Places to visit
Villa Il Paganello villa is located in the very heart of Tuscany, 35 km from
Florence, 38 km from Siena, 22 km from S.Gimignano, 85 km from
Pisa, 16 km from Certaldo and 50 km from
Volterra.
Tavarnelle Val di Pesa
Tavarnelle, halfway between Florence and Siena on the green
hills of Chianti, is located at a strategic distance from the most important
historical places in Tuscany. The town has been able to preserve its natural beauty throughout the centuries, sorrounded by nature, achieving a balanced development through a knowledgeable use of local resources and its patrimony of unique
scenaries, architecture, art and culture that make up the perfect combination for a
unique holiday in Italy.
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Firenze
The city lays on the banks of the Arno River and is worldwide known for its history and the importance it gained during the
Middle Age as well as during the Renaissance period, when it was cradle of
fine arts and architecture, to the point that it was called “The Athens of the Middle Age”.
Originally built by the Romans, Florence's fortune started during the Middle Age as a key european centre for trade and finance, and it bounded its success to the
Medici family, who ruled de facto the city.
From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Italian Kingdom, prior that it was moved to Rome.
The historical centre of Florence continues to attract millions of tourists each year and was declared
World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982.
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Siena
Surrounded by olive groves and the vineyards of Chianti,
Siena is one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany. Set on the top of three hills, the city is crossed by large alleys and narrow streets. In the heart of the city stands
Piazza del Campo, the most famous square in the world for the "Palio", the
historical horse race that takes place twice a year, on the 2nd of July and the 16th of August. The
Duomo and Santa Maria della Scala are additional cultural landmarks for visitors. Few other geographical areas in the world can compete with
Siena for the unique environment sorrounding the town.
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San Gimignano
The towered city is considered a unique jewel of the medieval architecture and town-planning in Italy. It was for this reasons that it was placed on the
UNESCO World Heritage Sites List back in 1990. The ancient township, erected on a natural highland, appears today nested within high defensive walls, and a distinguishing place thanks to the numerous
towers which make the medieval town's skyline completely unique. As a matter of fact, San Gimignano gets credit for having been able to maintain these
typical medieval elements – the high defensive towers erected by aristocratic families – untouched over the centuries. This is a great fortune for Sangimignano, as many other italian cities got their walls destroyed or replaced by more recent constructions throughout the centuries.
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Certaldo
Certaldo is in the centre of Valdelsa, in the Florence's province. This place gave birth and was the home town of the great poet
Giovanni Boccaccio, and is made up of several buildings of high historical and artistic interest.
Certaldo is touched by the waters of rivers Elsa and Agliena, and lays on the side of Route 429.
The town has got two well diversified centres, the medieval one called "Certaldo Alto" on top of the hill, including the medieval building of
Palazzo Pretorio, and a more recently built part of the city, that experienced its largest development starting the end of the 1700's. Vistors can reach the top of the hill thanks to a funicular railway or by car.
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