Unesco World Heritage sites
Many people don’t know that Tuscany, alone, has the beauty of seven places declared World Heritage Site.
Let's find out these seven wonders of our region, heritage of our culture and humanity.
1. The historic Center of Florence
Florence is history, tradition, art and culture. The Tuscan capital, which has inspired writers, artists and
writers retains a historical and artistic heritage known throughout the world and its historic center is a living archive of Italian culture; for this reason Florence was one of the first sites to be inscribed in the
World Heritage List in 1892.
Florence, a city that has its origins in the Etruscan and later adopted as a Roman colony,
Florentia founded in 59 BC, it became a symbol of the Renaissance during the first period of Medici in the fifteenth and sixteenth civilization centuries, reaching extraordinary levels of economic development and cul-tural. The current center is bordered by the remains of the city walls dating from the fourteenth century.
The walls are made up of gates, towers and two Medici fortresses still exist: the fortress of San Giovanni
Battista in the north, popularly known as "Low", and the Forte Belvedere, set in the hills of the south side. The Arno river runs through the city, flowing from east to west through a series of bridges, including the most
famous Ponte Vecchio and Ponte Santa Trinita that connect the two sides of the city.
The 700 years of extraordinary cultural and artistic flourishing Florentine are clearly visible in the
fourteenth-century Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Church of Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio,
the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace. The city's history is even more evident in the works of art by great masters such as Giotto, Brunelleschi, Botticelli and Michelangelo that make the historic downtown area a veritable outdoor museum. The historic center of Florence can be perceived as a singular social and urban center of importance, the result of a persistent and lasting creativity that affects museums, churches, palac-es and works of art of inestimable value. Florence has had an immense influence in the development of
architecture and fine arts, first in Italy and then in Europe. In the Florentine context was born the concept of the Renaissance. This incalculable artistic and cultural heritage gives to Florence exceptional historical and cultural qualities, which make it one of the most fascinating and attractive cities on the European scene.
2. Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa
The famous “Piazza dei Miracoli” of Pisa, with the Leaning Tower the Duomo and the Baptistery, is definitely one of the most sought after cities of Tuscany by the national and international tourism. The Leaning Tower in 2007 was also vying to be one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in a competition organized by a
Swiss society totally alien to UNESCO. Considered a true pearl of the center of Pisa, in the eleventh centu-ry, the square began to come to life with the construction of the Duomo, a splendid example of local
Romanesque architecture, the Baptistery, Campanile and finally the Cemetery. Despite being the Tower
attracts millions of visitors, intrigued by the unique slope, due in reality to a land subsidence observed at the time of its construction began in 1277, this square from the white splendor, stirs for ages now an awe and admiration that earning the nickname of Piazza dei Miracoli, coined by the writer Gabriele d'Annunzio.
3. San Gimignano Historical Center
Passing Firenze direction Siena, meet the third place, in 1990, was included in the UNESCO list: the old town of San Gimignano, emblem of the region, small and peculiar medieval village contains in itself the essence of Tuscany, land from the many culinary and scenic delights. His looks simply elegant and sophisticated, it is characterized by the famous medieval towers that rise in the city profile making it unique skyline in the world. Perfect combination of art and local architecture, is located in perfect symbiosis with the beautiful landscape that surrounds it. The cultural wealth of this city is equaled only by his culinary specialties of which may well proud of them go dutiful quote the famous Vernaccia, the flagship of the Made in Tuscany known all over the world!
When you arrive in the old town you can also make a walk along the walls: the first city wall dates back to 998 d.C and later repeatedly rebuilt and reinforced.
Do not miss once in the historical center, Piazza della Cisterna is also so named because in the center there is a water cistern, built in 1287. In addition, you can see the Cathedral square, with the town hall. Many are also asked, in addition to the Collegiate Church (the Cathedral), is very attractive the church of San Jacopo at the Temple, built in 1096 by some citizens of San Gimignano who were returning from the First Crusade. Lintel is in fact seen the Templar cross.
Of considerable attention even of Torture Museum, where in a historic building you can see all the instruments of torture used in the Middle Ages, including some original Inquisition documents.
Medieval atmosphere in the name is undoubtedly the Harvest Holidays, medieval-style feast that takes place the third weekend of June. This historical re-enactment with stalls and demonstrations of medieval crafts, is a real step back in time with a lot of jugglers and knights parades.
4. Historic Centre of Siena
Headquarters of the Piazza del Campo, objectively one of the most beautiful squares in the world, the historic center of Siena has been named UNESCO Heritage in the mid 90s. In addition to the square where the famous Palio is ongoing, the center of Siena offers to view other architectural preciousness such as the Torre del Mangia, elegant palaces and important religious buildings.
His artistic and urban layout are a magnificent example of Italian Gothic and medieval architecture, one of the highest local artistic expressions, culminating in Piazza del Campo, the center of the city with its characteristic fan shape and in the Cathedral, inside which houses precious works of art of the most famous Tuscan artists, most notably Michelangelo.
5. Pienza
One of the most beautiful villages in the Val d'Orcia.
Pienza owes its beauty to Enea Silvio Piccolomini, the future Pope Pius II, who transformed his native home to a small village that was a real architectural gem: the country is still one of the most significant examples of rational urban planning typical of the Italian Renaissance.
He took charge of the work the architect Bernardo Rossellino in 1459 and after about four years Pienza be-came a papal residence in the Renaissance style.
Along the course Rossellino you can see many fifteenth century buildings until you reach Piazza Pio II, which overlooks the magnificent Cathedral. All around you can admire the Town Hall, Palazzo Borgia and Palazzo Piccolomini. The town of Pienza is famous for its agricultural activities and especially for the deli-cious pecorino cheese. Thanks to the beauty of its old town, Pienza in 1996 became part of the "Natural Heritage, art and culture" of UNESCO, followed in 2004 the whole of the Val d'Orcia region.
The place is high universal value and because it represents the first application of humanistic concepts in urban planning, and because it occupies a crucial position in the development of the city project design ideal that has played a significant role in subsequent urban development in Italy and beyond . The meaning of this principle in Pienza, and in particular to the group of buildings around the central square, is a master-piece of human creative genius "
6. Val d'Orcia
In just 14 years, the province of Siena has views to recognize 4 World Heritage sites UNESCO, and this fact speaks volumes about the fantastic beauty of the Sienese territory. The Val d'Orcia, but only for now, is the latest site in time to receive the award for the beauty of its landscapes and its views can originate high inspirations to the artists during the Middle Ages.
The Val d'Orcia, a blend of art and landscape, geographical space and ecosystem, is the expression of man's awareness of the environment depend on the resources and the necessity of their use non-destructive. The Val d'Orcia is an exceptional example of how the landscape was redesigned in Renaissance times to reflect the ideals of good governance and to create an aesthetically pleasing picture.
The landscape of the Val d'Orcia was celebrated by painters from the Siennese School, which flourished during the Renaissance. Images of the Val d'Orcia and particularly depictions of landscapes where people are depicted as living in harmony with nature, have become icons of the Renaissance and have profoundly influenced the development of landscape thinking in future years.
7. Villas and Medici gardens in Tuscany.
In chronological order, the villas and the Medici gardens in Tuscany represent the last assignment that UNESCO has reserved for Tuscany. In this case, we talk of "serial site" because the various buildings are located in different places. Precisely, the recognition goes to these 14 sites, including villas and gardens.
The milestone has been reached by the Villas and the Medici Gardens in 2013, among the most lush and evocative in the world, rich in specimens of local fauna and flora. Among them are the "Boboli Garden" of Florence and that of "Pratolino", in Vaglia, the villas of "Cafaggiolo" in Barberino di Mugello, "Trebbio in San Piero a Sieve", the villas of Careggi, Poggio Imperiale , Castello and "La Petraia" always in Florence, the Villa Medici of Fiesole, the villa of Poggio a Caiano and that of Carmignano; The villa of Cerreto Guidi, "The Magic" in Quarrata (Pistoia) and the Palace of Seravezza (Lucca).
