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For a weekend away in Venice or in the
beautiful historic cities of the Veneto, we suggest the Park Hotel Villa Vicini:
www.villavicini.com
One of the great attractions of the “Terre Gialle Residence” is
undoubtedly its location, in an area which offers different attractions and
experiences 365 days a year. The area around Monte Amiata, an ancient volcano,
offers visitors a variety of relaxing ways to spend the day whatever the season.
Explore the beautiful pathways through the beech woods on foot or on horseback,
or ski the endless pistes on the snow-covered slopes of Monte Amiata, (1.700
m.), only 15 minutes away from Castel del Piano. The landscape is breathtaking
in winter, all shrouded in white, but it is equally beautiful in autumn, spring
and summer when the incredible colours of beech and chestnut trees mingle with
the subtler shades of silver firs and spruces along with pines, wild cherries,
elms and maples to make up an evocative mosaic of natural beauty.
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to see the map
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From the summit of the mountain
you can admire Lake Bolsena and even the far off promontory of Argentario!
A variety of musical festivals, medieval ‘palios’ or sporting contests
and other unusual traditional cultural events take place in the area. It is
also worth noting that Castel del Piano provides a full range of useful services
such as hospitals, banks, transport connections, sports facilities, shops and
tourist information. The quality of life reflected in the local produce of
the Amiata - and even in the very air and water – makes the area increasingly
attractive both to investors and to the many visitors who flock to this unspoilt
environment for unforgettable holidays. The population of Castel del Piano
itself is around 4400, but grows to around 15000 in the summer months with
the arrival of our many visitors (including various show-business personalities).
…THE SURROUNDING AREA:
Travelling to the Amiata area takes you through a number of interesting places,
and is a great starting point for a trip which combines calm and relaxation with
sporting activities and with cultural and historical sight-seeing. In fact, it’s
a great way to enjoy the very best of what this amazing area has to offer! And
what better place to start our tourist itinerary than with the striking town
of Castel del Piano?
Pope Pius II praised the town in his “Commentaries,” noting the “the
beauty and comfort of the location and the charm of the town,” qualities
which are still appreciated today by holiday-makers from all over the world.
Here you can stroll along the long tree-lined roads or relax in one of the many
beautiful piazzas, such as the Piazza della Madonna facing the Opera church.
Visit the inside of the church to admire paintings by the Nasini family, who
worked from the mid-seventeenth to eighteenth centuries and whose artworks are
to be found in every corner of the Amiata area. Alternatively, climb up towards
the Borgo district, passing the Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower) to linger
in the Piazzetta degli Ortaggi. If you continue towards the parish of San Leonardo
you can explore the edges of the historic centre, where you will find the little
Chiesa Piccina dedicated to SS. Sacramento, and the spacious Piazza Garibaldi,
better known as Piazza Tonda and famous above all for the Palio which takes place
there on 8 September each year.
Some thirty minutes away from the town is the city of Pienza, which derives both
its name and its fame from Enea Silvio Piccolomini, better known to history as
Pope Pius II. He commissioned most of the city’s most beautiful buildings
and employed one of the most famous architects of the day, Bernando Rossellino,
who produced an exceptional example of fifteenth century architecture and town
planning. The trapezoid piazza at the heart of the town is unmissable, a magical
centre where you will find the Cathedral, the Corso Rossellino, the Renaissance
Palazzo Piccolomini with its elegant courtyards and hanging gardens, and finally
the Palazzo Borgia. Nearby the towers of Montalcino rise from their imposing
rocky base to give a splendid view; on a clear day you can see all of southern
Tuscany as far as the borders with Lazio.
In another half an hour we reach the Montepulciano region, and Chiancino is only
around 45 minutes away. Nor should we forget the Terme di Saturnia, located in
the centre of the Maremma area near Grosseto, one of Tuscany’s most striking
areas. This natural spa was known to the Etruscans, who discovered the therapeutic
virtues of the waters and in particular their effect on the skin and on the respiratory
and muscular-skeletal systems. Today, Saturnia is a spa centre which meets the
very highest standards thanks to a flexible and well-organised structure.
North of Castel del Piano, a 45 minute trip brings us to medieval Siena, with
its narrow streets and historic aristocratic palaces. No tour of this city, one
of the most artistically interesting in all of Italy, could be complete without
a walk through the famous Piazza del Campo, one of the most attractive medieval
squares in the country, though many other palaces and piazzas are just as worthy
of attention. And if you visit in the summer, you should attend the unmissable
Palio, the most famous and important of all traditional Italian festivals. The
Palio of the Contrade, in which Castel del Piano is represented along with other
local districts, takes place twice each year: on 2 July, the ‘Palio in
honour of the Madonna of Provenzano’ and on 16 August, the ‘Palio
of the Assumption.’
And if you’ve not yet had your fill of art, history and culture then finish
on a high note by visiting Florence, with its archaeological treasures from the
ancient and mysterious Etruscan people. Essential highlights are the Basilica
of S. Maria Novella, the Cathedral, the Palazzo Strozzi and the Uffizi, followed
by a stroll across the Ponte Vecchio to reach Piazza Pitti, the Forte Belvedere
and many other enchanting locations awaiting your discovery! And after a busy
day of sight-seeing, who could ask for more than a comfortable spot in which
to enjoy the local wines and gastronomic specialities…
… THE CUISINE OF AMIATA
Among the many reasons for choosing to spend a week-end or a holiday in Monte
Amiata, perhaps the most important is the local gastronomy. In an era when it
is growing ever harder to be sure of the wholesomeness of our food, the Amiata
area deserves to be proud of the excellent quality of its produce, grown in an
pristine environment and prepared by hand according to the finest traditions.
Our local produce includes beef, pork and lamb, salami, cheese, fruit, vegetables,
mushrooms, chestnuts and olive oil (the oil of Seggiano is particularly renowned
for its healthy qualities and very low acidity). Local wines are best represented
by Brunello di Montalcino, originally produced in the villages of Montegiovi
and Montelaterone… in fact, there’s an endless range of traditional
local flavours to sample! … and after the pleasures of the table, all
that remains is for you to rest in absolute tranquillity, lulled to sleep by
the soft murmuring of the natural springs…
… it’s not a dream… it’s the reality of life here at
the “Terre Gialle Residence”!
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