Foiano Della Chiana: Art, Carnival and Tuscan Routes

Foiano Della Chiana combines works of art, historic spaces, traditional festivals and routes through the Valdichiana landscape. This gives you different starting points for planning your trip: culture enthusiasts can discover churches and museums, while events, regional specialities and excursions add to the experience.

Art and historic spaces

The Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo, formerly the Chiesa di San Domenico, houses the polychrome glazed terracotta work Ascensione di Gesù, attributed to Andrea and Giovanni della Robbia and dating from 1495–1500. Another glazed terracotta work is the Madonna della Cintola con San Tommaso e San Leonardo, attributed to Andrea Della Robbia and dated 1502, which is located in a church in Foiano Della Chiana.

The sculptural group’s formal language is also remarkable: it comprises four individual life-size figures and another group of four figures depicting the fainting Virgin at the Cross. It is made of glazed terracotta; the painted parts consist of natural-coloured terracotta.

The Collegiata di San Martino houses Luca Signorelli’s large panel painting Incoronazione della Vergine. The Chiesa della Ss. Trinità contains the oil painting La Ss. Trinità con Angeli e Santi by Antonio Cercignani, also known as Il Pomarancio. The Museo Civico di Foiano was established in 1975 in the Chiesa-museo della Fraternita di Santa Maria, which is also called Sant’Eufemia.

The municipal art trail “Cinque chiese...un museo” presents the artistic heritage of the fortress of Foiano Della Chiana, its five churches and the Tempio di S. Stefano alla Vittoria. The Palazzo delle Logge was a 16th-century hunting residence of the Medici and now houses the Biblioteca Comunale. In the Teatro Garibaldi, the columns, frescoed ceilings and decorative motifs inside originate from a work by the architect De Vegni dating from the late 18th century; at that time, the theatre was undergoing restoration.

Carnival and events

The tradition of the Carnevale di Foiano della Chiana has been documented since 1539. During the Carnevale di Foiano, four large allegorical floats compete against one another and pass before a jury of nationally renowned art experts. The carnival ends with the public burning of Re Giocondo during the Rificolonata ceremony. Another established event is Foiano in Fiore, the historic flower fair of Foiano della Chiana. The 40th edition focused on horticulture, crafts and art in the historic centre and included events, exhibitions and activities for families.

Getting there and routes

From the north and south, take the A1 Valdichiana exit; from there, follow the road for approximately 5 km towards Foiano Della Chiana. The nearest railway stations are Arezzo and Terontola-Cortona.

Piazza Cavour is traditionally known by residents as “Piazz’Alta” and can be reached via a staircase passing beneath the arch of the Torre Civica. For further orientation in the immediate surroundings, you can also visit Pozzo Della Chiana. The 5-kilometre nature trail runs between the Chiesa di San Francesco in Foiano Della Chiana and the Tempio di Santa Vittoria in Pozzo della Chiana. The Percorso delle Bonifiche approaches Foiano Della Chiana and leads through the landscapes and along the historic landmarks of the Valdichiana Aretina.

Wine and local specialities

Foiano Della Chiana lies along the Strada del Vino Terre di Arezzo. The route passes through the entire Arezzo wine-growing area, where you can explore and taste the region’s gastronomic specialities and DOC wines. During the Easter period, Ciambellino di Foiano is traditionally eaten dipped in Vin Santo. The large ring-shaped biscuit made from flour and eggs is therefore one of the town’s seasonal culinary specialities.

For the higher-level travel overview: Arezzo.

More destinations

More places under the same destination:

Pratovecchio, Fasciano, Civitella In Val Di Chiana, Penna, Santa Firmina, Ortignano Raggiolo, Pieve Santo Stefano.