THE LITTLE TOWN
OF CHIUSDINO

Only a few minutes away from our property, the beautifully preserved medieval hilltop town of Chiusdino looks virtually untouched since San Galgano was born here in 1148, and in fact visitors can see his birthplace and examine the rock imprinted by his horse’s knees when it knelt before a vision of the Archangel Michael, or so the legend goes.  In the 13th century, the town experienced a period of great prosperity as its surrounding monastic settlements expanded throughout the area. Today Chiusdino is home to various artisans and a thriving local community, where guests can learn more about the artistic legacy of the surrounding area at the San Galgano Civic and Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art.

Archaeological sites have been common on the valley floors, on the hillslopes and on the hilltops in the region of San Galgano and the Merse Valley, the area being inhabited since Etruscan times. Being tied to the natural land, it is thought that the Etruscans may have planned roads to align with the various waterways. On the remains of the former Etruscan, Roman and Longobard roads, La Via Francigena dates to the fifth and sixth centuries A.D. and got its official role as the pilgrim road in the 10th century.  In centuries past, pilgrims, Templars, merchants, paupers, bishops, crusaders, Saint Francis of Assisi, and even the Great Charlemagne walked the Via Francigena to Rome and onwards to Jerusalem. As an outcome of these astonishing journeys, legends, myths and cultural exchange were important for disseminating ideas. Unlike Roman roads, the Via Francigena did not connect cities, but relied more upon abbeys. Like all medieval itineraries, the Via Francigena was not strictly linked to a single path, but extended into new territory with routes and variations that would bypass disease ridden or politically tumultuous areas.  In the case of San Galgano, the saint and his legend was a magnetic draw in itself. Not dissimilar to today, many of these pilgrims made their way to find refuge, healing and regeneration in the lands of the Val Di Merse pervaded by tranquility and healing calmness.  

In the little town of Chiusdino live about 1888 inhabitants and it belongs to the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany. It's located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) south of Florence and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) southwest of Siena.