房源位置

According to the historical documents of the Municipality of Colle Val d'Elsa, the original construction of the "ALMA Holiday House" dates back to the 16th century and is linked to the original fortification of the towers of the Porta Volterrana, located a few tens of meters away and contiguous with the existing dwellings.
It is said, in fact, that the dwellings included between the Medici fortress built in 1479 (Porta Nova) and the San Lorenzo hospital (now Hotel San Lorenzo) served first as the lodgings of the military defending the fortress and later, in the period of the Signorie, Colle Val d'Elsa being one of the many signories of the Medici, became the dwellings of the servants of the USIMBARDI family, of which Usimbardo degli Usimbardi was the regent of Lorenzo the Magnificent for the lordship of Colle Val d'Elsa.
The adjacent Porta Nova or Porta Volterrana is also known for The Siege of Colle di Val d'Elsa, the culminating military event of the war that occurred in 1479 following the Pazzi conspiracy between Florence and the Kingdom of France on one side and the Kingdom of Naples, the Republic of Siena and the Papal States on the other.
The adjacent Hotel San Lorenzo, renovated in 2008, was until 1997 nothing more than the civil hospital of Colle val d'Elsa, erected in the 17th century by Pietro Usimbardi.
The current civic and sacred art museum and conservatory (disused), located directly across the street from the apartment, had been erected in the 16th century as a nunnery and conservatory. Currently the structure, in addition to housing the civic museum, is also one of the stops on the CAMMINO DELLA VIA FRANCIGENA, since the apartment insists on the Via Gracco del Secco, that is, along the route of the San Gimignano-Monteriggioni stage.

The town is known for the many reminders dating back to the wars between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, also mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy, namely for the "Battle of COLLE VAL D'ELSA" which took place in 1269, nine years after Florence's defeat of Siena at Montaperti in which The Republic of Siena got the better of Florence.
Here are some ideas of what to do during your stay at "Casa Vacanze Alma":
the historic center of Colle di Val d'Elsa is divided into two parts: the lower part, where you will find the Piazza Arnolfo di Cambio and the Crystal Museum, which tells the story and art of glassmaking in the city; and the upper part, where you will find the Co-Cathedral of Saints Albert and Martial, which preserves sacred artworks from the 14th-18th centuries; the Church of Santa Maria in Canonica, which houses the Civic and Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art; and the Baluardo, a panoramic viewpoint from which you can admire the surrounding landscape.
Take a walk along the Sentierelsa, a well-equipped trail that follows the course of the Elsa River and offers picturesque views, waterfalls and turquoise pools, ideal for swimming in summer. Along the trail you can also visit some places of historical and natural interest, such as the Spugna Bridge, the Branch Tower, the Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the Cornocchia Nature Reserve.
Discover the ancient Caldane hot springs, with warm water springs with therapeutic properties, known since Etruscan times. The water is rich in mineral salts and is ideal for treating skin eruptions. The spa is surrounded by greenery and offers a relaxing and rejuvenating atmosphere.
In the past century, however, Colle Val d'Elsa has become the world's crystal hub, maintaining more than 90 percent of Italian crystal production, both artistic and industrial. For industrial crystal, the best-known company is RCR, while the most famous artistic crystal companies are "Arnolfo di cambio" and "Vilca." The companies mentioned have their own showrooms and related outlets for tours and purchases.

The apartment is in a strategic location that will allow you to easily reach the main tourist attractions in the area, namely the beautiful towns of San Gimignano, Volterra, Monteriggioni and, of course, Chianti. Siena is about 20 minutes away, while Florence is just over half an hour away. The nearest beaches are about 1 hour away. These include Marina di Cecina, Marina di Bibbona, Rosignano, or Castiglioncello, which can be reached by driving through nearby Volterra, the Metalliferous Hills, or Bolgheri.