The Tuscan Villages: Anghiari, Caprese Michelangelo and Monterchi
This path will be made by car, taking the road towards Arezzo. Just outside of Sansepolcro you turn right towards Anghiari, and you will find in the plain of the famous Battle of Anghiari, about which I will tell you later.
Anghiari
Immediately after the first traffic light of Anghiari, you must stop for a short visit to the Church of Santo Stefano, a brick temple in planting high-medieval (VII-VIII century) with obvious characters of Byzantine influence .
You can continue towards Anghiari, and here you have two options: after the first traffic light at the entrance of the town turn right, and crossed two major curves, you turn left to park near the Teatro Comunale. From here you can enjoy a beautiful view of the country.
Alternatively, turn slightly left and cross the famous descent of Anghiari "to park at the foot of the city walls and back, via elevator, to the fortress, a great place to take pictures to take with you as souvenirs.
The original nucleus of Anghiari dating to the eleventh century, the ancient castrum is a fortified village made up of dozens and dozens of wonderful streets, along which you can appreciate both the architectural features of the city that the life of a country that is still very quiet so they decorated the definition of "Slow City", the recognition as "One of the most beautiful towns in Italy" and the "Orange Flag": The mark of quality tourism environment of the Italian Touring Club.
During the walk in the center, we stop for breaks in one of the many churches in the country. Then continue to the beautiful Palace Pretorio and make a break for coffee at “ Giardino dei Vicari ” , from which you can admire a spectacular view on the Tiber Valley and a fine example of Italian garden.
A few steps away you can visit the Museum of the Battle of Anghiari. This battle was fought on 29 June 1440 between Milan, led by Niccolò Piccinino, and the Florentines of Attendolo Michelotto and Giampaolo Orsini, who won. The clash, ironically described by Machiavelli, " Despite much aggressiveness and a battle that lasted from 20 to 24 hours, no man died, apart one, who has no wounds or virtuoso blow, but fallen by horse and died trampled. “ owes its fame to its representation made by Leonardo da Vinci in Palazzo Vecchio (Florence ) The work, then, according to some scholars, was destroyed, but it remains witness through the work of Rubens and Biagio di Antonio (the school of Paolo Uccello).
Now you should know that in Tuscany and Umbria everything stops for lunch: from 13:00 to 16:00 the shops, except the big supermarkets will be closed and you will see very little to move people on the streets. So why not adapt to the local pace and stop for a break?
For a quick meal can stop in the square, where two pizzerias offer the pizza to the pizza slice that classical, as well as quick snacks Tuscany, accompanied by wine from the area.
For a unique culinary experience, however, we can bring to the Castello di Sorci, a castle so called because once
inhabited by a considerable number of mice and a famous ghost, the Baldaccio. Here you can sample a fixed-price menu
consisting of terrific variety of starters, two primi piatti (pasta or soup), a main course with wine, sweet wine and
dessertAll strictly home-made, including the pasta .Eat at least once in this restaurant !
Monterchi
We will go to Monterchi: typical high Valtiberina country, right on the border between Tuscany and Umbria. Perched on a hill that stands isolated, the ancient Mons Herculis, Mount of Hercules, which has a Monterchi landscape enviable position among the hills that slope toward the Tiber Valley, dotted with ancient churches and medieval monasteries, one of them close to walls of the ramparts. The center is medieval: in the streets there are small shops and characteristic points of rest. The fame of Monterchi at international level is due to the presence of a masterpiece: the fresco of the Madonna del Parto, painted by Piero della Francesca around 1459, probably to honor his mother, a native of Monterchi. The visit to Monterchi is the culmination of the ideal route of Piero della Francesca , which includes, of course, the works of Arezzo and Sansepolcro the same artist.
Caprese Michelangelo
Now we have reached the late afternoon, you can then return to La Casa cheSogna for a short break to relax and stay for dinner at home, or continue to Caprese Michelangelo, birthplace of the famous painter, for a special dinner in a of the many restaurants in the country. Personally I recommend "The Refuge", near the village of Lama. There you can taste a good variety of hot starters and homemade pasta with truffle, that you will never forget !
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