The Tiberina Valley: land of artists and inspiring landscapes.
The Tiber Valley, described by Pliny the Younger as an "immense amphitheater" of nature, has fascinated for millennia with its landscapes and villages rich in history. Among them, Sansepolcro, the birthplace of Piero della Francesca, boasts artistic wonders such as the Cathedral with the Perugino Altarpiece. Anghiari, one of Italy's Most Beautiful Villages, is famous for the Battle of Anghiari, painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Caprese Michelangelo, birthplace of Michelangelo Buonarroti, is home to the house where the master was born. Monterchi is worth a visit for Piero della Francesca's "Madonna del Parto." The valley is also a place of spirituality, with the hermitages of Montecasale and Cerbaiolo recalling the presence of St. Francis. The Tiberina Valley is an area that combines art, history and nature, offering visitors a unique experience within walking distance of the Poggio del Drago B&B.
Two words about the Tiber Valley…
Pliny the Younger , between the 1st and 2nd centuries BC, describes the Tiberina Valley as “an immense amphitheater such as only Nature can create” . The Valtiberina therefore has been able to strike the imagination and emotions of people for more than two millennia. If this is not enough to stimulate your curiosity, we ask you to read on to discover the immense value of this area.
Sansepolcro: the wonder of the Eastern Tiber Valley
Sansepolcro is a beautiful village in the easternmost part of the Valtiberina, just a few kilometers from the B&B Poggio del Drago. The foundation of Sansepolcro seems to date back to 934 A.D., by Arcano and Egidio. The founders, returning from the Holy Land, apparently received a divine sign that prompted them to settle in the area. Birthplace of the master Piero della Francesca, Sansepolcro offers so much to visitors who choose it as their destination.
Among the many things to see in Sansepolcro we must mention the Duomo, which houses a priceless Pala del Perugino dating back to the ninth century. Also beautiful are the Palazzo Ducci, home of the civic library, and the Palazzo delle Laudi, which is now the seat of the Sansepolcro City Council. The historic center of Sansepolcro is then a real open-air museum: walking through the village you will experience the thrill of a journey through time. You cannot miss it!
Anghiari: from the famous Battle to the idyllic Belvederes
Anghiari results registered in the list of the Beautifulest Villages in Italy: this is already a guarantee for those who want to visit this area. If that is not enough for you, the B&B Poggio del Drago would like to tell you about the other things that await you in Anghiari. First, let us mention the most famous of the events that occurred at the village : the Battle of Anghiari. The battle was fought on June 29, 1440 and was even painted by the very great Leonardo da Vinci. You can discover every detail about the famous Battle of Anghiari by visiting the museum of the same name , which you will find inside the beautiful Palazzo Marzocco.
Anghiari, a village with a magical atmosphere, is set on a hilltop in the medieval tradition. While the elevated position once offered a strategic military advantage, today it gives us a wonderful panoramic view. We recommend that you do not miss the Belvedere “Gian Franco Vené” and look for every glimpse, around the village, that will give you exciting views.
Illustrious birthplaces in the Tiber Valley: Caprese Michelangelo
Caprese Michelangelo is the birthplace of the very greatMaster Michelangelo Buonarroti, author of, among a thousand works, the David and the frescoed vault of the Sistine Chapel. In Caprese you will find the Michelangelo’s Birthplace Museum, which is housed at theCastle of Caprese Michelangelo. The museum is divided into three buildings: the Palazzo del Podestà, Palazzo Clusini and the Corte Alta, as well as a beautiful exhibition garden. In addition to Michelangelo’s Birthplace in Caprese you will find the church where Michelangelo was baptized, right at the foot of the medieval fortress.
Monterchi, the Village of Piero
Monterchi deserves a special mention, since despite being a very small village here you will be able to find a huge heritage of works of art. In fact, in Monterchi you can find many great works by Piero della Francesca, who, as we mentioned, was originally from these lands. The first work worth mentioning is the famous “Madonna del Parto,” which you will find in the local museum dedicated to this work by Piero della Francesca. In the museum you will also find the “Madonna del Latte,” which is a fresco dating back to the 14th century, of which the author’s name has been lost. This museum also houses an educational workshop, in which younger people coming in school groups learn to express themselves through visual art. Also worth mentioning in Monterchi is the Museum of Scales.
The Hermitages of the Tiber Valley
A valley with such idyllic natural landscapes could only be an inspiration for medieval hermit monastic movements. Indeed, in Val Tiberina you will find two very important sites of spiritual retreat: the hermitage of Montecasale and the hermitage of Cerbaiolo. Montecasale is located near Sansepolcro, and was founded in 1213 bySt. Francis of Assisi himself. As for the hermitage of Cerbaiolo, however, it was at first a monastery of the Benedictine order. In 1216, shortly after Montecasale was founded, the hermitage was donated to St. Francis and has been home to the Franciscan order ever since. Cerbaiolo is a picturesque and picturesque place, overlooking the Lake of Montedoglio, and is reminiscent in structure of the Hermitage of La Verna , in Casentino. A popular saying goes, in fact : “He who has seen La Verna and not Cerbaiolo has seen the mother and not the son.”
Don’t miss the wonders of the Valtiberina
This little guide to the Val Tiberina is but an appetizer, a small taste of all that is wonderful you will find in this area. This Valley is so close to our B&B Country House nestled in the Arezzo countryside that from Poggio del Drago we strongly advise you not to miss its many attractions. The area would be worth a visit even if it were uninhabited and if it were not the treasure chest of a thousand art treasures. In fact, you will find yourself immersed in landscapes so wonderful that they seem to have come out of a storybook.
TheTiberina Valley awaits you together at Poggio del Drago!
