Medieval Italy
When you think of Italy, your imagination normally goes to Roman legions, the Colosseum and the grandeur that once was Rome. What happened, though, after the Roman Empire broke down and Rome itself was attacked and conquered by barbarian hordes? Well, the period of time that followed these events is known as the Middle Ages and is really of paramount importance since it represents an era of transformation that set the basis for the birth of modern Western civilization. Obviously, Italy - not only Rome - is especially rich in buildings, and, above all, traditions dating back to those days. We have arranged various tours designed not only to introduce our customers to the historical background of the Middle Ages, but also to show them places and living conditions typical of the time and how everyday life gradually changed over the centuries. Some Tuscan and Umbrian cities provide splendid examples of what Medieval cities used to look like. In fact, when walking through the streets of Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Perugia, Assisi or Gubbio, you can easily be led to think that you are walking back in time: cobbled streets, buildings erected in the 12th, 13th or 14th centuries (and sometimes even before then), castles, fortresses, bridges and towers help create an atmosphere that is full of suggestions and challenges the imagination. To ensure that they gain an insight into Italian Medieval civilization, our friends will be met at their arrival by pages dressed in Medieval costumes and will then be shown around the town by an English-speaking guide who will accompany them to lunch or dinner held in an appropriate atmosphere. Where possible, accommodation will also be in line with the spirit of the Middle Ages so that our friends will bring back home the memory of days spent ........centuries ago. We would suggest that our friends contact us when beginning to plan their trip to Italy so that we may provide suggestions for the best days to attend events simulating tournaments and contests of the Middle Ages. These tours should ideally take about six days, which would be inclusive of travelling by private transport to the various places, but, needless to say, the tours may be adjusted, in terms of time and cities to be visited, to suit our customers specific requirements.
MEDIEVAL ITALY
FIRST DAY - As you know, a driver-guide will accompany you for the whole tour to provide information on all the towns and sights you will be visiting and to answer any questions you may have. He will take you for a tour of some of Italy's finest cities that have best retained typically Medieval features. We assume that your tour will leave from Florence. You will therefore head for your first destination, which is Lucca. Though of Etruscan origin, this city is truly Medieval in character because, like most Tuscan cities, Lucca grew in size and importance during the Middle Ages, and particularly from the 11th century onwards, thanks to its commercial activity. In addition, Lucca was located along the so-called Via Francigena, a route leading from Canterbury to Rome, described by Canterbury's Archbishop Sigeric who travelled to Rome late in the 10th century. He considered Lucca an important stop on the Route because of the presence there of the Holy Face, a wooden crucifix widely venerated throughout Europe as far back as the Early Middle Ages (now kept in the Duomo). Thus the city became a major stop along the Route, which was soon used by pilgrims travelling from anywhere in Northern Europe to Rome. Lucca's greatness in the Middle Ages is reflected in its churches, palaces and towers. Take for instance the Duomo (Cattedrale di San Martino). Built between the 11th and 15th century, this church is an excellent example of the changes in style occurred during the Middle Ages in Italy: the original Romanesque turned later into Gothic and this in turn gradually gave way to Renaissance style. The Basilica of San Frediano is another architectural gem that is said to go back to the 6th century, although the Basilica we see today is a 12th century remaking of the original church. Despite various alterations, its Romanesque style is evident and, inside, the 12th century baptismal font as well as later frescoes and canvasses adorning the chapels provide a vivid impression of artistic continuity. No less charming is the Church of San Michele in Foro, which is, again, the result of the reconstruction - carried out between the 11th and 14th century - of an earlier church. Its style, essentially Romanesque, evolved into Gothic in some parts, particularly in the facade. Other buildings facing the square in front of the Church are also easily identified as Medieval from their round arches and mullioned windows. Because of its antique and elegant atmosphere the people of Lucca consider this square the hub of the city's social life: art exhibitions and food fairs are often held here. Equally popular as a symbol of Lucca is the Tower of Guinigi: the holm-oaks visible on top of it were planted there by the Guinigis, the leading local family at the time, as a sign of their power and style of living. Lucca boasts a rather unique feature: its city walls. In the Middle Ages, Lucca, like most European cities, was surrounded by protective walls. These were later extended, but developments in the field of warfare proved them inadequate for military purposes. Today, the walls, together with their bastions and adjacent parks, provide an excellent setting for various shows and exhibitions and are visited by tourists and local inhabitants, who enjoy walking along these charming avenues.
You will be having lunch and dinner in Lucca where you will be able to taste typically Tuscan specialties in a congenial atmosphere. Accommodation for the night will be arranged for you at a prestigious local hotel.
SECOND DAY - Today you will be travelling to Pisa, one of Italy's most famous Medieval cities. Undoubtedly, you are familiar with its name which in everybody's mind is associated with the world-known Leaning Tower, which is actually the bell tower of the city's Cathedral (Duomo). Its construction, begun in 1173, lasted over 200 years, as it was halted several times for technical reasons and for intervening wars. The Tower is a beautiful Romanesque building, from the top of which you can enjoy a splendid view of the whole of Pisa. Facing the same square, Piazza dei Miracoli, or Square of Miracles, are also the Baptistery, the Cathedral itself, and the Cemetery, which are positioned respectively in such a way as to reflect the stages of man's life: birth, life and death. The Baptistery, erected between the 12th and 14th century, reflects both the Romanesque and the Gothic style, but the pulpit in its interior already embodies several elements that are characteristic of Renaissance art. The Cathedral was built between the 11th and 12th century and its Pisan brand of Romanesque style became widespread throughout Tuscany as well as in Sardinia and Corsica. Both in its external appearance and in its interior the Cathedral shows a Byzantine influence, although the mosaics and frescoes decorating it are mostly in Medieval Italian style, with some decorations belonging to the Renaissance period. The Cemetery is a Gothic structure in the shape of a cloister. The inner court is actually considered holy ground since its soil was supposedly taken from Golgotha and brought to Pisa by crusaders in the 12th century. The whole complex of the Piazza dei Miracoli is undoubtedly of striking beauty and , in recognition of its artistic and architectural value, in 1987 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of Pisa's quality restaurants has been selected for you so that at lunch you may enjoy some local delicacies.
In the afternoon you will be transferring to San Gimignano, a charming little town that has preserved the appearance and structure of a typical Italian town during the Middle Ages: for this very reason San Gimignano has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally an Etruscan settlement, the town grew considerably during the 11th century since it became an important stop along the Via Francigena, which you heard about yesterday. Trade was another major contributor to the town's wealth, as was the thriving banking and financial business. Prosperity increased steadily until the Black Death (Plague) struck the area, like the rest of Europe, in 1348 and subsequent years. Death and famine brought the population to its knees and the town found it necessary to submit to its stronger neighbour, Florence. Incredibly, this apparently hopeless situation worked to the town's advantage. Having lost its economic importance, the town was no longer the target of greedy enemies and internal political strife fell sharply. San Gimignano thus became an industrious centre proud of its past glory and careful to guard jealously all its artistic and architectural marvels. This is why you can still admire today 14 towers in the city area: they were built between the 11th and the 13th century and they characterize the urban skyline to such an extent that San Gimignano has been called the Medieval Manhattan. Piazza della Cisterna, for instance, is an ideal place from which to admire the style of the buildings and the network of nearby streets. Piazza del Duomo is the very heart of the city. The main buildings facing the square are the Palazzo Comunale, currently housing an excellent painting museum, the Palazzo del Podesta', rebuilt in1239, and the Duomo, named Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, an 11th century Romanesque church lavishly decorated with splendid frescoes by several great Medieval artists. But the whole town is really an open-air museum and a walk around its streets will probably give you the feeling of going back in time and will prove an experience that you will never forget.
You will be having dinner at a local restaurant renowned for its fine selection of excellent Tuscan dishes. You will also be staying for the night at a quality hotel in San Gimignano.
THIRD DAY - A short drive will take you to Siena. Its name immediately recalls the famous Palio, a horse race held twice a year, in July and August. Needless to say, the Palio is an event that attracts spectators from all over the world. Preceded by a colourful procession in historical costume, this horse race is absolutely remarkable for the enormous enthusiasm displayed by the population in supporting the jockeys and horses representing their respective contrade, or wards. Quite apart from the Palio, however, Siena is a must for anyone interested in the Middle Ages. This was indeed the time of its maximum splendour, due to the increased volume of its trading business and financial activity (incidentally, one of the world's oldest banks still in operation today was established in Siena in 1472 - 20 years before the discovery of America by Columbus). The prosperity enjoyed from the 11th to the 14th century has left its mark on the palaces, churches and towers disseminated throughout the city. Take for instance Piazza del Campo, the square where the Palio is held. Its sloping design and red brick pavement perfectly match the beautiful palaces surrounding it, and the result is even more striking because, contrary to most other Tuscan cities, Siena made a definite effort to ensure that major buildings be of the same height and close to one another to denote unity, rather than hostility among the leading local families. The Palazzo Pubblico, or Town Hall, built between the 13th and 14th century, dominates the square. The Gothic influence is unquestionable in its external appearance, while the frescoes decorating its various rooms possess certain elements that seem to anticipate Renaissance art. Significantly, the Tower forming part of the Palazzo, known as Torre del Mangia, at 102 m. is exactly as high as Siena's Duomo (Cathedral), to stress that the church and the state were to be considered on the same level of importance. Speaking of the Duomo, this is a superb testimony to Sienese art and architecture in the Middle Ages. Erected between the 13th and 14th century, the Cathedral is one of the best examples of Romanesque-Gothic style in Italy and the decorations by sculptors and painters such as Donatello, Bernini, Pinturicchio and Jacopo della Quercia, may only be defined as artistic masterpieces that are part and parcel of the history and spirit of Siena, a city that has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
You will be having lunch and dinner at select restaurants in Siena offering menus of typical local delicacies. You will also spend the night at a prestigious hotel in Siena.
FOURTH DAY - Today you will leave Tuscany and enter another Italian Region, Umbria. Specifically, you will be going to Perugia, the main city in Umbria. A city of Etruscan origins, Perugia reached the peak of its power and splendour during the Middle Ages. It is quite natural, therefore, that its historical buildings and the works of art decorating them should date mostly from the 11th to the 15th century. Entering Perugia via the mechanized pedestrian way, you will go under the remains of Rocca Paolina (a fortress built in the 16th century and nearly all destroyed in the 19th century), pass through an old medieval suburb and reach the Palace of the Province. The city's history from the Early Middle Ages onwards was marked by a constant struggle between the Papacy and the Holy Roman Emperor, or simply between powerful local families. This state of affairs is clearly reflected, for instance, in two buildings that face each other across Piazza IV Novembre, the city's main square: the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, built between the 14th and 15th century, and the Palazzo dei Priori, or Palace of the Leading Citizens, erected between the 13th and 15th century, which , as its position clearly shows, was meant to demonstrate secular power in contrast to religious power. An imposing Gothic-style structure, the Palazzo was to house the offices of local government, called Magistratura dei Priori (Magistracy of the Leading Citizens), made up of representatives of the main guilds. At the centre of Piazza IV Novembre you will notice a fountain, known as Fontana Maggiore, designed and built by Nicola Pisano and his son Giovanni between 1275 and 1278 and decorated with splendid bas-reliefs. Only a few steps away from the fountain, beneath the 16th century palace of the Bourbon di Sorbello Family, there is a well that dates back to the 4th or 3rd century B.C., when the area was still under Etruscan (i.e. pre-Roman) control. It was almost certainly the main source of water supply for the town and, given its size - 37 m. deep and 5.6 m. wide - and the time of construction, it is regarded as a feat of hydraulic engineering. From there a brief walk will take you to the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, or Palace of the Captain of the People, an official who was in charge of the administration of justice and had also been entrusted with other political and military responsibilities by the people to counterbalance the power of the Priori. Erected between 1472 and 1481, this Palace was strongly influenced by the Renaissance spirit, although some Gothic elements are still perceivable. One of the earliest Christian churches in Italy is located at the far end of Perugia, right next to the city walls. It is the Chiesa di S. Angelo, also known as Tempio di S. Michele Arcangelo (Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel) or Padiglione d'Orlando (Orlando's Pavilion), which dates as far back as the 5th century A.D. Its round shape is a fairly rare occurrence for religious buildings in Italy and its central part is higher than the rest of the building, while its roof resembles a marquee hence the name Pavilion. Incidentally, mystery lovers may be interested to note the strange crosses appearing on the jambs of the entrance door and on the neck of our Lady in one of the frescoes: these symbols were normally associated with the world of Templars, a medieval brotherhood with a history steeped in secrets and mysteries. Close to the entrance you can also see the sign of a pentacle, a symbol connected with the cult of Venus, which in the Middle Ages was held to be linked to black magic.
You will be having lunch and dinner at a high-quality restaurant in Perugia offering a select menu of Umbrian delicacies. You will be staying for the night at a first-class local hotel.
FIFTH DAY - Undoubtedly you have heard of St. Francis, the most famous friar of the Middle Ages and founder of the order named after him, the Franciscan Friars. This physically little man, but a giant in the history of Christianity, came from an Umbrian town called Assisi. This is where you are going today. The origins of Assisi are extremely remote, but when St. Francis was born in 1181 or 1182 A.D. the town had become a key position for the control of the surrounding area. During the Middle Ages, like most towns in Central Italy, Assisi was torn by internal struggles between Papal supporters and their opponents backing the Holy Roman Emperors. The first thing you see as you approach Assisi is the Basilica di San Francesco di Assisi, an awe-inspiring structure that was built between 1228 and 1253. In actual fact, the Basilica is made up of two churches, the Lower and the Upper Church. Altogether, the Basilica incorporates both Romanesque and Gothic elements, but is extremely important because it pioneered the introduction of the Gothic style in Italy. In particular, while the Lower Church is still essentially Romanesque, the Upper Church is more clearly influenced by the Gothic style not only in its large doorway, but above all in its interior and 13th century stained glass windows . Both Churches are beautifully decorated with frescoes, that to a large extent have been attributed to Cimabue and Giotto. UNESCO has declared Assisi, the Basilica di San Francesco and other Franciscan Sites a World Heritage Site because, inter alia, Assisi represents an ensemble of masterpieces of human creative genius, such as the Basilica di San Francesco, which have made it a fundamental reference for art history in Europe and in the world. Piazza del Comune is the heart of Assisi. Some buildings here bear the same name as some others that you have already struck during your tour, such as the 13th century Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo , the Torre del Popolo (Tower of the People) built between the 13th and 14th century, or the Palazzo dei Priori, created in the 13th century by unifying four existing structures. Close by is Assisi's Duomo (Cathedral), known as Cattedrale di San Rufino. The first structure of this church was built in the 8th century and rebuilt in its present shape between the 12th and 13th century. The facade is in Umbrian Romanesque style and is divided in 3 parts. The bottom part dates from the 12th century, while the middle section was built in the late 13th century. The top section, added subsequently, is the least decorated, probably because unfinished. The simple, yet imposing Romanesque bell tower annexed to the Cathedral, probably dates from the 11th century. One of St. Francis's earliest friends and his follower for all her life was S. Chiara (St. Clare), who founded a religious order and devoted herself to meditation and prayer. Her importance was such that, when she died, it was decided that a church should be built to serve as her final resting place. The Basilica di Santa Chiara, erected between 1257 and 1265, is an impressive structure in Gothic style, with a front in pink and white bands, a central rose window and large supporting side arches. Inside the church you may admire, among other art pieces, the crucifix that, according to tradition, spoke to St. Francis and ordered him to set the Church right since it was going to ruin. The oldest part of the Basilica, was beautifully decorated by 13th and 14th century artists. The body of St. Clare is buried in the crypt. By the way, from the square facing the Church you can enjoy a breathtaking view of green Umbrian countryside stretching for miles around.
You will be having both lunch and dinner at high-quality restaurants in Assisi, where you will also spend the night in a top-quality local hotel.
SIXTH DAY - Your tour today will take you to another city that has retained the design and the spirit that made it famous in the Middle Ages: Gubbio. This lovely, ancient city during the Middle Ages grew increasingly strong and important due to its strategic position. In 1151 Gubbio defeated an army of 11 nearby towns led by Perugia and from then until the 15th century the city experienced a period of power and splendour. Your tour of Gubbio will begin from Piazza dei Quaranta Martiri. The opposite 13th century Church of S. Francesco goes back to the second half of the 13th century. It is the only church in Gubbio to have a central nave and two side aisles. The Chapel of St. Francis is decorated with 13th century frescoes, as is the central apse, while the beautiful frescoes in the left apse depicting the life of the Holy Mary date from the 15th century. Then, after going past a number of 12th and 13th century palaces, you will come to the Church of San Domenico, originally dedicated to San Martino, and renamed by the Dominicans after they took it over and extended it in the early 14th century. As you walk on, you soon reach the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, a name you are quite familiar with by now. A typical 13th century structure, this palace has a front that is embellished by three sets of pointed windows. A stone placed opposite the entrance is used to lay down a figure of Dead Christ during the procession of Good Friday. On your way back, at Largo del Bargello, a 16th century fountain is sure to attract your attention: it is the Fontana dei Matti, or Madmen's Fountain, so called from the nickname "madmen" attributed to the people of Gubbio because they are considered totally unpredictable! Suddenly you will come to a wide square, that is truly the heart of the city, Piazza Grande. Facing the square is one of the most striking testimonies to the past glories of local history: the stately Palazzo dei Consoli, or Consuls' Palace, erected between 1332 and 1349. Its entrance hall, known as the arengo, is so large that it was used originally for public meetings. As a matter of interest, we would mention that Piazza Grande is the site of the Palio dei Belestrieri, a competition between crossbowmen from Gubbio and Sansepolcro held every year on the last Sunday in May. A narrow stepped passageway will take you to the Duomo. Built in the 13th century, this church is essentially Gothic in character. Its pointed portal is surmounted by a large round window, surrounded by sculptures representing the four Evangelists: the eagle for St. John, the lion for St. Mark, the angel for St. Matthew and the ox for St. Luke. Opposite the Cathedral, stands the Palazzo Ducale, or Duke's Palace, which was built in the 15th century and is therefore totally in Renaissance style. The furniture and furnishings were extremely refined, as is evidenced by the studiolo, or study, which was dismantled, removed and reassembled at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, where it is exhibited at present. One final word on an event that takes place on the 15th May every year to commemorate the passing away in 1160 of St. Ubaldo, the city's Patron Saint: the race of the Ceri, or wax candles. The original candles have been replaced by three heavy wooden frames, each of which has at its top end a little statue representing, respectively, St. Ubaldo, patron also of the building profession, St. George, patron of shopkeepers, and St. Anthony, patron of farmers. The Ceri are carried by specially appointed bearers, who must race up a hill outside Gubbio to reach the Basilica of St. Ubaldo. The event, which is regarded to this day as extremely important in the life of local inhabitants, is incredibly picturesque: the bearers, for instance, wear uniforms of different colours depending on the guild they are running for (and their ancestors, at least theoretically, used to belong to): yellow for builders, blue for shopkeepers and black for farmers.
You will be having lunch at a characteristic restaurant in Gubbio, offering typical local delicacies.
After lunch you will be driven back to Florence, where your tour will end.
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