Paradise of exiles

Somebody - I forgot who - once said: 'I don't need a therapist, just a good travel agent.'

Beautiful landscapes, amazing culinary delicacies, fashion, arts and history, culture, La Dolce Vita.

My little piece of Italy is about 100 km from Florence; a little over three hours by train from Rome. Siena is 115 km away. 

But to be honest, why even travel that far?

Arresting arezzo

The ancient Tuscan city of Arezzo, with its Roman ruins, medieval walls, Renaissance architecture and incomparable Piero della Francesca murals, has always been a magnet for art lovers.

But on the first Sunday of every month, and the Saturday before, its Piazza Grande is filled with a fascinating collection of old furniture, musty paintings and stained silverware, tarnished candlesticks and kitchen cabinets, chipped china and violins, Roman coins and a harmonium, old-fashioned telephones and grandfather clocks.

The monthly Antiques Market with its 500 exhibitors and about 100 little shops open all year round, is, since 1968, an added incentive to visit this art-laden city.

The fair takes advantage of the extraordinary scenery of Piazza San Francesco, Piazza Grande and the Logge del Vasari.

But the stalls spread over the side alleys and squares across the historic centre transform the character of the city for the two days of the Antique Market.

For 40 years the appointment on the first Sunday of each month and the Saturday before is a must for fans and curious: it has been estimated that each edition is visited by an average of 20,000 people.

It's always a memorable day - and i've begun visiting the antique fair every month to pick up wonderful things for my house.

STUNNING SANSEPULCRO

The entire old town is still surrounded by its ancient fortified walls, so when you arrive you park just outside these walls then enter the historic centre through one of the original stone entrances.

Wherever you start, all roads quickly lead to the main square in Sansepolcro, the Piazza Torre di Berta: so called because it includes the 'Torre di Berta', a 13th century tower. 

Additionally, the centre of town is also the location of The Happy Bar, where I have spent many hours and always left very happy.

amazing anghiari

I still remember the first time I saw Anghiari, this amazing medieval clifftop village.

Anghiari is about 30 km from Arezzo, near the border between Tuscany and Umbria in the Tuscan Valtiberina valley.

It is a small medieval jewel set on a hill made of stone, built up over the centuries with the Tiber River at its feet.

Thanks to its strategical position, Anghiari played an important role in the Middle Ages. The flat valley underneath the village was the set of the famous Battle of Anghiari in 1440, when Florentine troops won the battle against the army from Milano.

The legendary fresco depicting the "Battle of Anghiari" by Leonardo da Vinci in Florence's Palazzo Vecchio's Salone dei Cinquecento was commissioned to celebrate this victory.

Anghiari is a characteristic village enclosed in massive 13th century walls.

It preserves the ancient and original atmosphere of small medieval towns.

Walking around its narrow streets, you can breathe its history and glory.

The stone houses overlooking the streets have small windows, wooden shutters and doors, sometimes damaged or broken, but still characteristic.

The entrances and balconies of the houses are often decorated with flowers which colour the narrow streets, making it more beautiful and charming.

Anghiari is considered one of the "most beautiful villages in Italy".

I agree.