The church of Our Lady in the Snow (Chiesa della Madonna della Neve) is among Lari’s oldest buildings. Its old medieval walls are still standing and the church can boast of works by Della Robbia. The mansions from the 18th and 19th centuries make the perfect backdrop for the old fortress.
During the Lombard reign (6th –8th century) Lucca was the capital of Tuscany or, more strictly speaking, the seat of its duke. The town’s golden era was from the 11th to the 14th century when it was an independent city-state, with an influential banking community and silk trade.
Chianti wine was incredibly popular especially in the years from 1870 to 1900, which led to the shabby copies from other districts. As long as the wine was poured in the classic fiasco bottle, it could pass as Chianti. In 1924 a group of wine producers from central Chianti formed a consortium, which took its name from the Lega de Chianti’s symbol – a black rooster.
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and has been a cultural centre since the early Middle Ages. If you travel to Tuscany, you really should pay Florence a visit at some point: Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery, the churches Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce, Palazzo Pitti and its exhibitions, the cathedral with Brunelleschi’s vault and Giotto’s bell tower...
Volterra really should be mentioned alongside Florence, Siena, Lucca, San Gimignano and Pisa, because of its beautiful medieval and Renaissance heritage. This delightful town, with its winding network of streets and walkways, lies high in the hills providing magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.
