A paved streets’ labyrinth, brick houses and huge defensive walls are the features of one of Italy’s best and most visited “borghi”: Anghiari (AR). In this small center on a hill, tourists fall in love with the colors of landscapes they were just used to see captured in postcards and they discover Tuscany’s real soul and history.
Walking along the narrow streets of this “città del buon vivere”, it seems that time has not been passing since Middle Ages, when some ancient buildings like San Bartolomeo Apostolo Monastery (the Cassero), Badia church and the city walls were built. The main square is Piazza Mameli (in the past it was known as Piazza del Borghetto) and it hosts two of Anghiari’s most important museums: the “Museo statale di arte figurativa” in Palazzo Teglieschi” and “Museo della Battaglia e di Anghiari” in Palazzo del Marzocco. Don’t forget to visit even “Museo della Misericordia” “Teatro Ricomposti”, “Torre dell’Orologio” and “Giardini del Vicario”.
Stop a few seconds to admire the wonderful panoramic view over the Tiber valley, the village of Sansepolcro and the “Piana della Battaglia”, which is the valley where a famous battle took place in 1440. On June 29th, the single clash day, Milaneses and Florentines fought to control Tuscany’s southern region and only one man died falling from his horse. As they won, Florentines decided to celebrate commissioning the “Battaglia di Anghiari” fresco to Leonardo da Vinci, which was painted in Palazzo Vecchio’s Salone dei Cinquecento. Unfortunately, the masterpiece ruined itself because of a wrong drying technique and Vasari covered it with one of his frescos afterwards.
In memory of the battle, a “Palio della Vittoria” is organized every June 29th and it consists of a running competition starting in the Piana della Battaglia and ending in Piazza del Mercatale. There is also another curious tradition in this village: the Scampanata. Every five years, one May 5th, the “Società della Scampanata” members must present themselves in the main square before 6 o’clock in the morning. Those who arrive late are picked away from their houses, thrown on a frilled cart and carried along the crowded streets, where people throw flour, eggs and other kinds of food to them.
Anghiari is in an area full of touristic attractions and “città d’arte”: a couple of minutes are enough to reach cities like Arezzo, Cortona, Siena or Perugia. Less than ten kilometers away from the center you will also find Monterchi, a small medieval locality where there are some beautiful villas rented by Posarelli Villas: Palazzo Rosadi and Torre del Cielo. Each property belongs to Rosado Rosadi and offers an exclusive position on Tuscan hills, a breathtaking panorama, a private swimming pool and a relaxing holiday to its guests.
