Civitella in Val di Chiana: Guide, Hotels, Map & Photos
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EUR 400 - 600 Casale Terranostra
 Casale Terranostra is a farmhouse surrounded by the Tuscan hills. It offers a pool, free bike hire, and a lounge with a log fire and exposed-beam ceil… More | ||||||
Civitella in Val di Chiana: Guide
Civitella in Val di Chiana (official name), often also Civitella di Val di Chiana, is a comune in the province of Arezzo, south of Arezzo in Tuscany, Italy. It is one of the best-preserved of the network of Lombards|Lombard fortresses of the 6th and the 7th century in central Italy, strategically placed to control the whole territory. The characteristic elliptical shape of the military settlements can still be seen in the layout of the town walls.
History
Already inhabited in ancient Roman|Roman times, it was occupied and fortified by the Lombards in the 6th century. In the 11th century it became a possessment of the Bishops of Arezzo, and renamed "Civitella del Vescovo" ("Little Bishop's City"). In the 13th century the city was destroyed after the battle of Pieve al Toppo, cited by Dante Alighieri and fought nearby between Arezzo and Siena. After the Aretine defeat at battle of Campaldino|Campaldino (1289) the city was annexed by Florence. In 1311 Arezzo regained it until 1348, whenceforth it remained the seat of a Florentine podestà.
On 1944-06-29, 244 citizens of Civitella were killed by Hermann Göring Division, in retaliation for the murder of two German soldiers by the hands of partisans. In 1963 the city receveid the Gold Medal for Civilian Valour.
Main sights
The Castle, erected in 1048 and surrounded by a massive line of walls. It was used as headquarters by the German army during World War II, and was destroyed by an Allied bombing in 1944. It has never been rebuilt.
Palazzo Pretorio (14th century)
The church of Santa Maria (11th century), finished in Romanesque architecture|Romanesque style in 1252.
Sister cities
Ain Beda, Western Sahara
External links
(from Tuscany-Villas.Com)
This "Travel Guide" section is drawn from the Wikipedia article "Civitella in Val di Chiana". We hope you will edit and improve it. It is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.