To Visit – Casa dei Pini

Arezzo and its province: discover the Tuscan territory

Cortona

A very ancient city, Cortona was one of the twelve Etruscan lucumonies. The walls that still surround it, well preserved to this day, bear witness to its long history: begun by the Etruscans in the 4th century BC, they were later expanded by the Romans and finally completed during the medieval period.

From its 600-meter elevation, Cortona overlooks the entire Valdichiana, with a view that stretches as far as the peaks of Mount Amiata. The Basilica of Santa Margherita and the Franciscan Sanctuary of Le Celle invite visitors to discover the city from above, offering an itinerary of art and faith just a short distance from the historic center.

Walking along Ruga Piana, now known as Via Nazionale—the city’s only flat street—you will reach Piazza della Repubblica, dominated by the medieval Palazzo Comunale, and Piazza Signorelli, home to the namesake theater and Palazzo Casali. Once the residence of the noble Cortonese family, Palazzo Casali now houses the Museum of the Etruscan Academy and the City of Cortona (MAEC). The museum’s rooms display an impressive collection of Etruscan archaeological artifacts, including the famous Etruscan chandelier and the precious Tabula Cortonensis, as well as works by Gino Severini, a native of Cortona.

Across from the Cathedral, the Diocesan Museum preserves masterpieces by renowned local artists such as Luca Signorelli and Beato Angelico. Outside the city, at the foot of the hill, visitors can explore Meloni I and II del Sodo, underground Etruscan tombs dating back to the 6th century BC.

Among the must-see events in Cortona, we highlight:

The Giostra dell’Archidado, a historical reenactment held every second Sunday of June.
Cortonantiquaria, an esteemed antiques fair that takes place between August and September in the 18th-century halls of Palazzo Vagnotti.
Cortona On The Move, a prestigious international photography festival that has gained worldwide recognition.

Arezzo

An ancient city in eastern Tuscany, first Etruscan and later Roman, Arezzo is rich in artistic masterpieces. Among them, the extraordinary fresco cycle of the Legend of the True Cross, painted by Renaissance master Piero della Francesca inside the Basilica of San Francesco, stands out. Another notable work is the Byzantine-style wooden Crucifix by Cimabue, housed in the Church of San Domenico.

Arezzo was the birthplace of Francesco Petrarca, Giorgio Vasari, and Pietro Aretino.

The city’s most popular events include:

The Giostra del Saracino, a historical reenactment held in Piazza Grande every third Saturday of June and first Sunday of September.
The Antique Fair, which takes place on the first weekend of each month.
The Guido d’Arezzo International Polyphonic Competition, a niche event held during the last week of August.

Valdichiana

A vast valley in central Italy, the Valdichiana extends around its original main watercourse, the Clanis, now divided between the Canale Maestro della Chiana and the Chiani. The main towns in the area are Cortona, Montepulciano, and Chiusi.

The valley has always been highly fertile, both today and in ancient times, but this was not always the case. During the early Middle Ages, the Cortonese plain became marshland, turning the surrounding hilltop villages into ports for navigation. Leonardo da Vinci was among the first to study solutions for reclaiming the land, but the true architect of the area’s drainage and reclamation was Vittorio Fossombroni, who worked under the commission of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. As part of the reclamation project, new rural homes were built for farmers, allowing them to cultivate land that had finally been recovered from the waters. These homes, known as “leopoldine”, are still admired today for their distinctive architecture, featuring a portico, two floors, and a dovecote tower.

Among the many renowned products of this valley, the most famous is the “Chianina”, a prestigious local breed of cattle.

Lago Trasimeno

The fourth-largest lake in Italy by surface area, Lake Trasimeno is relatively shallow, reaching a maximum depth of only about 6 meters. Since it is fed solely by rainfall and small streams, it has faced the risk of drying up multiple times throughout history.

The lake contains three islands:

Isola Minore – covered in dense vegetation and privately owned.
Isola Maggiore – the only inhabited and most frequently visited island.
Isola Polvese – the largest, serving as a scientific and educational park due to its extraordinary wildlife diversity.

History has also left its mark here: in 217 BC, the lake was the site of a famous battle between Hannibal and Rome. Though ultimately fated to lose the war, the Carthaginian general orchestrated a devastating ambush against the Roman army, achieving a spectacular victory still considered a masterpiece of military strategy.

Montepulciano

A village of Etruscan origin, located between the Valdichiana and Val d’Orcia, Montepulciano offers a breathtaking panorama from its 600-meter elevation.

Rich in history and art, the town is set in an idyllic natural landscape, predominantly made up of rolling hills covered in olive groves and vineyards. Its most famous and widely appreciated local product is the renowned Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

The town’s signature folkloric event is the Bravio delle Botti, a medieval tradition held on the last Sunday of August. This unique race, in which competitors roll heavy wine barrels through the town’s streets, culminates in Piazza Grande, right in front of the Cathedral.

Siena

Siena is objectively one of the most fascinating and well-known cities in the world. Its historic center, with its unmistakable medieval charm, makes it a perfect example of a “museum city”, and it has already been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city’s most famous landmark is the Duomo, an iconic masterpiece of Italian Romanesque-Gothic architecture.

Beyond its history, art, landscape, and gastronomy, Siena is renowned for hosting one of Italy’s most celebrated events: the Palio, a thrilling horse race held each year on July 2nd and August 16th in a packed Piazza del Campo.