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Enjoy unforgettable Holidays in a Mediaeval Enclave, one of the most beautiful in Tuscany. The Tenuta di Papena with its 200 hectars of cultivated land, hills and woods, is situated on the antique Via dei Templari (Templar Road) (20 km south – east of Siena) in the neighbourhood of the Cistercense Abbey of San Galgano and in a strategic position for daily visits (conducted upon request) to Pienza, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Volterra, Florence, d’Orcia Valley, Chianti, Montalcino and Siena.
Daily visits are possible also to some of the most beautiful shores of the Tirrenic coast: Punta Ala, Castiglion della Pescaia, Baratti’s Gulf and the Elba Island.
The country side is strewn with charming medioeval small villages like Monticiano and Chiusdino, with monuments of extraordinary spiritual and architectural tension, such as San Galgano Abbey and the near Montesiepi Hermitage.
From the cunfortable duellings of Papena Farm the view roves freely on the uncontaminated Nature of the Alta Maremma.
It’s possible to discover on foot, by bicycle, on a Horse or on a Quad fascinating natural and artistic itineraries.
Very evocative is the nearby Etruscan Necropolis of Papena.
Papena and its ancient necropolis
To choose Tenuta di Papena does not only mean admiring the view of the landscape of Siena’s beautiful countryside between Monticiano and Chiusdino in the neighbourhood of San Galgano Abbey but, it also means entering into contact with the millenary history of the Etruscan civilization...
In fact Papena is an archaeological site of great interest where it is possible to visit necropolis which have been found fairly recently inside its grounds and which are today precious testimony of the presence of a people which has strongly influenced, in Tuscany more than elsewhere, the origins and the culture of the inhabitants trough the centuries.
The initial news of the findings of Etruscan tombs in the area go back to 1930, when Papena belonged to Count Vencislao Spalletti Trivelli ( who from the very start was open to the work of the archaeologists). As for the most recently found necropolis is concerned, it seems that it was by chance discovered by some local farmers.
One of these tombs has delivered one of the most complete series of earthenware ever possessed by Papena and this finding is strictly in connection with discoveries in nearby Malignano as autorithative scholars have verified, among whom the well known Siena archaeologist Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli.
The evident similitude of this material – which greatly consists of mirror, stone urns, earthenware bowls and plates of various sizes – with what was found in Volterra, could at least partly legitimate the original belongings of Papena to the borderland of this state-city.
According to the chronological studies made on findings in order to establish approximately the origins of the Papena necropolis, these seem to date back to a period between the III° and the II° century a.C., like the Gaiole necropolis in Chianti and the very Volterra.
In the real estate of the Serena Abbey, following private donations, Papena originally represented one of the very first objectives of the cistercencis influence exercised in the area.
In the main building, on the south west side, the remains of San Fabiano church are still visible, it was recorded since 1252 but was probably built two centuries before that date!!
The front and lateral walls are the only remains of the original building: at the centre of the front wall opens the great front door, with architrave with round arch.
A stay in Papena is an occasion not to be lost in order to enjoy the pleasure of relaxing and the excitement of discovering and recognizing the course of history which has left here particular signs of ancient fascination!!!Less than 20 km away is the Golf Club of Colle Val d’Elsa,, for the more Expert Players there is the Pelagone of Scarlino 35 minutes away and at 40 minutes the Punta Ala Golf Club.
Upon request, guided Tour to Historical, Wine and Gastronomical Sites and Visits to the moust prestigious Out Lets of the Italian Fashion.
Tenuta di Papena’s Welcome is inspired to the traditional Hospitality of these Lands and the natural Relax of life in country side.
Apartments
Tenuta di Papena enjoys an important Historical and Architectural Heritage: it’s recent restructuring, devised with full respect of it’s ancient structures, maintains the magic atmosphere of a thirteen century convent.
The Holiday Apartments, from two to five people, have been restructured with total respect of the Architectural Traditions with beams and structural stones in view. They are completely furnished and equipped with laundry , kitchen and tableware, fire place and central heating. Each Apartment has it’s one furnished external area.
A Barbecue, a wood run Oven, Table Tennis and a marvellous panoramic Swimming pool are at Guest disposal.
Thanks to its fabulous placing, it’s really easy to reach the most important resorts of an historic, artistic and cultural interest from “Agriturismo Tenuta di Papena”. Besides visiting Siena and its province’s beauty, in a few minutes you can arrive to other amazing cities such as Firenze and Arezzo, and admire charming landscape, artistic works and famous monuments; then you can breathe the poetry of these enchanted places.
In the close Umbria, full of history and traditions, you find cities like Perugia, Orvieto and Assisi with their singular and exciting atmospheres, on the places in which San Freancesco lived and worked.
Tour
- Siena
The legends that deals with Siena’s origins are manifold and of various historic matrix. The most believable is the one that is refers to the figures of Senio and Aschio, Remo’s sons, escaped from Rome and established close to the Tressa’s torrent. The Longobard , first dominators of Siena in the 560, built the famous road called Cassia,
CHIUSDINO
Charming medieval village set on a hill with rustic 15th century and 16th c. houses. The tiny church of the Compagnia di San Galgano has retained its 15th c. characteristics. Intersting parish c
ASCIANO
Is a walled hill village of Romanesque-Lombard style, later restored with an octagonal dome and crenellated hell tower: the 15th -16th C. interior houses have several works of art; very interesting is the Museo di Arte Sacra ( Sienese school painting and sculpture 15th and 16th C.) close to the Collegiate Church of S. Agata (11th -12th C.) and the Etruscan Museum with materials from the Etruscan necropolis of Poggio Pinci. It’s advisable to visit the Gothic Churches of S.Agostino and S. Francesco, housing fine works of art (marvellous della Robbia altar-piece).
Surroundings: the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore.
MASSA MARITTIMA
Lovely medieval town in a splendid hill setting affording wonderful views. The town was founded in the Middle Age in a rich ore-producing zone(once called Massa Metallorum) of hose passed there are still fine reminders. The Romanesque – Gothic Duomo or Cathedral is undoubtedly on of the most beautiful churches in Tuscany: the splendid façade is lighted by galleries, blind arcades and a large rose-window; the bell tower, partly restored this century, is crowned by a pointed spire.
Facing on the piazza del Duomo are splendid palaces: Palazzo Pretorio (Romanesque – Gotich) where you can visit the Archeological Museum; the Palazzina of the Biserno family (late 13th C.) and the Palazzo Comunale created by the combination of a number of case-torri (tower like medioeval houses belonging to the nobility) which contains a splendid Maestà by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Note also the Fonte Pubblica (Gothic 1265), the Palazzetto della Zecca, the Gothic-style churches of S. Francesco and S. Agostino, the imposing Fortezza Senese (1337), linked to the suat Torre dell’Orologio (Clock-tower).
MONTALCINO
We do not know when the town was founded, just that it is extremely old, 12th C. traces remain.
Indipendent community, allied with Siena against Florence, later tried to detach itself from Sienese political influence; after Siena’s surrender in 1555 Montalcino resisted against Florence until 1559.
The 14th C. fortress is a massive turreted construction, the Piazza del Popolo is the centre of the town.
One of the best italian wines comes from here about, namely the Bunello di Montalcino.
Surroundings: one of the most beautiful Tuscan churches is the former Abeey of S. Antimo, founded in the 9th C. (tradition has it by Charlemagne).
MONTEPULCIANO
On the route to southern Umbria, this is a Tuscany’s most attractive hill-towns with an excellent local wine.Stroll along the Via di Gracciano and Via Ricci to see the towns noble Gothic and Renaissance palazzi : Antonio da Sangallo, architect of many of the town’s palazzo, built his masterpiece : the 16th C. church of Madonna di San Biagio, south-west of the town, at the end of an avenue of cypresses overlooking the Chiana valley.
PIENZA
This imposing piece of Renaissance urban planning is now a pleasantly tranquil Tuscan backwater.
Pope Pius II wanted to do something for his home town called Corsignano, where he was born Enea Silvio de Piccolomini in 1405. He called on Florentine architect Bernardo Rossellino to redesign the town, all in three years from 1459 to 1462, and renamed it after himself, Pienza. Rossellino’s Cathedral has a certain nobility , but is somewhat overpowered by the formidable Palazzo Piccolomini, the size of it’s master’s ego. There’s an intriguingly austere bite to the town not unlike its famous tangy pecorino chees.
CHIANTI
The best introduction to the Tuscan hill country is a tour of the famous vineyards that grace its southern-oriented slopes. The grapes that qualify as Chianti Classico, distinguished by a coveted black rooster lable, grow in the region between Florence and Siena, most of them along the N222 Via Chiantigiana. The liveliest, most colourful time is during the autumn grape harvest, la vendemmia, but tasting and buying at the vineyard goes on all year round . Start out at San Casciano in Val di Pesa, south of Florence, with a bonus for art lovers of a Simone Martini Crocifixion in the curch of La Misericordia; south-east across the N222, you find the characteristic landscape of vineyards interspersed with equally renowned olive groves as you approach Greve, a major wine centre on the river of the same name. (American pay homeage to a monument to local boy Giovanni da Verrazzano, navigator-explorer of New York Bay.) The wine-route continues through Castellina with it’s 15th C. castle and ancient town gate. Then on to Radda, where you should peep in at the Piccolo Museo del Chianti, one of the best centres for tasting. Certaldo, to the west, is linked with Boccaccio, who is buried in the church. |
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