Hidden Treasures of Mugello

The Year of Awareness

Less known to tourists (both Italians and foreigners), Mugello, the northern part of Tuscany, has many surprising places for those who have the patience and the dedication to spend some time discovering this beautiful land. Small museums are probably some of the well-hidden treasures of this area that we would like to share with you. 

The Third Circle: Hidden Treasures of Mugello

(and some special offers to make things easier...)

Giotto’s Birthplace in Vespignano, Vicchio (Museo Casa Natale Giotto) is one of them. It is a simple medieval house where nowadays one can see only reproductions of Giotto’s famous works and learn that he was an innovator in 1300s in the same way that Picasso was in the 20^th century. 

Mugello... awareness... pure beauty

Giotto brought life, reality, and emotion into paintings, all unknown to his medieval contemporaries. He paved the way for the amazing Renaissance world that was about to come nearly a century later. 

Maestà di Ognissanti (1310, Galleria degli Uffizi).
Admire the first three-dimensional perspective.
It is the first time that Virgin Mary is depicted as a woman and mother.
She is not totally covered in black,
but on the contrary once can see her white, somehow transparent, dress.

Today Giotto’s birthplace is a home to an active local painters’ association who also organizes workshops for children and painting classes for tourists. During the warm summer evenings, the place is also a special venue for small concerts.

This tiny museum was part of the amazing project Invasioni Digitali (Digital Invasions, 20-28 April) for promoting Italian cultural heritage through social media. Mugello Toscana organized the free guided tour (part of a larger initiative called “Sundays at the Museum”) and Ioana, together with blogger TooMuchTuscany and photo blogger Ilaria Vangi “invaded” the place … Lili's photos of Giotto's birthplace

Wine cellar

If your children are more interested in country life than art, the “Il Leprino” Museum is a must while you are on holiday in Mugello. Lepri Faliero (called Leprino) lives in Sant’Agata, a tiny village close to Scarperia. He is a simple man with a lot of passion for handwork. He succeeded in reproducing an entire village, houses, shops, a farm, a railway station, people.

All aboard!!

All characters move and they accurately reproduce people who Leprino used to know. 

A photo is 1000 words...

Leprino has little formal education, but his amazing gift for engineering helped him create a true masterpiece. 

Isn't this incredible?!

 Grandma's House

For his achievement and for the success this well-hidden (literally) musem has, Leprino became “Knight of the Italian Republic” in 2007.

Next time you come to Poggio alle Ville, we will more than happy to organize for you exclusive guided tours to the hidden treasures of this amazing land of Mugello.  Our local guide Caterina and us will soon define various tours (for adults and children) and we will advertise them on our Facebook page and Twitter account.

This is special service is part of our new plans for this season in order to offer you more ideas for an unforgettable holiday. So do keep in touch.

In the meantime, we would like to tempt you with some special offers for the month of May!

Tinaia for 6: 18 May – 1 June Euro 1.000 instead of Euro 1.200

Casina for 4: 18-30 May Euro 750 instead of Euro 950

Canonica for 2: 18-31 May Euro 630 instead of Euro 745

Villa Montagna for 18 with private swimming pool: 

18-28 May Euro 3.400 instead of Euro 3.715

(send an email to: info@poggioalleville.it with the mention "Special offer for May 2013")

Come and enjoy a special time here in Mugello where people  such as Giotto or the Medicis rose from and left significant legacies for the entire world.