Ravenna  has early Christian and Byzantine basilicas with magnificent mosaics, dating from the 5 and 6th centuries A.D.

Florence. Of all its great treasures the foremost attractions   are probably the Duomo, the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio and Michelangelo’s statue of David.

Assisi, birthplace of  St. Francis, standing on  it’s promontary bathed in sunshine, is a memorable sight. The Church which houses the saints remains has been repeatedly  damaged by earthquakes, but is now open again. 

Siena holds the Palio horse race  yearly on July the 2nd and August the 16th.  It is held in the Campo, which  fronts the magnificent civic museum. The spectacular  interior of Siena Cathedral  is outstanding even in Italy.

 

 

 

Arezzo is the provincial capital of Tuscany. It has many important Etruscan and Roman finds including the famous Chimera, and is famous for the Piero della Francesca frescoe, ‘The Story of the True Cross’, in the Basilica of St. Francis. It holds an outdoor antiques market on the first Sunday of each month.

 

Sansepolcro is the birthplace of  Piero della Francesca  and is only 30 minutes from the villa. You can visit his house and gardens and see his most famous  frescoes in the city museum. It has great churches, palazzos  and  cloisters, with doors opening straight onto the main streets. It has been likened to a little Lucca.

There is a Balestra every year, a crossbow and banner -waving competition, staged in the main piazza in spectacular  costume. There are colourful Tuesday and Saturday street markets, and a Friday evening  flea market when you can stroll with the family groups, admire the stalls and  and have an al fresco street supper.

 

Use this link map to  Find your Way  from Simonicchi  to different places of  interest between 1hr – 3hrs. away  

1hr. Monterchi  41,  Badia Tedalda 48,  Poppi  51 Parco Nazionale delle Foreste Casentino 56,  Umbertide 56,

1-2hrs. Arezzo 1.03,  Assisi 1.04,  Castiglion Fiorentino 1.06,  Riserva Naturale del’Alpe della Luna 1.11,  Gubbio 1.20, Perugia 1.20,  Spello 1.22,  Montevarchi 1.23,  Cortona 1.30,  Cesenatico 1.30, Ravenna 1.35  Montepulciano 1.39,  San Leo 1.38, Lago Trasimeno 1.40,  Siena  1.45,  Camaldoli  1.47  Pienza 1.48,  Rimini 1.56, Florence 1.57,  San Marino 1.57,

2-3hrs.  Val d’Orcia  2.0 ,  Urbino 2.2,   Fano 2.8, Orvieto 2 .10,  Bologna 2. 15,  San Giminigiano 2.31,  Volterra 2.45

For those who are interested; not only the best of Renaissance Art but the best of Italian couture is near at hand. Famous name outlets to be found in Tuscany and Umbria include Valentino, Armani,Diesel, Pucci, Marni, Roberto Cavalli, Gucci, Hogan, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada. For more information : umbria/tuscany outlets