Val di Chiana

Val di Chiana is a valley in the south of Arezzo.

Cities

• 1 Castiglion Fiorentino — a town that has beautiful medieval walls, beautiful churches, art treasures and numerous Renaissance structures
• 2 Chiusi — one of the 12 members of the Etruscan League, it has an important museum of Etruscan artifacts
• 3 Civitella in Val di Chiana — one of the best-preserved of the network of Lombard fortresses of the 6th and the 7th century in central Italy
• 4 Cortona — another one of the 12 cities of the Etruscan League, from its high elevation, it has magnificent panoramas around the region
• 5 Lucignano — a well-preserved medieval hill town characterised by an oval or elliptical shape
  • and 6 Foiano della Chiana — a small agricultural town well known for its annual carnival
• 7 Marciano della Chiana — has a well-preserved medieval castle and tower
• 8 Monte San Savino — known for its porchetta festival

Understand

The Val di Chiana looks like a valley furrow about 104 km long and covering about 2300 km². The valley extends from north to south between Arezzo and Orvieto, and includes the Arno basin in which the Canale Maestro della Chiana flows, and the Tiber basin in which the river Chiani flows. 

The Val di Chiana is one of the most fertile agricultural areas in Italy. The local population is largely dedicated to the primary sector (agriculture, livestock and related activities).

Climate

The winters are not excessively cold (the average temperature of January, the coldest month, is 5.4 °C). The valley has moderately humid and summers with high temperatures, but not hot. Spring and autumn are usually mild. Autumn is the rainiest season of the year. Snowfalls are rare: snow usually falls in the months of December-January, but it only covers the valley for a few days.

Get in

The Val di Chiana has good connections with the rest of Italy.

By car

It is crossed lengthwise by the Autostrada del Sole (A1). 

By train

The Val di Chiana is crossed by the Direttissima Naples—Milan. Parallel to it runs the local railway which from Arezzo leads to Chiusi, passing through the stations of Castiglion Fiorentino, Terontola-Cortona and Castiglione del Lago; this electrified railway continues north and south, well beyond Arezzo and Chiusi. South of Chiusi is the Chianina station of Fabro-Ficulle, in the province of Terni. An (electrified) railway also departs from the Terontola station which leads to Umbria, skirting the northern side of Lake Trasimeno. Another railway axis connects Arezzo with Sinalunga, to join up with the Chiusi-Siena railway line. 

In Arezzo and Chiusi there are interconnections between the direct line Naples—Milan and the old railway line; therefore the state stations of Chiusi-Chianciano Terme and Arezzo are also stations of the Direttissima line

Get around

The various Chianina towns are connected by an efficient road system. 

See

The 6th-century San Secondiano Cathedral in Chiusi is the oldest in all of Tuscany. Chiusi's National Archaeological Museum is one of the most important repositories of Etruscan remains in Italy.

Cortona is a walled town packed with palaces, churches and museums.

Do

Hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking are popular activities. 

Castiglion Fiorentino has many festivals throughout the year including the famous "Palio dei Rioni", a horse race among the three ancient Rioni (boroughs) of the town on the 3rd Sunday of June. It includes a colourful and energetic display of the ancient custom of flag-waving dating back to the 13th century (on the weekend preceding the horse race, a spectacular contest between the three groups of flag-wavers is also held).

Staying in an agriturismo can be an excellent way of experiencing Tuscan food, wine, and hospitality.

In 2010, Monte San Savino's porchetta festival, held in September, won the Guinness World Record for the longest porchetta in the world.

Eat

The healthy climate, the nutritional richness of the land and the typically hilly landscape have made the Val di Chiana home to excellent olive oils. The production takes place mostly through the production of direct growers, who at the end of the harvest bring their yield to mills. The main Chianina oil is Colline di Arezzo, an oil with an intense green colour with shades tending towards greenish yellow, an intense fruity aroma and a spicy and slightly bitter flavor which fades over time, as well as a persistent aftertaste.

Drink

Val di Chiana has been a land of fine wines (white and red) since Etruscan times. Parts of the northern Val di Chiana are included in the Chianti streets, while in the rest of the valley the production of Bianco Vergine della Valdichiana is widespread, one of the most appreciated white wines in Italy and in the world. The production mostly takes place by means of the local winegrowers, who, after the harvest, transport their grapes to social cellars or consortia.