Villa Simonetta is the ideal place for those visiting central Italy, who wish to relax with a glass of good wine in the large garden that surround the property, whilst admiring the rolling Tuscan hills
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Arezzo: Arezzo's origins date back to the time of the Etruscans after which it became an important Roman city before passing into Florentine control in 1384. The hilltop of the city is home to the Duomo, the Palazzo Comunale and the Fortezza Medicea. From here the streets wind their way down the hill to the main roads and the city's gates. Santa Maria della Pieve is one of the largest and most beautiful romanesque churches of the area (12th and 13th centuries). Behind the Pieve is the Piazza Grande where the Giostra del Saracino takes place on the third Sunday of June and the first Sunday of September. Also of great interest is the famous Fiera Antiquaria (antique fair) which is held the first Sunday of every month.
Casentino: The high valley of the Arno is the location of many places of interest. The monastery at La Verna, made famous by St. Francis, has a remarkable collection of ceramic panels primarily made by Andrea Della Robbia, considered the greatest ceramic artist of the 15th century. The Monastery / Hermitage of Camaldoli in the heart of the centuries old Casentine forest was founded by St. Romualdo in 1012, who relaxed monastic rules and provided a place where monks could enjoy communal living or voluntary isolation in small, individual structures. Other important centers such as Poppi with its castle of the Guidi counts and Bibbiena with its 16th century Palazzo Dovizi are additional places of interest.
Wine Tours “Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino: in only 35 minutes by car you can reach the beautiful little city of Montepulciano. You can visit Pienza as you continue along roads through the Val d' Orcia to Montalcino where you will have many opportunities to visit vineyards and taste these marvelous wines. A few miles below Montalcino is the 12th century romanesque church of Sant’ Antimo, nestled in a valley amid olive groves and vineyards. Tradition indicates that the abbey is on the site of a church built by Charlemagne, circa 781.
Chianti: This area is rich in history and charm with its castles, vineyards and small towns such as Rada, Greve, and Gaiole. In the borgo of Vertine the first tower was built more than 1000 years ago. Vertine is a charming village to explore. The Villa Vignamaggio where the Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci is magnificent with wonderful gardens. Another important site is Castello di Brolio of the Ricasoli family, who first wrote the rules of making Chianti wine.
Umbria: Cortona borders on Umbria and within a few minutes by car you can reach picturesque Lago Trasimeno. A short distance beyond the lake is Perugia, an ancient Etruscan city. The heart of the city is the beautiful Piazza IV Novembre with its wonderful Fontana Maggiore, constructed in the 13th century.
Other places of interest are:
• Assisi - the birthplace of St. Francis and home of the well-known basilica dedicated to him and the Rocca, an enormous medieval fortress of the 14th. century.
• Gubbio - a medieval city with its Palazzo dei Consoli and Palazzo Pretorio and the church of Santa Maria Nuova where you can see “La Madonna del Belvedere” by Ottaviano Nelli.
• Deruta - famous in all the world for its ceramics.
• Orvieto - also of Etruscan origin, then a Roman city, is rich in churches and little piazzas. Its famous Duomo is an example of elegant romanesque-gothic architecture.
All the cities listed above can be visited in one day.
