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PoggibonsiThe town of Poggibonsi, immersed into the heart of Valdichiana, is one of the "classic" Tuscan dream places: rich in culture, art, traditions and able to emotion every visitor with its beautiful monuments and landscapes. The splendid San Gimignano and Monteriggioni are just a few Kilometres away. The current historical centre, correspond to the ancient Borgo Marturi, which was a fundamental stopping point along the Via Francigena, during the XII century. The Florentine troops destroyed the original castle in 1115, so that the locals were forced to move to the village below called "Poggio Bonizio" – root of the toponym Poggibonsi – again razed to the ground in 1270. In the XVI century the village had to go under the rule of Florence, which had previously wrecked the local fortifications and boundary walls. Lorenzo de Medici built here the Grande Fortezza di Poggio Imperiale, opening the doors to a long-lasting time of peace and stability. Unfortunately, the early XX century Poggibonsi got seriously damaged by the bombing of World War II. Nonetheless, at the end of 1900 it became an important industrial and commercial centre of the Valdelsa, most of all thanks to the furniture factories and great olive oil and wine trades. The must sees…Church of St Lorenzo, meeting point of Charles VIII of France and Girolamo Savonarola to discuss the future of Florence. The Sanctuary of Romituzzo, with a splendid "Madonna della Neve" (1300) by an unknown author. Palazzo Pretorio, which used to home the town hall after the destruction of Poggio Bonizio, in 1270 and until the construction of the new Palazzo Comunale, in 1862. Collegiata of St Maria Assunta, built over the Romanesque parish Church of St Maria di Borgo Marturi, preserves the great "Resurrezione", by Botticini and the ligneous statue of St Gregorio. Poggio Imperiale, where it started the building of thr brand-new village of Poggio Bonizio in 1155 and the Medicean Fortress, built in the early Cinquecento for want of Lorenzo il Magnifico. The project was left unfinished a part from the pentagonal Cassero (quarterdeck), which now overlooks the hills around. You can have a look at the "Parco Archeologico e Tecnologico di Poggio Imperiale", through which you can visit and explore the different phases of settlement, brought back to life thanks to the meticulous work of the local archaeologists. The surroundings…La Fonte delle Fate, a great fountain with six double-pointed arches, designed and realized by Balugano da Crema in Senese style around the XIII century in precious Senese travertine. The Magione di St Giovanni al Ponte, a small but marvellous monumental complex composed by a church, guestrooms and complementary services, which represents a rare example of preservation of the medieval artistic heritage. The Castle of Strozzavolpe accessible through a drawbridge, has kept the original structure, including the imposing and irregular boundary walls. The Castle Badia, rebuilt in the XIX century over the ruins of one of the oldest abbeys of the whole Lombard and Frank Tuscia region. The Staggia Senese, important noble residence since the X century, has celebrated one thousand years in 1994. St Pietro a Cedda, the most interesting Romanesque complex of the Val d’Elsa, with a unique abbatial nave. The monastic complex of St Lucchese, that preserves oeuvres by Bartolo di Fredi, Cennino Cennini and Memmo di Filippuccio.
Other towns in the area: Arezzo, Asciano, Badia a Ruoti, Badia Agnano, Bagni di Lucca, Barberino Val d'Elsa, Bucine, Campo nell'Elba, Camucia di Cortona, Carrara, Casciana Terme, Casole d'Elsa, Castelfiorentino, Castellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Castiglion Fiorentino, Castiglioncello, Certaldo, Cetona, Chianciano Terme, Chiusi, Civitella della Chiana, Colle di Val d'Elsa, Cortona, Empoli, Fabbrica di Peccioli, Figline Valdarno, Florence, Foiano della Chiana, Forte dei Marmi, Gaiole in Chianti, Gambassi Terme, Ghizzano, Grassina, Greve in Chianti, Grosseto, Iesa Palazzo, Impruneta, Lamporecchio, Laterina , Livorno, Loro Ciuffenna, Lucca, Lucignano, Marciano della Chiana, Marina di Grosseto, Empoli, Masotti, Massa, Moggiona, Molazzana, Monsummano Terme, Montaione, Montalcino, Monte San Savino, Montecatini-Terme, Montefollonico, Montelopio, Montepulciano, Monterchi, Monteriggioni, Montevarchi, Montisi, Nievole, Panzano in Chianti, Pian di Sco', Pienza, Pietrasanta, Pieve Fosciana, Pisa, Pistoia, Pitigliano, Pontassieve, Poppi, Porciano di Lamporecchio, Porciano di Stia, Pozzo della Chiana, Prato, Radda in Chianti, Radicofani, Rapolano Terme, Reggello, Rignano sull'Arno, Rigomagno, Riparbella, Rosignano Solvay, San Baronto, San Casciano dei Bagni, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, San Gimignano, San Giuliano Terme, San Miniato, San Quirico d'Orcia, Sarteano, Saturnia, Scandicci, Segromigno in Monte, Seravezza, Serre di Rapolano, Sieci, Siena, Sinalunga, Sorano, Staggia Senese, Subbiano, Tirrenia, Torre del Lago Puccini, Torrita di Siena, Trequanda, Vagliagli, Viareggio, Vinci, VolterraYou might also be interested in reading about the following Poggibonsi topics:
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