History, Art and Religion: Sansepolcro e Montecasale

Sansepolcro

The route starts at La Casa che Sogna, on foot.

We walk down the main street of Sansepolcro, starting from Porta Fiorentina, the north entrance of the wall. Along it you can find shops for local products, groceries, ice cream, confectioners, florists, photographers, craftsmen jewellers, bars and churches, small groups of men playing cards and women chatting and immediately you can breathe life and vitality of this splendid Tuscan city.

This atmosphere will be even more intense in the days of Tuesday and Saturday, when the town market  takes place starting from the main square, Piazza di Berta.

As is tradition in Italy started the day with a good strong coffee and espresso, we stop in one of the many bars along the course or in a roaster shop, which will enchant you with their scent of fresh mixtures.

Arrived at about half the course turn right to reach the former convent of Santa Chiara and proceed to the Church of San Lorenzo to see the "Deposition of Christ" (1528) of Rosso Fiorentino. The faces of the characters in this picture will remind you the faces of famous works of the painter Tamara de Lempicka.

We will then visit the main Piazza, Torre di Berta, once dominated by a central tower destroyed during the Second World War. 
Turning left  you can  visit the Cathedral, built in the late 12^th century, in which you can admire world wide  famous works, in addition to architecture with Romanic and Gothic features: "The incredulity of St. Thomas" by Santi di Tito (1576-77), the "Ascension of Christ"  by Pietro Vannucci, known as Perugino and the sepulchral monument of Abbot Simone Graziani, dating back to the beginning of the sixteenth century.

Next to the Duomo, there is the Palazzo delle Laudi, the town hall. The building, commissioned the architect Alberto Alberti, dates back to the beginning of the seventeenth century and shows a beautiful interior courtyard. It was designed by another local architect, Antonio Cantagallina. The front has a wide porch that also features the market.

On the opposite side of the Duomo you find a street lined with houses of the 14^th and 15^th century, the Palace Aggiunti (beginning 17^th century) and the complex that houses the Pinacoteca Comunale. Here we can admire, among other works, the famous painting by Piero della Francesca: The Resurrection. 

Once left the Museum we will have a snack in one of the restaurants in the center or in a wine shop or continue and visit the Church of San Francesco and the contiguous oratory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which was built by the Confraternity of Death. You can  admire here a beautiful ceiling of the end of the 16^th century, which was attributed to Alberto Alberti, the choir and the organ with 17^th century wood carvings.

A few steps away you find a true jewel: the Church of San Rocco, and the Herbs Museum of Aboca.

If we will not be too tired, we can  go to the end of Via Aggiunti to admire the beautiful fortress of Sansepolcro, unfortunately in private hands and thus not open for visits.

At this point we deserved a break for a good coffee or a glass of red wine in wine cellar. 

Montecasale

Our adventurous guest  can close the day by taking the car and reach the hermitage of Montecasale (about 7 km), the Franciscan monastery, which was  donated to St. Francis in the past. From here you can admire the beautiful landscape of the valley, visit the enchanting church the cell where St. Francis stayed during his retreat in Monte Casale.
The visit  of  the “Eremo” (Hermitage) can also be done on foot, along the beautiful road flanked by forests of Tuscany. In this case, however, we must foresee a full day to walk up and have a pic nic lunch. in MOntecasasle before getting back
In the evening we will be tired: then we can prepare a relaxing dinner at home, enjoy a pizza at a nearby pizzeria (Da Totò, Bar Appennino, Don Quixote), or, for a truly special evening, take your car in the direction of Pieve Santo Stefano and have your dinner at Restaurant “L’Incanto“, a special place decorated with antiques from everywhere around the world. If you really liked an antique, at the end of your dinner you can buy it and go home for a well-earned rest. 
 

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