The southeast of Elba Island presents a varied landscape combining sandy beaches, rocky coves, picturesque villages, and mining heritage. The region, shaped by the history of iron exploitation, has preserved a unique cultural and natural heritage. Seaside resorts such as Capoliveri and Porto Azzurro are near small bays ideal for swimming and diving. The hinterland, […]
You are browsing archives for
Author: Galgano
Rio nell’Elba, Cavo and surroundings
The northeast of Elba Island consists of a massif that extends into the waters, where Rio nell’Elba is located in the heights, Rio Marina on the eastern coast, while Magazzini, Bagnaia, Nisporto, and Nisportino are on the western side. Crossing Monte Capannello, a ridge runs through this area, combining varied landscapes: rugged coasts, sandy and […]
From Procchio to Marina di Campo
Between Procchio in the north and Marina di Campo in the south, two beautiful sandy beaches are connected, with medieval villages on the heights in between, hiking trails through the maquis, timeless historical buildings, abandoned churches, and geological and artisanal curiosities of the island. This area thus allows for a combination of relaxation by the […]
Islands of the Tuscan Archipelago
The Tuscan Archipelago National Park, established in 1996, covers approximately 61,000 hectares of land and 56,000 hectares of sea, making it the largest marine park in Europe. It includes the seven main islands of the archipelago: Elba, Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri, and Gorgona. Each island has a distinct geological, natural, and historical identity, ranging […]
Elba island
TheIsland of Elba is a heavenly place located more than 10 kilometers from the Tuscan coast.
It is appreciated for its coast with its beaches, coves and diving sites, for its mountain which culminates at 1018 meters and its superb trails in a preserved and generous nature.
It is the third largest Italian island, grouped within the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago with the other smaller islands of the archipelago: Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giglio and Giannutri.
Palazzo Pitti, its museums and the gardens of Boboli
Palazzo Pitti is one of the largest buildings in Florence and a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. It now houses an extensive museum complex, with prestigious and varied collections, as well as the Boboli Gardens. Overview of the Palace and Museums Built in 1457 for the Pitti family, it is attributed to Filippo Brunelleschi and executed […]
Gallery of the Academy of Florence
The Gallery of the Academy (Galleria dell’Accademia in Italian) is one of the most visited museums in Florence and an essential stop to admire Michelangelo’s ultimate masterpiece: the David. However, the museum also offers significant opportunities for additional reflection, catering to various interests, such as music, or art and painting techniques. It is the second […]
National Archaeological Museum of Florence
Located in the Palazzo della Crocetta, the National Archaeological Museum of Florence is one of the most important museums in Italy. It houses a vast collection of Etruscan, Roman, Greek, and Egyptian artifacts, offering visitors a fascinating journey through ancient civilizations. Inaugurated in 1871, the museum features major works such as the Chimera of Arezzo, […]
Cinque Terre in Italy
Coastal region north of Massa Carrara, the Cinque Terre are translated in English by the Five Lands. It’s located in Liguria, but for their proximity to Tuscany, it is a destination to consider when staying in the region. Presentation The appeal of the Cinque Terre lies in its picturesque charm of typical villages perched on […]
Bargello
The Bargello Museum is located in the historic center of Florence, at the heart of the imposing Palazzo del Bargello.Since 1859, it has been the first national museum of unified Italy. It houses an exceptional collection of Renaissance sculptures and major works by artists such as Donatello, Verrocchio, Michelangelo, Giambologna, Andrea and Giovanni della Robbia, […]
Piazza del Campo in Siena
The Piazza del Campo is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and elegant squares in the world, built between 1293 and 1349. It is the heart of the city of Siena, named after the earlier period when it was a green space for the market. Its beautiful red brick pavement is shaped like a shell […]
Siena Cathedral
The Siena Cathedral dedicated to Assumption of Mary (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta in Italian) stands out for its white and black stones and marble is certainly one of the most amazing and beautiful churches in Italy.It was built from 1136 to 1382 in the historic center of the city. A large nave remained unfinished […]
Palazzo Pubblico in Siena
The most imposing building in Piazza del Campo is the Palazzo Pubblico with the very large tower next to the Torre della Mangia. Also called Communal Palace, it was built between 1297 and 1310 by the Government of the Nine of the Republic of Siena, as their own seat. Today, the town hall still occupies […]
Civic Museum of Siena
The Siena Civic Museum, the Museo Civico, was built in the 1930s on the first and second floors of the Palazzo Pubblico. Its visit (about an hour) is highly recommended, as the museum to be discovered in Siena. It preserves many masterpieces of Sienese art, with particular attention to two remarkable rooms of the Globe […]
Palio di Siena
The Palio of Siena is a famous equestrian race that pits the different districts of the city (called the contrade), whose origins date back to the medieval games, held on 2 July and 16 August. In the past, many Italian municipalities organized such horse competitions, and some have maintained the tradition until today. Historical overview […]
Santa Maria della Scala Hospital
The ancient hospital for pilgrims, Santa Maria della Scala, is home to a vast and rich museum complex in Siena that covers 19,000 m 2. It is an essential step to fully discover the city, located opposite the cathedral. It is considered the third artistic centre of the city after the Cathedral and the Palazzo […]
Fountains and bottini of Siena
In Siena there are some fountains, fed by the bottini, the galleries of a medieval underground aqueduct built from the 12th century. These galleries are 25 km in length, channelling water from seepage from surrounding countryside. The city is built on several hills and is far from the rivers. The galleries of the bottini are […]
Palaces in Siena
The streets of Siena are charming with their splendid palaces, most of them from the Middle Ages, some dating back to the Renaissance. They do not lack elegance with their sobriety, without baroque pomp. The most emblematic of all palaces is located on Palazzo Pubblico, located Piazza del Campo, accompanied by the superb Torre della […]
Pinacoteca Nazionale in Siena
The Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena is an important Italian museum, especially for its collection of ” paintings on gold background ” from the 14th and 15th centuries in Siena. It is housed in the Palazzo Buonsignori and Brigidi, inaugurated in 1932. The works bear witness to pictorial art in Siena from the 12th to the […]
Basilica of San Dominico in Siena
The Basilica di San Domenico in Siena, also known as Basilica Cateriniana, is one of the most important churches in the city, with its imposing Gothic architecture and Renaissance works. It is dedicated to Dominique de Guzman, founder of the Dominican order, also very close to Saint Catherine of Siena.It has vast dimensions, 77 meters […]
Saint Catherine Sanctuary in Siena
The Sanctuary of Saint Catherine of Siena (Santuario-Casa di Santa Caterina) is located on Hill San Antonio in Siena, consisting of the old house of the Benincasa, the family of Catherine and her birthplace, with various arcades, churches and chapels. Gantry and galleries The sanctuary is entered by the neoclassical Portico dei Comuni d’Italia (Portico […]
Other churches in Siena
Basilica of Saint Francis in Siena The Basilica of San Francesco di Siena is one of the most important churches in Siena, located on the homonymous square. Between 1228 and 1255, at the request of the Franciscans, a first church in the Romanesque style was built. It was enlarged between 1326 and 1475, giving it […]
Gates and other sights of Siena
This page is dedicated to other interesting places in Siena, including its walls and gates, loggias, the Medici Fortress, some squares and streets of the center. Walls and gates of Siena Siena retains a large part of its medieval walls, with ancient gates, which are often ignored by tourists despite their interest. The perimeter of […]
Palazzo Comunale and municipal museums of San Gimignano
In the central square of Piazza del Duomo, the Palazzo Communale (the City Hall) is composed mainly of the Sala Dante (Dante’s Hall), decorated with cycles of important frescoes on the themes of courtly and chivalric and the Pinacoteca with works from the thirteenth to the seventeenth century. From the palace, you can access the […]
Duomo of San Gimignano
The Duomo or the Collegiata di San Gimignano is located on the west side of the square with the same name. This is a remarkable monument of Romanesque architecture in Tuscany.The church dates back to a simple priory built around 1000. It was consecrated in 1148 by Pope Eugene III, who returned to Rome along […]