If you’re holidaying in Tuscany, it’s highly recommended to take a few days to explore the wealth of historic, artistic and environmental treasures of the Val di Merse area of Tuscany. A day trip of the towns of Radicondoli, Sovicille and Murlo would be an excellent start to this trail of discovery! Related articles describe another thrilling day trip to embark on and a general description of the main towns and attractions of Val di Merse. Tourists wishing to stay in Val di Merse for a few days have plenty of holiday villas and other exclusive accommodation to choose from, where they can enjoy a peaceful scenic stay.
Start off an exciting day of touring with a trip to the Orange Flag awarded town of Radicondoli! It’s a magnificent walled town on a hill surrounded by forestry which is one of the finest examples of authentic Tuscan living. The people here are very welcoming of tourists and enjoy showing off their artisan crafts and delicious food specialties. Visit the revered Collegiata dei Santi Simone e Giuda which houses splendid artworks by Pietro di Domenico and Alessandro Casolani. Visitors can also enjoy walks around the old town where they can admire many tower houses and ancient town houses that were built in typical Sienese style architecture.
Start off an exciting day of touring with a trip to the Orange Flag awarded town of Radicondoli! It’s a magnificent walled town on a hill surrounded by forestry which is one of the finest examples of authentic Tuscan living. The people here are very welcoming of tourists and enjoy showing off their artisan crafts and delicious food specialties. Visit the revered Collegiata dei Santi Simone e Giuda which houses splendid artworks by Pietro di Domenico and Alessandro Casolani. Visitors can also enjoy walks around the old town where they can admire many tower houses and ancient town houses that were built in typical Sienese style architecture.
Just over half an hour’s drive from Radicondoli, is the ancient town of Sovicille. It is thought to have been inhabited since the Stone Age as a museum here contains artefacts excavated from remains of prehistoric, Etruscan and Roman settlements. Tourists are sure to have a fantastic time browsing around this fascinating display of Sovicille history!
Visit the renowned Pieve di San Giovanni Battista in Sovicille, a beautiful Romanesque church with many aspects of decorative French architecture in its walls. There are several paintings and intricate wall carvings for visitors to admire in this majestic building.
Visit the renowned Pieve di San Giovanni Battista in Sovicille, a beautiful Romanesque church with many aspects of decorative French architecture in its walls. There are several paintings and intricate wall carvings for visitors to admire in this majestic building.
Finish this exciting day of discovery with a stop in the Orange Flag awarded town of Murlo, an ancient settlement dating back to Etruscan times which has seen little change in seven hundred years!
Tourists will be intrigued to learn that DNA of the ancient Etruscan civilisation is believed to live on in many of the people of Murlo because of their isolation from many territorial battles and invasions. They can also book some guided tours of nearby Etruscan sites on Poggio Civitate and Poggio Aguzzo.
Murlo is also the perfect place to admire vernacular Tuscan architecture as this triangular shaped town has used much of the surrounding fortress walls as a back wall to build its residential houses from! Visitors would enjoy a picnic lunch of delicious local cheeses, salamis and crusty bread along a hiking trail called ‘La Beta’. It’s an old railway track with spectacular views of the forested Val di Merse!
This would certainly be a fun packed day for tourists who like to see as much of the history, art and culture of areas they visit; and Val di Merse certainly has plenty of it to offer! Browse now our Tuscany Villas Website and start planning your next trip to Italy.
Tourists will be intrigued to learn that DNA of the ancient Etruscan civilisation is believed to live on in many of the people of Murlo because of their isolation from many territorial battles and invasions. They can also book some guided tours of nearby Etruscan sites on Poggio Civitate and Poggio Aguzzo.
Murlo is also the perfect place to admire vernacular Tuscan architecture as this triangular shaped town has used much of the surrounding fortress walls as a back wall to build its residential houses from! Visitors would enjoy a picnic lunch of delicious local cheeses, salamis and crusty bread along a hiking trail called ‘La Beta’. It’s an old railway track with spectacular views of the forested Val di Merse!
This would certainly be a fun packed day for tourists who like to see as much of the history, art and culture of areas they visit; and Val di Merse certainly has plenty of it to offer! Browse now our Tuscany Villas Website and start planning your next trip to Italy.
Foto’s genomen door
Picture 1,3: Vignaccia76 / CC BY-SA;
picture 2: LigaDue / CC BY-SA
Picture 1,3: Vignaccia76 / CC BY-SA;
picture 2: LigaDue / CC BY-SA
