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 Contact Information
Baldovino Di Monte B&b
Address - Corso Sangallo N.13/15, 52048, Monte San Savino
General Information
In the old town of Monte San Savino is 'Baldovino di Monte', a small, pretty house recently restored with loving care and great attention to detail. Furnished tastefully with six bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms. Breakfast is served on antique Tuscan tables in a typical 'taverna' carved out of the rock. Here Mary prepares fresh coffee, cold meats, cheese, bread and local jams, fresh fruit, and various homemade cakes for a great start to the day.
MONTE SAN SAVINO is a town dates from Etruscan times, then fortified in Roman times around a castle lately called Area Alta.
It is the birthplace of Andrea Contucci, called Sansovino, (the famous sculptor and architect of the Renaissance), as well as of Pope Giulio III.
You can start your visit from Porta Fiorentina (Florentine door), planned in the second half of the sixteenth century by Giorgio Vasari and built up by Giovanni di Baccio Bigio. Walking along it, you will find the Cassero, which was rebuilt by the Sienese in 1383 and was first a pawnshop, then a poor people's home, whilst nowadays is it the seat of the City Museum.
Beside the Cassero stands the church of Santa Chiara in whose interior you find a precious piece by Sansovino glazed by Andrea della Robbia, representing a Madonna with Bambino con Santi (Virgin with Child and Saints). To be admired are also: an altar piece by Sansovino depicting Saint Lorenzo, Rocco and Sebastiano; a "Presepe" (Christmas crib), as wel as a terracotta statue, of the late Robbia school, which represents Saint Antonio. Opposite the church, at one end of the square, there is a steeple, built in 1643 and dedicated to Mattias de' Medici, Prince of Monte San Savino, whilst at the other side you see Palazzo Galletti whit its amazing windows framed by caryatides.
Keep on walking you'll find a Renaissance building which is now the seat of the town hall. It was built at the beginning of the sixteenth century by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder for Cardinal Antonio di Monte's will. This beautiful building was built with ashlar- stone and all the stones form an overall pattern called "Bugnato" on the ground floor, while on the first floor it follows the ionic order. The courtyard is encircled by a three-arched gallery on each side, with two characteristic wells in the middle. The rear of the palace has a lovely garden around, which was added later by Nanni di Baccio Bigio. In the inside, worth of attention are a precious sixteenth century door carved by fra Giovanni da Verona, and a small portraits of well-known citizens of Monte San Savino, as well as of some members of the most powerful Tuscan families.
In front of the palace there is the Loggia dei Mercanti (Merchant's Arcade), built by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder; it is composed of five round arches which stands on corinthian columns with pillars. Now you can visit the Pieve; it was erected at the end of the twelfth century, renovated in 1627 the totally rebuilt in the second half of the seventeenth century. In the inside, among the several works, is surely to be mentioned the sarcophagus of Fabiano di Monte (1498) attributed to Sansovino.
Not far from here you find the thirteen century Palazzo Pretorio; here, on its facade you can still see the coats of arms of some Florentine magistrates and you also have the opportunity to visit the gig tower. Then, you can admire the valuable fresco which represents a Pietà (1538) by S. Veltroni, kept in the palace.
You now go on until you arrive at Piazza di Monte, redesigned by Sansovino in 1511, where the church of Sant'Agostino stands. This church was built during the fourteenth century for the Augustinian friar's will and was restored many times; for instance, in 1525 Sansovino decided to build the gothic choir on the counter façade you can still admire. In the inside, the stain glass rose window by G. de Marcillat representing Saint Augustine is remarkable; to be mentioned are also a painting of Assunta by Vasari, some paintings by Orazio Porta, Sansovino's tomb and the cloister designed by Sansovino.
Before leaving Monte San Savino, you can go shopping and buy some typical souvenirs, such as the local earthenware, then you should visit the Sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Vertighe, not far from the town. This church contains a valuable twelfth century wooden triptych by Margarito and Ristoro d'Arezzo. If you have some time left in the evening you can lead the direction to Gargonza and reach it in only six kilometres. It is an ancient medieval village which is worth to be seen; here there is a picturesque square, a tower and a Romanesque little church in a beautiful scenery with luxuriant woods all around. There is also a suggestive legend: Dante Alighieri is said to have been in Gargonza in 1304, when the Ghibellines of Arezzo and Florence gathered here.
Location Description
The ancient medieval town of Monte San Savino lies in the heart of Tuscany's Val di Chiana. An oasis of tranquillity far from the hustle and bustle of city life it is the ideal place from where it is quick and easy to visit the cities of Florence, Siena and Arezzo, all famous for their treasure trove of art and architecture and as centres of gastronomic excellence.. Equally accessible, of great historical interest and where gastronomy is taken to a fine art are the many lovely old hill towns around such as Montalcino, Pienza, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, Monte Uliveto Maggiore and Cortona.
In the old town of Monte San Savino is 'Baldovino di Monte', a small, pretty house recently restored with loving care and great attention to detail. Furnished tastefully with six bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, it is now a 'Bed & Breakfast' home from home. From its decorated skirting boards to the names on the doors of bedrooms, names taken from the town's piazza and main entrance gates, it epitomises the best of Tuscan town architecture.
Breakfast is served on antique Tuscan tables in a typical 'taverna' carved out of the rock. Here Mary prepares fresh coffee, cold meats, cheese, bread and local jams, fresh fruit, and various homemade cakes for a great start to the day. The quiet, restful ambience and family atmosphere are the creation of the owners of the house, Marco and Donella, whose only wish is to make your stay in Tuscany so enjoyable that you will arrive as guests and leave as friends !!!
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