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Cetona (SI)
Cetona is a town and ''comune'' in the southern part province of Siena, Tuscany, in an area where Umbria and Lazio meet. The geographical elevation is between and the of Monte Cetona itself, at the base of which the town is situated at around . History Some of the oldest human settlements of central Italy were discovered at the base of Monte Cetona, such as the early neo-Paleolithic ''Gosto cave'' (40–80th century BC) and ''Lattaia cave'' (9–10th century BC). The ''Belverde'' park hosts 25 prehistoric and Bronze Age caves, such as the ''San Francesco cave''. There are several sites of Etruscan civilization, Etruscan finds. The town of Cetona developed on the hillside around the ''Rocca (architecture), rocca'' fortress, containing a square tower (about 900 AD) and an inner fortress wall. It became known as the ''Scitonia'' castle. In the first mention of the ''comune'', at the end of the 11th century, Pope Gregory VII granted feudal rights to a member of his family, the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rocca (architecture)
A rocca (literally: "rock") is a type of Italian fortified stronghold or fortress, typically located on a hilltop, beneath or on which the inhabitants of a historically clustered village or town might take refuge at times of trouble. Generally under its owners' patronage, the settlement might hope to find prosperity in better times. A rocca might in reality be no grander than a fortified farmhouse. A more extensive rocca would be referred to as a castello. The rocca in Roman times would more likely be a site of a venerable cult than a dwelling, like the high place of Athens, its Acropolis. Though the earliest documentation is not earlier than the eleventh century, it was during the Lombard times that farming communities, which had presented a Roman pattern of loosely distributed farmsteads or self-sufficient Roman villa, moved from their traditional places on the fringes of the best arable lands in river valleys, where they were dangerously vulnerable from the Roman roads, to de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tuscany
Tuscany ( ; it, Toscana ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence (''Firenze''). Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, artistic legacy, and its influence on high culture. It is regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and of the foundations of the Italian language. The prestige established by the Tuscan dialect's use in literature by Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolò Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini led to its subsequent elaboration as the language of culture throughout Italy. It has been home to many figures influential in the history of art and science, and contains well-known museums such as the Uffizi and the Palazzo Pitti. Tuscany is also known for its wines, including Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano, Brunello di Montalcino and white Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Having a strong linguisti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aldobrandeschi
The Aldobrandeschi were an Italian noble family from southern Tuscany. Overview Of probable Lombard origin, they appear in history as counts in the 9th century. The first known count was Hildebrand II (857). Their possession extended to what is now southern Tuscany and northern Lazio regions of Italy. In 1274, their lands were divided between the County of Santa Fiora and the County of Sovana, which thenceforth were ruled by different branches of the family. After the extinction of the Aldobrandeschi of Sovana, the county was assigned to the Orsini. The Aldobrandeschi heiress of Santa Fiora married into the Sforza family. The most famous members were: Guglielmo Aldobrandeschi, who lived in the 13th century and is cited by Dante Alighieri as the ''Gran Tosco'' ("Grand Tuscan"); Guglielmo's son is also cited in Canto XI of the ''Purgatorio'' in the ''Divine Comedy'' as an example of a sinner of pride; and Margherita, the last of the Aldobrandeschi of Sovana, who married Guy de M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cola Petruccioli
Cola Petruccioli (1360–1401) was an Italian painter from Orvieto in Umbria, known as an apprentice to Ugolino di Prete Ilaro, active in the period around 1400 and contemporary of the Sienese School. His works are seen in the Cathedral of Assisi, as well as in the ''Capella de Corporale'' in Orvieto. In Cetona he painted frescoes of Virgin Mary in the Franciscan Hermitage, ''Convento di Santa Maria a Belverde''. These are shown in Enzo Carli's ''Gli Affreschi di Belverde.'' (Edam, Florence, 1977). He painted a diptych the contains an ''Annuciation'' and a ''Crucifixion'' (1395), displayed in the Pinacoteca Civica of the town of Spello. Bill Thayer webpages (University of Chicago website). He died in |
Valentino Garavani
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani (; born 11 May 1932), known mononymously as Valentino, is an Italian fashion designer, the founder of the Valentino brand and company. His main lines include Valentino, Valentino Garavani, Valentino Roma, and R.E.D. Valentino. Career Early life and 1950s Paris years Valentino was born in Voghera, in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. His mother named him after screen idol Rudolph Valentino. He became interested in fashion while in primary school in his native Voghera, when he apprenticed under his aunt Rosa and local designer Ernestina Salvadeo, an aunt of noted artist Aldo Giorgini. Valentino then moved to Paris to pursue this interest with the help of his mother Teresa de Biaggi and his father Mauro Garavani. There he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. His first choice for an apprenticeship, in Paris, was Jacques Fath, then Balenciaga. He found an apprenticeship with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baptistery
In Christian architecture the baptistery or baptistry (Old French ''baptisterie''; Latin ''baptisterium''; Greek , 'bathing-place, baptistery', from , baptízein, 'to baptize') is the separate centrally planned structure surrounding the baptismal font. The baptistery may be incorporated within the body of a church or cathedral, and provided with an altar as a chapel. In the early Church, the catechumens were instructed and the sacrament of baptism was administered in the baptistery. Design The sacramental importance and sometimes architectural splendour of the baptistery reflect the historical importance of baptism to Christians. The octagonal plan of the Lateran Baptistery, the first structure expressly built as a baptistery, provided a widely followed model. The baptistery might be twelve-sided, or even circular as at Pisa. In a narthex or anteroom, the catechumens were instructed and made their confession of faith before baptism. The main interior space centered upon the b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sarteano
Sarteano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about southeast of Florence and about southeast of Siena. Sarteano is particularly important from the historical point of view. Located between Val d'Orcia and Valdichiana, the area of Sarteano has been inhabited for thousands of years. For this reason, Sarteano has a very rich archeology. In particular, some of the most important Etruscan tombs of Tuscany are located in the countryside around Sarteano. A large portion of the archeological objects found in the area form the collection of the Museo civico archeologico di Sarteano. Sarteano borders the following municipalities: Cetona, Chianciano Terme, Chiusi, Pienza, Radicofani, and San Casciano dei Bagni San Casciano dei Bagni is a '' comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Siena in the Italian region of Tuscany, located about southeast of Florence and about southeast of Siena. Geography San Casciano dei Bagni bo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chiappino Vitelli
Giovan Luigi "Chiappino" Vitelli (1519 – July 1575) was an Italian marquis and military leader, son of Niccolò Vitelli. Vitelli served as captain under Cosimo I de' Medici in his wars to gain Florence, Siena and Montalcino, and was appointed governor of Piombino (1543). He was also a general in the Spanish Army of Flanders, as well as Tuscan ambassador in the England of Elizabeth I. He was marquis of Cetona, that he acquired from Cosimo I de' Medici (1556). Here, he restored the fortress and built the ''Piazza Vitelli'' town square (1559), today the ''Piazza Garibaldi'', as well as the Palazzo Vitelli which can be seen today, holding a significant art collection. He used acquisitions from other places, such as a belltower from Montepescali, a town he had surrounded near Grosseto (1555). His military inventions include a siege technique, first tried at the town of Mons in, for the Spanish Duke of Alba Duke of Alba de Tormes ( es, Duque de Alba de Tormes), c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cosimo I De' Medici
Cosimo I de' Medici (12 June 1519 – 21 April 1574) was the second Duke of Florence from 1537 until 1569, when he became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, a title he held until his death. Life Rise to power Cosimo was born in Florence on 12 June 1519, the son of the famous condottiere Ludovico de' Medici (known as Giovanni delle Bande Nere) and his wife Maria Salviati, herself a granddaughter of Lorenzo the Magnificent. He was the grandson of Caterina Sforza, the Countess of Forlì and Lady of Imola. Cosimo came to power in 1537 at age 17, just after the 26-year-old Duke of Florence, Alessandro de' Medici, was assassinated. Cosimo was from a different branch of the Medici family, descended from Giovanni il Popolano, the great-grandson of Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici, founder of the Medici Bank. It was necessary to search for a successor outside of the "senior" branch of the Medici family descended from Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici, since the only male child of Alessandro, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Perugia
Perugia (, , ; lat, Perusia) is the capital city of Umbria in central Italy, crossed by the River Tiber, and of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome and southeast of Florence. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area. The region of Umbria is bordered by Tuscany, Lazio, and Marche. The history of Perugia goes back to the Etruscan period; Perugia was one of the main Etruscan cities. The city is also known as the University, universities town, with the University of Perugia founded in 1308 (about 34,000 students), the University for Foreigners Perugia, University for Foreigners (5,000 students), and some smaller colleges such as the Academy of Fine Arts "Pietro Vannucci" ( it, Accademia di Belle Arti "Pietro Vannucci") public athenaeum founded in 1573, the Perugia University Institute of Linguistic Mediation for translators and interpreters, the Music Conservatory of Perugia, founded in 1788, and other institutes. Perugia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orvieto
Orvieto () is a city and ''comune'' in the Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy, situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff. The city rises dramatically above the almost-vertical faces of tuff cliffs that are completed by defensive walls built of the same stone, called ''tufa''. History Etruscan era The ancient city (''urbs vetus'' in Latin, whence "Orvieto"), populated since Etruscan times, has usually been associated with Etruscan Velzna, but some modern scholars differ. Orvieto was certainly a major centre of Etruscan civilization; the archaeological museum (Museo Claudio Faina e Museo Civico) houses some of the Etruscan artifacts that have been recovered in the immediate area. A tomb in the Orvieto Cannicella necropolis bears the inscription ''mi aviles katacinas'', "I am of Avile Katacina"; the tomb's occupant thus bore an Etruscan-Latin first name, Aulus, and a family name that is believed to be of Celtic origin (derived from "Catacos"). Th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Republic Of Siena
The Republic of Siena ( it, Repubblica di Siena, la, Respublica Senensis) was a historic state consisting of the city of Siena and its surrounding territory in Tuscany, central Italy. It existed for over 400 years, from 1125 to 1555. During its existence, it gradually expanded throughout southern Tuscany becoming one of the major economic powers of the Middle Ages, and one of the most important commercial, financial and artistic centers in Europe. From 1287 to 1355, during the rule of the Noveschi, the Republic experienced a period of great political and economic splendor: new buildings were commissioned, including that of the Cathedral of Siena, the Palazzo Pubblico, and a substantial part of the city walls completed. This government is in fact defined by historians as the "good governance". A combination of economic decline, sparked by the Black Death, and political instability led to its absorption by the rival Republic of Florence during the Italian War of 1551–1559. Despi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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