Chiusi della Verna

History and Nature in Chiusi della Verna

Chiusi della Verna combines a concentrated historic townscape with special connections to La Verna and nature experiences suited to a range of day plans. If you would like to discover culture not only through major art cities but also through religious history, medieval traces and smaller architectural features, you will find several clearly distinct points of interest here. In addition, the Sentiero Natura La Verna offers an opportunity to observe geomorphology, vegetation, fauna and local history at designated observation points with explanatory information panels.

La Verna and the Chapel of the Stigmata

La Verna was given to Saint Francis in 1213 by Count Orlando Cattani of Chiusi. On 17 September 1224, Saint Francis of Assisi received the stigmata at La Verna. These two dates give the site a precise historical framework and make La Verna a distinct focus for visitors interested in the religious and cultural history of Tuscany.

In the Chapel of the Stigmata at the Santuario della Verna, an entire central wall is covered by Andrea della Robbia’s depiction of the Crucifixion. This specific artwork adds a clearly identifiable art-historical aspect to the historical connections. This makes it possible to structure a visit around both historical reflection and experiencing nature, without conflating the two themes.

Historic Centre and Notable Buildings

The historic centre of Chiusi della Verna developed along ancient medieval routes. The Fontana del Campari stands in Piazza dei Caduti; it is a Campari advertising fountain from the 1930s. The Fontana del Campari is also a travertine work by the sculptor G. Gronchi, combining advertising history, material and the local townscape in a single structure.

The Church of San Michele Arcangelo, built in 1338 at the request of Countess Giovanna Tarlati, is also part of the area’s historical orientation. The Podesteria di Michelangelo served as the seat of the Florentine podestà; Ludovico Buonarroti held office there in 1474. The castle of Count Orlando Cattani dates from the 10th century and is visible from the entire historic centre. As a result, the townscape brings together different historical periods, from the medieval castle to later historical and artistic traces.

Walks, Water and Visitor Centres

Near the Pozza del Leone, the Parco Fluviale di Corsalone has illuminated footpaths, refreshment areas and picnic spots. Admission is free; the illuminated paths also make it possible to use the park in the evening. Alongside the historic attractions, this provides a separate recreational area with a different character.

The VerdeLaVerna programme offers excursions and nature experiences through the visitor centres of Chiusi della Verna. These visitor centres also have a detailed map of the hiking trails in the surrounding area. A bus service from Bibbiena to Chiusi della Verna is available for travelling to La Verna. This information adds a specific transport connection to the on-site orientation and provides a way to put the hiking trails into context using the available map.

More Destinations for Your Search

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Chiusi della Verna, you can also view Frassineta, San Clemente In Valle, Castiglion Fiorentino, Rigo, Lonnano, Stia, Castel San Niccolò and Pulicciano.

For the higher-level travel overview: Arezzo.