Il Piano: Culture, Art and Historical Traces

Those choosing Il Piano as a holiday destination can explore a wide range of cultural and landscape-related themes. Nearby are the remains of Roman villas at Campo all’Oro near Pieve al Bozzone and the Castello delle Quattro Torra. The Via Lauretana leads to a permanent stone installation. Church architecture, frescoes and places of remembrance add further historical dimensions. This variety helps you take the interests of your travel group into account, from looking at architectural styles and art to walking a stage through an unusual landscape.

Roman Traces and Medieval Architecture

At Campo all’Oro near Pieve al Bozzone are the remains of a large Roman villa dating from between the 1st and 4th centuries AD. The site is near Il Piano. Some of the finds from the villa are on display at the Santa Maria della Scala museum complex in Siena. If you would like to include the exhibition in your plans, check what is currently on display before your visit. This allows you to explore Roman history in two different ways: through the remains at the site and the finds in the museum.

Also near Il Piano is the Castello delle Quattro Torra, a fortified complex dating from the 14th century. Four corner towers give the Castello its name. This is a striking architectural feature and also an easy way to distinguish the complex from other historic structures. In contrast to the Roman villa remains, which are several centuries older, the Castello offers a glimpse of a much later period.

Via Lauretana: Art and Landscape

Near Il Piano, the Via Lauretana leads to Jean-Paul Philippe’s permanent stone installation “Sito Transitorio.” Here, a contemporary work meets a route that also includes sections notable for their scenery. This offers different points of interest for those drawn to art and walking routes, without making them one and the same experience.

On the Siena–Vescona stage of the Via Lauretana, the route climbs to the summit of the Leonina-Biancane, a significant geosite in Tuscany. It then follows a clay track along the ridgeline; the landscape there has an almost lunar appearance. If you plan to walk this stage, bear the condition of the path in mind: clay tracks can be difficult in wet weather. This is a practical planning consideration, distinct from whether your main interest is art, geological formations or the course of a route.

Churches, Frescoes and Historical Remembrance

The Chiesa di Santa Regina combines a simple overall form with details in its furnishings. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross; the single-nave church has a simple pitched roof with a wooden roof structure. Some of the frescoes dating from the 15th century have been uncovered on the stone walls. The architectural form and the paintings offer different ways to explore architecture and sacred art.

The Chiesa di Sant’Ansano a Dofana tells a different story of church history: it kept the body of Saint Ansanus until 1108. It was then transferred to Siena Cathedral. The date makes the change in time clear and sets this topic apart from the architectural features of the Chiesa di Santa Regina.

In Monteaperti, a memorial pyramid commemorates the historic battle fought there. The Monteaperti Past and Present Committee also holds a torchlight procession to the Cippo di Monteaperti every year. If this event is important to your travel plans, check the dates before you arrive. The memorial and the recurring procession each offer a distinct focus on remembrance.

These themes can help guide your choice of accommodation in Il Piano according to your interests: historic buildings and churches, Roman traces, or a stage combining landscape and art. You can consider in advance which focus suits your travel group, without filling every day with the same kind of activity.

Discover more destinations: Le Tolfe, Costalpino, San Rocco A Pilli.

For the full travel overview: Siena.