Here you experience Italian country life. Olive groves and vineyards, patches of dense forest and scattered, here and there, a field of corn or sunflowers. An ancient environment.
Castiglion Fiorentino is a perfect mediaval town, with an Etruscan base. Within the walls you find yourself in a setting that has not really changed over the centuries. It is also lively. The residents are busy organizing social events in addition to their normal work. People are always busy with the event that is coming or with the cleaning up of un event that has just ended.
As early as 1014 this market town has been written about. In 1384 Castiglion Fiorentino belonged to Florence. The citadel’s tower is from the eleventh century. The graceful square “Logge del Vasari” is a jewel designed by Vasari himself. The square offers a magnificent view over the “Valle di Chio” and yes, even Leonardo da Vinci visited the village in 1502 and made drawings there. The churches within the walls are renowned for their art treasures from the 15th century. In the San Giuliano church can be admired the paintings of Lorenzo di Credi, Bartolomeo della Gatta and of Segna di Bonaventura and also work of the school of Luca Signorelli. In the beautiful, partly gothic, church of San Francesco are 26 frescoes of Margaritone d’Arezzo from the 12th century. Further work from Vasari and Filippo Berettini in the Pinacoteca Comunale.
Montecchio is a characteristic castle, you can see the castle from the loggia of Todiolo. Built in the 12th century. The castel lord was Giovanni Acuto (1344). He became famous under the name of John Hawkwood. Captain in the army of the Medici in Florence.
