Hidden places in Tuscany 2 - Firenze and Arezzo

In addition to its well-known masterpieces, the city of Florence hides countless hidden corners, far from the classic tourist itineraries.

- The Vasari Corridor
Just above the famous museum there is a long corridor that connects Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti. It is a passage, once "secret" or rather for the exclusive use of the Medici nobility, designed by Vasari and conceived with the aim of allowing the rulers to cross the city and the Arno river without ever going down the street.

- Ferdinando's bees
In Piazza Santissima Annunziata there is the monument designed by Giambologna and erected in honor of Ferdinando I de 'Medici which has a particularity capable of entertaining young and old. In fact, a real swarm of bronze bees sculpted there, whose concentric arrangement makes it particularly difficult to count the small insects portrayed in the work.

- Biblioteca delle Oblate
Whether you are a book lover or not, just above the library you can access the bar and above all its exciting terrace, which offers a breathtaking view of the great dome of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore.


- Il Castello di Samezzano
One of the jewels and "peculiarities” of Tuscany is located near Rignano, about 40 km from Florence. In 1816 the Samezzano  Castle inherited by the Marquis Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona, architect, engineer and man of great culture who, following the wave of orientalist taste, very popular in the 19th century, renovated the ancient rooms and created new rooms decorated with brighter colored stuccoes. Furthermore, thanks to his interest in botany, the surrounding landscape was enriched with numerous tree species, transforming it into a luxuriant park. At the moment it is not possible to visit the castle and the 365 rooms decorated with amazing majolicas and plasters but it is possible to visit the park renowned not only for the largest number of secular sequoias existing in Italy: some of these exceed 35 meters in height but also for numerous other tree species including the holm oak which is the master here.

- Il Parco Mediceo di Pratolino
There are many attractions that the Pratolino Park can offer to the visitor: in addition to hosting the Colossus of the Apennines (the work of Giambologna for which the Park is perhaps best known), and all  the works and artifacts of the Medici plant (Chapel, Grotta di Cupido, Scuderie, Villa Paggeria, Gamberaie), hosts two Italian gardens in the Medici part and it is  surrounded by a romantic-style garden- belonging to the times of the Lorraine and then to the Demidoffs , offers trails in the woods for trekking in nature and  it  an ideal destination for lovers of fauna and flora.

- Madonna del Parto- Fresco by  Piero della Francesca
In the small medieval village of Monterchi, a few kilometers from Anghiari and San Sepolcro, there is one of the beautiful frescoes by Piero della Francesca. The Madonna del Parto was originally painted Church of Santa Maria di Momentana on the slopes of the Montione hill, a place linked to ancient pagan fertility cults. Following an earthquake, the fresco was detached from the wall and is currently installed in a museum dedicated to it.

- Il Casentino
Casentino is one of the four main valleys in the province of Arezzo; located north of the province is also the most isolated because it is enclosed in the mountains.
This area of the province of Arezzo in addition to the splendid forests including the Casentinesi Forests National Park offers many places of historical and artistic interest to visit first including the Poppi Castle but also the other castles such as Castello di Romena, Castello di Porciano, Palagio Florentine, Valenzano Castle. Furthermore, the sacred places are innumerable. Definitely to visit the Sacred Hermitage and the Monastery of Camaldoli in La Verna with its Sanctuary that welcomes faithful from all over the world who visit the place where St. Francis received the Stigmata.
There are many beautiful villages in this area. We have already mentioned Poppi, the other towns to visit are Raggiolo, Quota and Moggiona.
Casentino is also famous for its fabric which originates in the Middle Ages and was used by woodcutters or shepherds for its resistance to water and cold. Recognizable for its characteristic curls, obtained with the "rattinatura",its appearance is deliberately rough, but in spite of this it is used by high fashion designers for some of their refined and luxurious products.


- Il Mosaico di Andreina
The Andreina mosaic is the largest in Europe, located in a delightful hamlet of Arezzo. An artistic and visionary masterpiece led by the artist Andreina Giorgia Carpenito and by over 1000 artists  and volunteers from all over the world to create this mural and save the demolition of the Santo Spirito church in the village of Indicatore. The work is called Ezekiel's Vision and is spectacular.

If you are looking for stunning villas in Tuscany to rent, in Firenze or Arezzo, or you are simply looking for things to do and see on your Tuscany holiday, contact Salogi Villas or browse our website today!

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