Tuscany Holiday - Tuscany Vacation - Chianciano Terme and its Surroundings - Grand Hotel Terme Chianciano

With its more than 200 hotels and its spa centres specialised in curing liver and kidneys, in inhalation therapy and in functional reactivation and re-education, Chianciano Terme is one of the most important spa centres in Italy. And its fame in the field of spa cures has continued without interruption for more than 2000 years. This is borne out by the many Etruscan and Roman archaeological finds that are continually being discovered throughout the territory and are collected in the recently opened Civic Archaeological Museum.

Over the three years from 1459 to 1462 the new Pienza saw the creation of the luminous Cathedral of the Assuntawhich contains works by major Sienese artists of the day and is flanked by the imposing Palazzo Piccolominiwhose loggia offers a celebrated panoramic view over Val d’Orcia; then there is the Town Hall and the Bishop’s Palace with its museum. The church of San Francesco (13th century), the walls and the austere parish church of Corsignano are mediaeval, the latter mentioned for the first time in 714.

This splendid little town – whose artistic and architectural heritage led it to be called the Pearl of the Cinquecento – has preserved its beauty intact. Going up the steep streets of its outlying districts the visitor discovers beautiful palazzos and churches imbued with the unparalleled art of foremost Renaissance architects. The splendid Piazza Grande, must be seen: the Duomo with its uncompleted façade and the Town Hall, surrounded by Renaissance palazzos. The valley below is an unforgettable view with the outstanding and elegant mass of the Tempio di S. Biagio.

From the Spedale del Santa Maria della Scalawhich today houses an important cultural centre, you will find the Centre of Contemporary Art in a Renaissance building. The wealth of Siena’s museums can offer the 14th century dreams of Duccio di Boninsegna and the rich Sienese school that developed from him; and then the works of Iacopo della Quercia, Francesco di Giorgio, Beccafumi, Sodoma.

Highly important in the Etruscan period, Chiusi experienced its greatest splendour under the legendary king Porsenna. Very significant finds from archaeological digs that are still successfully under way may be seen at the National Etruscan Archaeological Museum. Opposite the latter is the Duomo. Opposite the latter is the Duomo which already existed in the 12th century and was transformed in 1585, and next to it the Cathedral Museum, established in the 1930’s, which houses important objects including precious illuminated missals.