to unite in 1873 and simply combined their individual names to make up the new town name.

Chestnut trees are plentiful here, there’s even a museum built in their honour in the town! Chestnuts were once and still are a popular staple food of the region. This museum illustrates the stages of chestnut harvesting and emphasises to the visitor, all the wonderful products that they are used in! They can be ground into sweet flour and made into a light bread called Polenta which is often eaten with some delicious locally produced ricotta cheese. Try it for yourself in ‘Ristorante Il Convivio dei corsi’ located in the town centre before moving onto the next stop of this interesting trail.     Read More

If you’re holidaying in the valley of Casentino in Tuscany then perhaps taking a few day trips around the region would be an excellent way to see all that this abundant area has to offer! There are plenty of gorgeous luxury villas and farmhouses available for visitors to rent and enjoy relaxing in for their stay here. About twenty minutes drive from the large town of Bibbiena is the town of Pratovecchio. The centre of this charming commune is named Piazza Paolo Uccello, after the great Renaissance artist who was born here in 1397. There are two monasteries in this town; a monastery of the Camaldoli Monks which was founded by the Guidi Counts in the 12th century and the monastery of the Dominican monks of Santa Maria della Neve in the 16th century.

Pratovecchio is famous for its exquisite Tuscan dishes. Why not stay for lunch here in a restaurant called ‘La Tana Degli Orsi’ which has been well reviewed by visitors. Try a popular dish called ‘Tortelli sulla Lastra’ which is essentially a large ravioli stuffed with a mixture of pumpkin, garlic, bacon, potato and percorino.     Read More