Anghiari

A Roman village that developed into a strategic fortress during the battles between Langobards and Byzantines in the 8th century, Anghiari is mentioned in documents from the 11th century, when it was a castle ruled by the lords of Galdino. At the beginning of the following century it was given to the Camaldolesi monks that built an abbey, around which a small town was born. In the second half of the 12th century, Anghiari entered under the influence of Arezzo, and a second layer of city walls was built from 1181 and 1234. With the ruling of the Tarlati family, the Mercatale area (Marketplace) was expanded and also the road that connects Anghiari to Sansepolcro, called Ruga San Martino, was built. After some time under the rule of Perugia, Anghiari was later governed by Florence. On the 29th of June 1440, on the plains at the east of the town, the Florentine Republic faced the Viscount of Milan. In 1503 the winner of this battle, Florence, commissioned Leonardo da Vinci a painting for the Hall of the Five Hundred in Palazzo Vecchio, to commemorate that day, but the painter experimented with some techniques that did not give the expected results. The “Battle of Anghiari” is one of the biggest and unsolved mysteries in art history, even today.

In medieval times the entrance of the village was from Sant’Angelo Gate, from south east, and San Martino Gate, from north west; near the latter lies Porta Nuova or Florentine Gate, built in 1460. Anghiari city walls were modified many times through the ages and they are now accessible by Ronda street. On this street, in its southern part, lies the Vicarial Bastion. Among the most typical buildings, in the upper part of the town stands out the Campano, a clock tower built in the 17th century; near that are the Monastery of st. Martino, called Conventone, and the Town Hall, which still today houses the municipality.

In the lower part of the town, Baldaccio Bruni Square contains a mix of styles. The Borgo Columns made during the Renaissance face the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi, made after the Unification of Italy. From the square, one can go through Matteotti street to enter the Girolamo Magi Gallery, built in 1889, from which it is possible to reach the neoclassical complex of Corsi Palace, built between 1777 and 1794, and the spectacular Public Theatre of the Ricomposti.

Important museums are located in the town. The two most important ones are in Mameli square: inside the 16th century Marzocco Palace is the Museum of the Battle and of Anghiari, whereas the renaissance complex Taglieschi Palace is the home of the National Museum of arts and folklore of the Upper Valley of Tiber River.

Anghiari has a religious heritage of great importance. The church of Our Lady of the Graces (Santa Maria delle Grazie), also called “Propositura”, was finished in the first half of the 18th century. The church of the abbey of st. Bartolomeo was firstly mentioned in 1105; the church of st. Agostino was erected at the end of the 12th century on the ruins of a oratory dedicated to St. Anthony the Great. The Baptistery (Battistero) of st. Giovanni is from the 15th century, the church of the Holy Cross is from the 16th century, whereas the church of st. Maria Maddalena is from the 17th century.

Many are the fortilices that are around Anghiari: the Castle of Galbino, erected in the 11th century on the right bank of Sovara stream, the Montauto Castle of the 12th in the hamlet of La Scheggia, and the Sorci Castle, maybe built on the ruins of a langobard fortilice and linked to the 16th-century warlord Baldaccio d’Anghiari are the most famous ones. Less known are the Castle of Pianettole and the Castle of Valialla. Borbolanese Villa, in Tavernelle, is an example of a 16th fortified dwelling. In the surroundings of Anghiari are also three ancient rural churches: st. Maria on the Sovara in the northern part, st. Maria in Micciano in the east of Anghiari and st. Maria in Corsano in the south. Other important sacred places are the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Mount Carmel (Santuario della Madonna del Carmelo) in the locality of Combarbio and franciscan Cenaculum (Cenacolo) of Montauto , both of them built in the sixth century, and the church of st. Stefano, a jewel from the 7th/8th centuries built with a distinct byzantine-ravennate style.

For the outdoor lovers, there are the not to be missed walks in the small town of Toppole, in the eastern side of Alp of Poti, or in the hamlets of Ponte alla Piera and Bagnolo, both reachable through the suggestive Natural Reserve of Rognosi Mountains.

Anghiari

Anghiari

Anghiari

Anghiari

Anghiari

Anghiari

Ricomposti Municipal Theater

Battaglia di Anghiari Museum

Battaglia di Anghiari Museum