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Facilities within the Property

Restaurant L'Antico Borgo
Within the castle walls of Civitella, a small Tuscanhill town, the restaurant evokes medieval times and memories of a more recent past of evenings spent gathering around the old mill. Recepies typical of the folk tradition, enriched with of a creative and refined cuisine, mach equally well the genuineness and simplicity of the local fare and make this restaurant unique. The selection of wines, featuring the finest of tuscany, also offers some of the best wines of the regions. Antico Borgo is child friendly, and proposes different activities, like cooking classes, wine tasting, trekking, wine tours, wedding management, guided tours.

Property Facilities Summary:
Bus Tours	Cooking Courses
Groups Allowed	Guided Tours
Hairdresser	Ironing Equipment
Public Parking	Safe
Small Dogs Welcome	Trekking
Wedding Management	Wine Tasting
Wine Tours

Nearby Facilities

Close by there are:
Chemist's shop (6km), bank (6km), post office in the surrounding, hairdresser in the surrounding, grocer's shop in near vicinity, typical restaurant "L'Antico Borgo", swimming pool and tennis court (8km), gym (5km).

Arezzo (distance 20 minutes)
The city of Arezzo extends itself around a hilly slope, surrounded by a plain; its development has been facilitated by location that historically has always crossed the main roads, therefore encouraging its first plan role in the commercial exchanges. The most prestigious economic resource is the work of precious metals: in April of each year takes place, in the Centre for Business and Conventions, Gold Arezzo, a very important international exhibition and collection fair of goldsmith's art, silverware, jewellery, precious stones and corals. Arezzo, the antique Arretium, preserves in a necropolis on "Poggio del Sole" some Etruscan rests that can be dated back to the end of the 6th century before Christ: vases, ceramics (Archaeological Museum of Arezzo) and the two bronzes of the Chimera and the Minerva (nowadays at the Archaeological Museum of Florence). During the roman period, the minister and adviser of August, Gaio Cilnio Emendate, gave the input for a relevant artistic and economic progress of the area. Afterwards, around the year one thousand was constituted the free Commune of Arezzo, which frontiers of hegemony were matching with a good approximation the frontiers of the actual province. Among the most antique of our peninsula, the University of the City contributed, together with the impulse given by the poetry of Guittone d'Arezzo and of Francesco Petrarca who was born here in 1304 after Christ, to the cultural growth of the Commune. In 1289 AC, with the defeat of the Ghibellines of Arezzo in Campaldino, a large area of land had to be given to Florence and Siena. The Episcopal power, in the hands of Guido Tarlati (since 1312 after Christ) gave a new light and prosperity, that was however interrupted by a profound political crisis (1327 - 1384), that ended twice in the loss of autonomy and in the submission to the government of Florence. To Piero della Francesca in 1453 AC was ordered the cycle of frescoes of the choir of the church of San Francesco, known as the cycle of the Legend of the Real Cross. Contemporary was the work of artists such as the humanist Leonardo Bruni, who wrote the famous History of Florence or the poet Pietro Aretino. The 16th century is based on the figure of the eclectic Giorgio Vasari, historian of art ("The lives of the most excellent Italian architects, painters and sculptors"), architect ("Palazzo delle Logge" in piazza Grande), painter and figure of reference in the artistic life of Tuscany. Guglielmo da Marcillat, the French who adorned the Cathedral and the church of the SS. Annunziata, and Bartolomeo Ammannati, church of Santa Maria in Gradi, were called to come to Arezzo by the Vasari himself. During this period the Grand Duke Cosimo de' Medici ordered the destruction of the palazzo of the Commune and of the old Cathedral, in order to arrange again and to increase the defence of the urban settlement (around 1560): were built again the antique Fortress and also a new fortified boundary walls, that reached the considerable length of 4,2 km. In these years were built, in the upper part of the city, rich aristocratic houses (the palaces Fossombroni, Guillichini and Barbolani di Montauto) and the "Palazzo delle Logge del Vasari", with its solemn structure that raises in "piazza Grande". The 17th and 18th centuries did not have the cultural, artistic, but also economic, magnificence of the precedent eras. Only during the 19th century Arezzo saw the affirmation of a painter born inside its walls: the neo classicist Pietro Benvenuti. After the unification of Italy the city saw a renewed economic growth, especially of the entrepreneur's class, which became concrete through the birth large manufacturing industries and of the main banks of the area. The demographic expansion and consequently the urban one, constituted the basis for the creation of infrastructures aimed at the preservation and better use of the marvellous historic centre. Since 1931 was again organised the medieval - knightly recalling of the Tournament of the Saracen which takes place every year on the second Sunday of June and on the first Sunday of September.There are many interesting museums and churches, such as the splendid Santa Maria della Pieve. It is possible to admire works of art such as "The crucifix of Cimabue" at San Domenico Church, the renaissance portico of Santa Maria delle Grazie and of course, the world renowned masterpieces of Piero della Francesca: its frescos depicting "The legend of true cross" in the Basilica of San francesco. Arezzo is situated in the strategic position, the most beautiful cities in central italy are easily reached, as for example Florence, Siena and Perugia. There arealso many pretty historical towns, susch as the spendid Cortona, Monte S. Savino, Lucignano, Pienza, Gubbio, Assisi,Anghiari S. Sepolcro, all at abaut 20 minutes/1 hour distance. Among the many drives that will help you to discover the infinite faces of our lands, don't miss the "wine routes" a unique opportunity to taste local gastronomical specialities and wines.

Cortona distance (20 minutes)
The territory of Cortona is one of the richest artistic patrimonies connected to the ancient civilization in Central Italy. Recently, some remains of a Villanovan residence dating to the VIII century B.C. have been found. Furthermore, there are many evidences linked to the Etruscans. Among them, some constructions and graves dating to all the Etruscan periods, from the archaic one to the Hellenic one, can be visited. The most ancient evidences of the Etruscan presence date to the VI century B.C. They are three burial mounds, one is set in Camucia, along the road to Chiusi, and the other two are near the Sodo. Since that time, therefore, a rich and illustrious Etruscan aristocracy started to grow and transformed the centre into one of the most flourishing and important centres of the ancient League. In effect, also some walls protecting the town, that are visible still today with their 3-kilometre perimeter, were built in the IV century B.C. In the Roman times, the city further increase its importance between the III and the I centuries B.C., when it received the status of a Roman city in the year 89.During this period, while the Etruscan-born families maintained their power, the territory was enriched with villas, such as the one of Ossaia. It was abandoned in the V century A.D., namely in the toughest period for a town like this that experienced the life of the Roman Empire after the year 0. The information about Cortese in the Middle Ages does not clarify its role during the spread of Christianity. Despite the importance of the church of San Michele Arcangelo and of the Abbey of Farneta inherited from that time, it has not been possible to establish with certainty if Cortona was or not an Episcopal seat as many people think. Later, it was under the curia of Arezzo. From the XIII century on, the town was a free town and a podestà governed it. The town allied with Perugia to defend from Arezzo in the contest of the fights between Guelfs and Ghibellines. The clash between Guelfs and Ghibellines characterized Cortona's XIII-century history. In 1232, the inhabitants of Cortone and the Florentines occupied the rival city. Nevertheless, Cortona was occupied and pillaged by the army of Arezzo that had been helped by the inhabitants of Arezzo themselves in 1258. Three years later, the Ghibellines of Cortona conquered the town again thanks to a new alliance, this time with Siena. In the XIV century, the Pope John XXII decided to give Cortona the status of Diocese since he understood that the town could not coexist with the bishopric of Arezzo. The town was given to the family of the Casali, who built their homonym palace here, until the beginning of the XV century.

Anghiari (distance 20 minutes)
The municipality of Anghiari is in the province of Arezzo, 429 over the sea level, and has a population of about 6000 inhabitants. It is a medieval village whose territory is bounded by the rivers Arno and Tiber and it is protected by heavy walls of the 13th century that have characterised its history of impregnable bastion and bulwark of the "Tuscan nature" on a borderland. The first trace of the small town in a document is on a parchment of 1048, preserved in the archive of Città di Castello, even if it probably developed as a small settlement in the Roman period. During the Middle ages Anghiari had its highest magnificence and political importance thanks to its strategic position. Secured on top of a hill and surrounded by impenetrable walls, Anghiari dominated the surrounding territory under the government of the Signori di Galbino first, and then of the Camaldolesi. The climax in the history of this municipality is the Battle of Anghiari in 1440, which ended with the victory of the Florentines against the Milanese. In the town you can meet people in the small lanes and squares and you can visit shops, laboratories and antiques shops. Every year between the end of April and the beginning of May the local craftsmen of wood and iron, activities that have been always linked to Anghiari and to its territory, organise the "Handicrafts Fair of Valtiberina Toscana". Anghiari is also an important pole for the art of restoration of old furniture with a long tradition of antiquaries and expert restorers linked to the history of the local Art Institute. The municipality has also dedicated a museum to its arts and crafts. While visiting Taglieschi Palace you can see the State Museum of popular arts and traditions, where frescoes, paintings, wooden sculptures, devotional statues and several kinds of handicrafts are preserved. You can also visit the Museum of the Battle of Anghiari and the Provostship of St. Maria delle Grazie, also called Church of Fosso, built in the 18th century. The territory around Anghiari is also rich of charming Franciscan places, convents and hermitages deep in the green of the High Tiber that celebrate the places where the saint got the stigmata.

Firenze distance (45 minutes)
The name Florence, in Italian "Firenze", is coming from the name of Fiorenza used during the period of maximum development of the city around the middle of the second millennium AC, which name, at its time, is coming from the latin word Florentia, the city built by the Romans. The original inhabited centre of Florentia, founded during the spring of 59 BC, was located in a different position with respect to the antique Etruscan city, being strategically built in defence of a bridge used by the Roman colonies. Benefiting from an agrarian law dating back to the times of the Consulate of Cesar, the original village was transformed following the normal criteria of the military engineering of Rome in a rectangular map where the "cardo" and the "decumanus" are meeting at right angles in the central square. The ceremony of official birth of the city took place at the same time as the Roman festivities of the arrival of the spring, the ceremonies in the honour of the Goddess Flora that were taking place from April 28th to May 3rd. These ceremonies were called "Ludi Florales", in the honour of Floralia and from these came the origin of the name of the city. In the story of Florence a central role is taken by the family of the Medici, under which hegemony the city knew its more glittering period. The Medici were prosperous wool merchants, that were also interested in the art of the exchange; they were holding a "bank", that was lending conspicuous amounts to the nobility and to the clergy: the first bank of Europe, with branches in diverse cities of Italy and abroad. However, they were opposed to other families, in particular the family of the Albizi who were fearing for their power, so that they faced the conspiracies that reached their top with the exile of Cosimo in 1433 AC; the year after, however, the new kings, who were in good dispositions regarding the Medici, decided to put an end to the exile of Cosimo, who came back to the city acclaimed by the people with all the honours. From 1434 AC for almost thirty years, the one who in the history of Florence will remain famous under the name of "Cosimo the Old", was practically the effective "Lord of Florence" so that he ended up deserving the name of "Father of the Country", even though he had never accepted any kind of political charge. His son Piero handed the power for a period of five years only but he never managed to take care of the finances and the power was then transmitted to his sons Lorenzo and Giuliano, this last one dying because of a conspiracy implemented by the family of the Pazzi, rival of the Medici. The Lord of Florence then became Lorenzo, who was called "the Magnificent" because of his magnanimity towards the people and because of the patronage he liked to demonstrate by welcoming in his court the men of letters and artists in general. The years preceding the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent, which happened in 1492 AC, were characterised by the overbearing figure of public accusatory of the priest Girolamo Savonarola who, in his sermons, was praying for the implementation of a government of the people and who was hurling himself against the wealth of the nobles and the moral degradation of the clergy. Another personage that needs to be named is Cosimo I, who in spite of his temperament of tyrant, knew how to govern with equilibrium having the merit, among others, to transform Palazzo Vecchio in a sumptuous palace and to extend the sovereignty of Florence on Siena and almost on the entire region, up to win the title of "grand duchy of Tuscany", given directly by the Pope Pio V on August 24th 1569. After the short and fruitless government of the first born child of Cosimo, Francesco I, the brother of this last one, Ferdinando I, arrived to the power and succeeded in the attempt of maintaining the circumspect political regime of the father padre. During the following years the grand duchy lost little by little his power and influence on the Italian politics; after the sickly Cosimo II, after whose death the power fell in the hands of the mother and of the wife Maria Magdalena of Austria, the city of Florence took advantage of the initiatives and of the patronage of Ferdinando II, who, in addition to found the Academy of the Cimento and to give birth to the project of the Gardens of Boboli, also had the merit to welcome in his court Galileo Galilei. Cosimo III, who governed from 1670 to 1723, led the city in an era of profound decadence during which, among other, died all the members of the Medici Family. Between 1865 and 1870, Florence became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy; the request of space for the administrative offices, in addition to those necessary to welcome the government employees, valuable between fifteen thousand and twenty thousand units, rapidly worsened the question of the accommodation in such a way that it became necessary to expropriate the patrimony of the Church.