The Chiana valley, located at the border of Umbria region and between the provinces of Siena and Arezzo it's a place plenty of hidden treasures and wonders to discover. The archeological discoveries in the valley testifies the constat presence of Etruscan people and the importance of the area from ancient times. Valley's life and the economy are centered around the Clanis river, the swamps created by the river floods made the surrounding soil very fertile but also created many health issues for the inhabitants. So it happened that draining the area became a challenge for many centuries. Even Leonardo da Vinci draw a famous cartographic representation of the area in 1503.
Castiglion Fiorentino e Cortona
On the west side, towards Arezzo, there is Castiglion Fiorentino, a small town standing over Val di Chio and the plains of Val di Chiana. The panoramic view from Logge Vasari, in the townhall square, and the town museums, in the fort area, are just some of the many attractions in the old town. You can't miss a visit to the parish church of Sant'Angelo al Cassero, the thirteenth century church of San Francesco and the Collegiate of San Giuliano.
Still on this side, southern, there is Cortona, ancient Etruscan settlement, surrounded by massive walls and topped by the Girifalco Fortress build in 1556. We can't miss a visit to the MAEC – Museum of Etruscan Academy and Cortona, that holds treasures like Tabula Cortonensis, the marvelous etruscan chandelier from the late 4th century B.C. And many masterpieces from different ages, in particular a suggestive painting by Pietro da Cortona. Worth a visit to the Diocesan Museum, the Dome and the other local churches filled with artworks, and the famous Tumuli del Sodo (Etruscan tombs) not far from the town.
Unique towns rich in history
To the west there is Foiano della Chiana with is old town filled with palaces and historical buildings surrounded by two different city walls. The town is reknown for it's Carnival and holds several master paintings from Pomarancio, Luca Signorelli e Orazio Porta inside it's sacred buildings as well as many glazed earthenware by Andrea and Giovanni Della Robbia. In the town of Marciano della Chiana, the smallest in the valley, it's possible to see an evidence of a long time ago, the small temple of Santa Vittoria, located in Pozzo della Chiana, build on the site of the most famous Scannagallo Battle (1554). Can't miss the church of Santi Stefano e Andrea, that holds a fine painting on wood by Bartolomeo della Gatta representing the Holy Mary on a throne surrounded by the saints. Lucignano is a small and particular village with an unusual oval shape with many interesting buildings: Collegiate of San Michele Arcangelo, the church of San Francesco, with the celebrated Trionfo della Morte (“Triumph of Death) painted by Bartolo di Fredi, the town hall, now a civic museum, destination of many loving couples who promise each other undying loyalty in front of the Golden Tree, or Tree of Life. This in reality is a golden brass reliquary, a jewellry masterwork from the late fourteenth century. Than we have Monte San Savino, a village characterized by both medieval buildings, like the Cassero, and elegant renaissance buildings like Loggia dei Mercanti and the town hall. Among the sacred buildings we acknowledge Pieve Vecchia (“Old Parish”) and the church of Sant'Agostino, filled with artworks. Among these there is a painting on wood, l'Assunta (1539), by Giorgio Vasari. The village holds a synagogue from the fifteenth century, testifying to the flourishing Jewish community living here until 1799. A few km far from San Savino it's possible to visit the small medieval village of Gargonza and it's castle. Closing this tour on the valley's towns, we have Civitella in Val di Chiana. The weel-kept urban center is surrounded by massive walls and holds an imposing castle. The village is unfamously known for the massacre carried out by nazi troops on the 29th of June 1944. There is a Hall of Remembrance in the center of the village dedicated to this event.
Between the Chianina and the Bonifica Trail
Ride a bike through valdichiana lands is unmissable: the Bonifica Trail connects Arezzo with Chiusi along the Canale Maestro della Chiana. The bike path offers the possibility, with small detours, to visit many of the places described above.
And after a long ride it's time to recover your strength with a beautiful Chianina steak, an indigenous breed once dedicated to working in the fields but which has now become the protagonist of the typical dishes of the area.
