Holiday apartment in Chiassa: Churches, Wine and History

Chiassa combines an impressive church history with winegrowing and unusual discoveries from several centuries. The Pieve di Santa Maria alla Chiassa is a church in the village of Chiassa. In Chiassa Superiore, Relais La Torre is located in an old rural complex of Lombard origin dating from the 12th century. Here, you will find specific themes for a trip in which culture, landscape and regional products belong together.

Church Art and Traces of the Past

The Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta alla Chiassa has three naves, three apses and a roof with a wooden roof structure. The church features small arches made of stone and bricks, characteristic of 10th-century Ravenna art. Inside, a fragment of an Early Medieval pluteus has been preserved, displaying geometric figures and stylized animals. The Pieve also preserves fragmentary traces of two fresco cycles.

The place of worship of the Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta alla Chiassa was built in the Early Middle Ages, between the 8th and 9th centuries. The first fresco cycle dates from the late 14th century; at that time, many local artists were influenced by Spinello Aretino. During work on the church floor, the remains of a villa from the Imperial period were discovered between 1973 and 1974. At the Pieve della Chiassa Superiore, the remains of an older church also came to light during floor works in 1973. The pluteus associated with the Pieve della Chiassa Superiore dates from the 8th century.

Memorial Plaque and Rural Complex

A memorial plaque for Giovan Battista Mineo and Giuseppe Rosadi is mounted on the exterior wall of a private residence opposite the piazza in front of the Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta in Chiassa Superiore. It records that the two men brought a colonel back from the German command and thereby saved the local population from a massacre. The plaque complements the sacred and archaeological evidence with a tangible reminder of the history of the place.

Winegrowing and a notable history behind its name are part of La Torre's character. La Torre cultivates 13 hectares of vineyards, producing four red wines and Vin Santo. The name La Torre derives from a tower within the complex that has since been destroyed. In the event of an enemy attack, this tower served to protect the inhabitants.

Museums and Mountains in the Surrounding Area

The area around La Chiassa is home to the Casa del Vasari museum, the Palazzo Bruni Ciocchi, the Museo Diocesano Arezzo museum and the Museo Statale d'Arte Medievale e Moderna museum. The mountains Monte Acuto, Monte San Zio and Monte Fungaia are also located around La Chiassa. The Villa Severi garden is located there as well. These varied destinations give you the opportunity to choose between art, architectural history, gardens and landscape themes when planning your trip.

Chiassa as a Starting Point for Different Holiday Experiences

The L'Ardita gourmet cycling route follows stretches with practically no difference in elevation, including unpaved roads and cycle paths. This is a specific point of reference if cycling is part of your desired mix of sightseeing and active days. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in Chiassa, you can therefore consider whether churches, museums, winegrowing or a cycling tour should be the focus of your trip. The historic sites and vineyards offer different highlights from the mountains Monte Acuto, Monte San Zio and Monte Fungaia, without requiring you to commit to just one way of exploring.

Other places that you can discover afterwards include San Firenze-Fonte Di Sala, Terrarossa, Molinelli, Ranco Di Frassineto, Poggiola, Indicatore, Ruscello and Quarata.

For the higher-level travel overview: Arezzo.