Colle di Val d'Elsa
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 30 December 2023
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The historic town of Colle di Val d'Elsa is situated within the Lucca Province of Tuscany and had a population of 21,752 residents on 1 January 2022. Standing at an elevation of 141 metres above sea level, it's an official municipality covering 92 square kilometres.
Birthplace of architect Arnolfo di Cambio, it's located a distance of 48 kilometres south of Florence, the regional capital of Tuscany. |
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Colle di Val d'Elsa is split between two very different halves: an upper and a lower town called Colle Alta and Colle Bassa. Although the lower town does have some level of interest in particular with its expansive Piazza Arnolfo, it's the upper town that attracts the most visitors and the reason for Colle di Val d'Elsa's entry in our list of Italy's most beautiful villages.
Colle Alta
The upper town of Colle Alta runs east to west on an elevated ridge. It's characterised by Romanesque churches and Renaissance palazzi which are all linked by a main thoroughfare: Via del Castello. If you arrive in the town by car you're likely to enter the old town via the impressive Porta Nuova city gate at the western end.
From there it's a delightful 10 to 15 minute walk along the historic street, crossing a bridge (Ponte del Campana) with the Mannerist-style Palazzo Campana aggrandising one end, before eventually reaching the gorgeous Piazza del Duomo. The Piazza is home to the town's most famous church: the Concattedrale dei Santi Alberto e Marziale: an originally Romanesque-style edifice that was rebuilt in various stages from the 17th century.
Aside from the Cathedral, the main building on Piazza del Duomo is the Palazzo Pretorio which houses the Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli Archaeological Museum while another museum, the Museo Civico e Diocesano d'Arte Sacra with its collection of religious art and artefacts is just a short walk away.
Colle Bassa
The lower town of Colle Bassa is more modern and doesn't have the historic allure of Colle Alta. That said, its main square Piazza Arnolfo is impressive with its fountain and porticoed edges housing a number of shops, bars and restaurants.
Another star turn to be found in Colle Bassa is the Museo del Cristallo which pays tribute to the glassware industry established in the town during the 19th century. The majority of crystal produced in Italy still comes from the town and is exported throughout the world.
Battle of Colle di Val d'Elsa
The internecine battles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines arrived on the doorstep of the town in the 1269 AD Battle of Colle in which the forces of the Florentine Guelphs defeated the Sienese-backed Ghibellines.
Colle di Val d'Elsa's Famous Architect
Arnolfo di Cambio was born in Colle di Val d'Elsa although the exact year of his birth is disputed between 1232 and 1240. Di Cambio was an architect of great repute who designed Florence Cathedral. He was also responsible for the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence whose Bell Tower is affectionately referred to as the Torre di Arnolfo in his honour. Another Torre Arnolfo can be found in Colle Alta itself; number 63 on Via del Castello is Di Cambio's birthplace.
Close to Colle di Val d'Elsa
Places of interest close to Colle di Val d'Elsa include the hill towns of San Gimignano, Monteriggioni and Casole d'Elsa as well as the beautiful city of Siena. Perhaps best of all is the bucolic Val d'Elsa whose landscapes of cypress trees neatly positioned on undulating fields typifies the Tuscan countryside in a similar way to the more famous Val d'Orcia.
Colle Alta
The upper town of Colle Alta runs east to west on an elevated ridge. It's characterised by Romanesque churches and Renaissance palazzi which are all linked by a main thoroughfare: Via del Castello. If you arrive in the town by car you're likely to enter the old town via the impressive Porta Nuova city gate at the western end.
From there it's a delightful 10 to 15 minute walk along the historic street, crossing a bridge (Ponte del Campana) with the Mannerist-style Palazzo Campana aggrandising one end, before eventually reaching the gorgeous Piazza del Duomo. The Piazza is home to the town's most famous church: the Concattedrale dei Santi Alberto e Marziale: an originally Romanesque-style edifice that was rebuilt in various stages from the 17th century.
Aside from the Cathedral, the main building on Piazza del Duomo is the Palazzo Pretorio which houses the Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli Archaeological Museum while another museum, the Museo Civico e Diocesano d'Arte Sacra with its collection of religious art and artefacts is just a short walk away.
Colle Bassa
The lower town of Colle Bassa is more modern and doesn't have the historic allure of Colle Alta. That said, its main square Piazza Arnolfo is impressive with its fountain and porticoed edges housing a number of shops, bars and restaurants.
Another star turn to be found in Colle Bassa is the Museo del Cristallo which pays tribute to the glassware industry established in the town during the 19th century. The majority of crystal produced in Italy still comes from the town and is exported throughout the world.
Battle of Colle di Val d'Elsa
The internecine battles between the Guelphs and Ghibellines arrived on the doorstep of the town in the 1269 AD Battle of Colle in which the forces of the Florentine Guelphs defeated the Sienese-backed Ghibellines.
Colle di Val d'Elsa's Famous Architect
Arnolfo di Cambio was born in Colle di Val d'Elsa although the exact year of his birth is disputed between 1232 and 1240. Di Cambio was an architect of great repute who designed Florence Cathedral. He was also responsible for the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence whose Bell Tower is affectionately referred to as the Torre di Arnolfo in his honour. Another Torre Arnolfo can be found in Colle Alta itself; number 63 on Via del Castello is Di Cambio's birthplace.
Close to Colle di Val d'Elsa
Places of interest close to Colle di Val d'Elsa include the hill towns of San Gimignano, Monteriggioni and Casole d'Elsa as well as the beautiful city of Siena. Perhaps best of all is the bucolic Val d'Elsa whose landscapes of cypress trees neatly positioned on undulating fields typifies the Tuscan countryside in a similar way to the more famous Val d'Orcia.
Comune di Colle di Val d'Elsa
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Highlights: Colle Alta, Piazza Arnolfo, Museo del Cristallo
Market day: Fridays from 08:30 - 13:30 Famous native: Arnolfo di Cambio, architect (1240-1310) Close by: San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, Casole d'Elsa, Siena Recommended accommodation: Hotel Palazzo San Lorenzo & Spa |
