Surroundings

The territory of Carmignano is famous for being concerned, in ancient times, by the Etruscans (Comeana excavations). The hills around Carmignano are famous for producing high quality wines. Between the fifteenth and sixteenth century Cosimo the Elder and Lorenzo the Magnificent (of the famous Medici family) purchased different areas in the region, building the luxurious residence in Poggio a Caiano today known as Villa Medici, and later Villa of Artimino.

The beautiful and famous oil painting on panel of Pontormo, Visitation (1528-1530), is located in Carmignano, Capponi Chapel of Saints Michael and Francis. In the Uffizi, Cabinet of Drawings and Prints, it has retained a preparatory drawing of the painting.

An important step is undoubtedly the Municipal Archaeological Museum of Artimino, opened in 1983, where numerous archaeological finds (especially Etruscan) of great cultural and scientific value, found in the area, are preserved and displayed.

Continuing we find the medieval walled village of Artimino, placed on the top of Montalbano hills, and the magnificent Villa La Ferdinanda (one of the most important existing Medici villas), built in four years (1596-1600) to satisfy a desire of Grand Duke Ferdinando I de 'Medici.

Going down to Poggio a Caiano is situated Villa Ambra, one of the most famous Medici villas. Built by Lorenzo the Magnificent, it was the summer residence of Medici. The Villa, known as an example of Renaissance architecture, is surrounded by a beautiful park and enhanced with the frescoes of Pontormo.

On the slopes of Montalbano, is located the village of Vinci, the birthplace of the illustrious Leonardo da Vinci, where it is possible to visit his house (in addition to the Leonardo Museum).

Florence (Fiorenza in the Middle Ages), the capital of Tuscany, is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is undoubtedly one of the art and architecture cradles, so that it is identified as the birthplace of the Renaissance. It can be appreciated in its entirety from the surrounding hills, especially from Forte Belvedere, Piazzale Michelangelo with the Romanesque Basilica of San Miniato al Monte and from Fiesole hill that offers one of the most beautiful views of the Arno valley. In 1982, Florence has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Duomo, Santa Croce, and all its other treasures.

Pisa, in the past one of the four Maritime Republics (together with Amalfi, Genoa and Venice), has been declared a world heritage site with the unavoidable Piazza del Duomo, called Piazza dei Miracoli, where is located the Cathedral, built in white and colored marbles, and the famous Leaning Tower, bell tower of the twelfth century, high 56 mt., one of the most famous monuments in the world.

Another definitely important step is constituted by city of Pistoia, founded by Romans, a Episcopal seat in the V century.

Lucca, one of the main art cities of Italy, is famous for its intact city walls of the XV-XVII century, which surrounds a perimeter of 4223 meters around the historic core of the city. It is one of the four Italian county seats to have an intact Renaissance city walls (the others are Grosseto, Ferrara and Bergamo). In particular Lucca city walls are among the best ones preserved in Europe.

Siena, with its districts, narrow streets and the spectacular Piazza del Campo, where the famous Palio is held, is a unique experience in its kinds.

San Gimignano and its the narrow streets are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village stands imposingly with its copious towers (even today there are thirteen towers - in the thirteen century there were seventy-two).

During a visit in Tuscany it is necessary to admire the charming Monteriggioni (the most beautiful castle in the world).

We must leave surrounding by magical and mysterious atmosphere of Volterra (the "Windy and rock City" by Gabriele D'Annunzio, the Alabaster city), with the Medici Fortress or Mastio of Volterra, the Roman Theatre and Piazza dei Priori.