Activities | casa-toppole

Beautiful Tuscany !

Birthplace of the poet Petrarch and also Michelangelo, Piero della Francesca,Vasari, Pietro di Cortona, who have significantly marked this area by their talent and creativity, not only in the city of Arezzo but in the whole Province.
Explore the Renaissance cities and their magnificent churches. Discover the Etruscans treasures, pre-roman civilization, whose territory corresponds to the current area.
Visit the beautiful landscapes, the medieval fortified towns with their tiny streets, old strongholds and the abbeys.
Discover the gourmet delights, the olive oil, the wine route, and the local markets of the Tiber valley.
The millennial symbiosis between man and his natural environment continue to surprise.
Find hereby some excursions to do outside the usual tours like Florence, Siena, Perugia, Assisi, Montepulciano, Monterrigioni, San Giminiano, Volterra.

Anghiari,

medieval village

Classified “one the most beautiful villages of Italy”: the battle which took place there inspired Leonardo da Vinci, this beautiful medieval town is situated at 6 km from Toppole. You will find there excellent restaurants, all the services you need such as bank, pharmacy, internet point, museums, post office, as well as a range of typical stores and antique dealers.
Walk around the narrow streets to admire the wonderful houses and discover its magnificent views.
On main place, have a cappuccino or a Crodino on the terrace of the Bar Garibaldi held by Gennaro. Market the Wednesday morning. Nearby, visit the native house of Michelangelo, the village of Monterchi and other medieval places.

Arezzo,

main town

Main town of the Province, Arezzo is a beautiful old Etruscan city. The main attraction if the Church of San Francesco, where the stunning fresco cycle, masterpiece by Piero della Francesca is a must. On the Piazza Grande, restaurants took place under the Loggia by Vasari. The square has become famous a set of the Oscar movie “La Vita è bella” by Roberto Benigni. The first Sunday (and the Saturday before) of every month is the bit Antique market. Don’t miss the salumeria, macceleria, rosticceria in the small streets and try the “Canto de’Baci” and “l’Antica bottega Toscana” !

Etruscan cities

Cortona is one of the oldest town of Tuscany. It provides a fabulous view out over the Val di Chiana. The outer walls are built on Etruscan foundations. The Etruscan Museum is a must. Typical stores, nice restaurants.
Don’t miss the Etruscan graves in the countryside!
Lucignano is a very nice village, remarkable for its singular layout, an elliptical plan with ramparts which enclose narrow streets that move in concentric circles.
See also Castiglion, medieval town where ten years ago, archaeologists discovered Etruscan houses under medieval constructions.

Visiting a "frantoio"

Just over 2 kilometers out of Anghiari, from mid November to about the first week of January, you can visit the ancient oil mill Ravagni still in working order (1421) and taste the wonderful olive oil produced by traditional methods of cold presses. `
The period of the olive harvest is mid October to end of November.

Aquatic Park of Sansepolcro

In Sansepolcro, the Aquatic Park Pincardini will be fun for the whole family, young and old.
Big swimming pool, toboggan, pool for little children, Picnic area in the pine forest, bar, sun terrace and disco nights.

Sansepolcro,

capital of pasta

Capital city of the “pasta” with its Buitoni factories, Sansepolcro is the native soil of Piero della Francesca. See also the very nice Aboca Museum (Herbs and health through the centuries).
Let’s walk on the main street where you can do window shopping. Market the Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

The Palio of Siena

The whole city of Siena, built around the Piazza del Campo, was devised as a work of art that blends into the surrounding landscapes. Visit its typical streets, the Duomo, the splendid churches and the Hospital Santa Maria della Scala, one of the oldest Hospital in Europe. Visit the Palazzio Publico and don’t miss to climb the tower that provides you breathtaking scenery!
During two centuries, Siena, great rival of Florence, were one of the major financial and trading center in Europe.
Can you imagine that this city was once, most important and most populated than Paris or London?
The Palio, one of the most popular Italian manifestations, is a horse race held twice each year, on July 2 and August 16. Ten districts of the city compete on horses bareback.

Sanctuary of "La Verna"

The sanctuary of "la Verna" is the place where San Francesco d’Assisi received his stigmata. Located on an enchanting site right in the middle of the forest. You can visit the cavern with the bed of San Francesco, the church, the cloister and make a beautiful walk in the woods.

The wine route

Go for a day wine tour in exclusive wineries in Chianti, Montalcino, Montepulciano, Chianti classic and taste the best Italian wines like the Brunello, the Vernaccia and the Nobile of Montepulciano.

Le Crete Senesi

Do not miss the typical landscapes of the famous “terra di Siena”.
The appearance almost deserted is due to a geological phenomenon in which the area was invaded by the sea during the Pliocene before have been covered with a layer of clay whose colors range from white to brown through various shades of yellow and gray. Few large farms are lost on a hill, marked by a row of slender cypresses. Visit Asciano, the Abbey of Sant’Anna in Camprena (monastery, location of the film “the English Patient”, or the pearl of the territory, the Abbey of Monte Olivetto Maggiore.