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Links to individual Bellatrovata pages
Bellatrovata
Spring & Summer in Europe - 2005
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Day 1 (afternoon) - San Galgano |
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The church of the Abbadia a Isola, built in the 1000s on what was then an island on the Via Francigena, the pilgrim's road to Rome, and recently beautifully restored. |
And on a hill overlooking "the island", Monteriggione - Sienese frontier hill fort built in 1213 to confront the towns of the Chianti League, Florence's frontier outposts, but it also ended up taking over the lands of the monks of the Abbadia.
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San Galgano lasted only a couple of years as a hermit in a twig hut in a dank and cold part of Tuscany. In 1180 it is said that he plunged his sword into this rock to have an altar to pray at. A beautiful little Etruscan style beehive chapel was built at the site and immediately became a magnet for pilgrims.
Link to New Photos of the EREMO (HERMITAGE) DI SAN GALGANO
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In the even danker and boggier field below San G's hermitage, the Cistercians decided to do their draining thing and then build (1224 - 1288) what became the first gothic church in Italy. Now a roofless but well kept ruin and yes, this photo was taken a few dawns later, but dawn is more evocative than evening!
Link to New Photos of the ABBAZIA DI SAN GALGANO
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Day 2 Siena and Chianti |
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An early start from Castellina in Chianti down the SS222 - the via Chiantigiana - past the ancient hamlet of Fonterutoli with the two towers of Siena as a backdrop. And yes, maybe the photo was taken a couple of days later in the evening sun, but the view has remained essentially unchanged for several hundred years! |
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The Campo - with barrier and tufa surface for the weekend's Palio |
Duccio's 1288 window for Siena Duomo (now restored and in the museum) |
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The Siena Baptistery |
Pintoricchio (the painter) eyes Raphael (left) in one of the the Piccolomini Library frescos |
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Volpaia - wine producing hamlet on the hill overlooking Radda |
View from the ridge linking Volpaia and Panzano |
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Vignamaggio - claimed to be the villa where Leonardo's model for the Mona Lisa was born.
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Day 3 San Gimignano |
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After a morning devoted to housekeeping and a big shop at the Poggibonsi Coop, it's off to San Gimignano, town of medieval towers, for an evening stroll. |
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The Piazza della Cisterna (after the tourists have gone |
Spring 2005 was the occasion for a rolling series of celebrations up the centre of Italy as town after town remembered their liberation from German forces. |
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Links to individual Bellatrovata pages
Bellatrovata and Paradoxplace are the creations of Adrian Fletcher
All original material © Adrian Fletcher and James Fletcher 2000-07 - The contents may not be reproduced without permission. Feedback and comments to Adrian Fletcher
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