Chianciano Terme
Encyclopedia
Chianciano Terme is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Siena
in the Italian
region Tuscany
, located about 90 km southeast of Florence
and about 50 km southeast of Siena
. It is located between the Valdichiana
and the Val d'Orcia.
Chianciano Terme borders the following municipalities: Chiusi
, Montepulciano
, Pienza
, Sarteano
.
News of the curative power of Chianciano's water became well known during Roman times
, as Horace
visited the area on the advice of his physician during the 1st century BC. Luxurious Roman villas were built in the area near the thermal baths.
There is little archaeological evidence of much activity during the Middle Ages, but, by the 12th and 13th centuries, Chianciano belonged to the Manenti Counts, Lords of Sarteano. Its position close to the Via Francigena
(the medieval main connection from Rome
to France
) fostered its development, and Chianciano reached a degree of judicial autonomy by 1287 when it established its own statutes.
In the 14th century, the city states of Orvieto
and Siena
contended for it, with Siena being the ultimate victor.
The first decades of the 20th century saw the area around the springs (the Terme section) draw the attention of developers. Between 1920 and 1930 neoclassical establishments with Pompeian-style bowers were built, then destroyed in 1940 when the Fascist-controlled state
took possession. While under state control, a new town plan was designed by architects Loreti and Marchi, who also designed some spas in the Acqua Santa Park. The town plan was adjusted by the Town Technical Office of Chianciano in 1958 and passed in 1961.
The Church of the Immacolata, restored in 1588 after the Florentine conquest of Siena, once housed the paintings Annunciation by Niccolò Betti, Holy Family by Galgano Perpignani, and a fresco of Madonna of the Peace attributed to Luca Signorelli
. These works are currently all in the museum of the Collegiata Church of San Giovanni Battista, a Romanesque-Gothic building with a notable portal. It houses a Holy Scene fresco (16th century), a 14th century crucifix, and a wooden Dead Christ by Giuseppe Paleari (1783). The church of Madonna della Rosa takes its name ("Madonna of the Rose") from a fresco portraying the Virgin giving a Rose to the Child, the work of a 15th century Sienese master. Also from a Sienese artist is the Madonna delle Carceri (14th century).
Today, the Terme section is considered among the finest health resorts in Italy with its parks, numerous hotels and especially its therapeutic water that is reputed to cleanse the liver via an increase in the production and excretion of liver bile. Among the more notable spas are Acqua Santa, Acqua Fucoli, Acqua Sillene, Acqua Santissima (which also advertises itself as a spa for those with respiratory problems), and Acqua Sant'Elena (which advertises that the calcic-alkaline bicarbonate in its water can treat kidney and urinary tract problems).
The Chianciano Museum of Art
is also an interesting attraction, with a large collection of contemporary and ancient art, including many pieces of historical interest. It has been praised by art journals and newspapers around the world, including the New York Times
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Siena
Province of Siena
The Province of Siena is a province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Siena.It has an area of 3,821 km² , and a total population of 252,288 . There are 36 comuni in the province...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, located about 90 km southeast of Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and about 50 km southeast of Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
. It is located between the Valdichiana
Valdichiana
The Val di Chiana, Valdichiana, or Chiana Valley is an alluvial valley of central Italy, lying on the territories of the provinces of Arezzo and Siena in Tuscany and the provinces of Perugia and Terni in Umbria.- Geography :...
and the Val d'Orcia.
Chianciano Terme borders the following municipalities: Chiusi
Chiusi
Chiusi is a town and comune in province of Siena, Tuscany, Italy.-History:It was one of the more powerful among the Etruscan 12‑city confederation...
, Montepulciano
Montepulciano
Montepulciano is a medieval and Renaissance hill town and comune in the province of Siena in southern Tuscany, in Italy. Montepulciano, with an elevation of 605 m, sits on a high limestone ridge. By car it is 13 km E of Pienza; 70 km SE of Siena, 124 km SE of Florence, and...
, Pienza
Pienza
Pienza, a town and comune in the province of Siena, in the Val d'Orcia in Tuscany , between the towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino, is the "touchstone of Renaissance urbanism."...
, Sarteano
Sarteano
Sarteano is a comune in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 100 km southeast of Florence and about 60 km southeast of Siena....
.
History
Chianciano Terme can trace its history back to the 5th century BC and the Etruscans, who had built a temple dedicated to the god of Good Health, close to the Silene springs where the newer quarter of Chianciano (the Terme section) stands today.News of the curative power of Chianciano's water became well known during Roman times
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, as Horace
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:...
visited the area on the advice of his physician during the 1st century BC. Luxurious Roman villas were built in the area near the thermal baths.
There is little archaeological evidence of much activity during the Middle Ages, but, by the 12th and 13th centuries, Chianciano belonged to the Manenti Counts, Lords of Sarteano. Its position close to the Via Francigena
Via Francigena
The Via Francigena is an ancient road between Rome and Canterbury, passing through England, France, Switzerland and Italy. In mediaeval times it was an important road and pilgrimage route...
(the medieval main connection from Rome
History of Rome
The history of Rome spans 2,800 years of the existence of a city that grew from a small Italian village in the 9th century BC into the centre of a vast civilisation that dominated the Mediterranean region for centuries. Its political power was eventually replaced by that of peoples of mostly...
to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) fostered its development, and Chianciano reached a degree of judicial autonomy by 1287 when it established its own statutes.
In the 14th century, the city states of Orvieto
Orvieto
Orvieto is a city and comune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff...
and Siena
Republic of Siena
The Republic of Siena , was a state originating from the city of Siena in Tuscany, Central Italy.It existed for over four hundreds years, from the late 11th century until the year 1555, when was defeated by the rival Duchy of Florence in alliance with the Spanish crown...
contended for it, with Siena being the ultimate victor.
The first decades of the 20th century saw the area around the springs (the Terme section) draw the attention of developers. Between 1920 and 1930 neoclassical establishments with Pompeian-style bowers were built, then destroyed in 1940 when the Fascist-controlled state
Italian Fascism
Italian Fascism also known as Fascism with a capital "F" refers to the original fascist ideology in Italy. This ideology is associated with the National Fascist Party which under Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943, the Republican Fascist Party which ruled the Italian...
took possession. While under state control, a new town plan was designed by architects Loreti and Marchi, who also designed some spas in the Acqua Santa Park. The town plan was adjusted by the Town Technical Office of Chianciano in 1958 and passed in 1961.
Main sights
Present day Chianciano Terme has two distinct areas. Chianciano Vecchia (Ancient Chianciano) is located atop a small hill. The Porta Rivellini, with its elegant Renaissance structure, is the main gateway into the town at the end of the Via Dante. In contrast to this is the modern quarter, the Terme, whose nucleus has grown around the thermal springs and stretches northward in a crescent shape along the Vale della Libertà towards the older city.The Church of the Immacolata, restored in 1588 after the Florentine conquest of Siena, once housed the paintings Annunciation by Niccolò Betti, Holy Family by Galgano Perpignani, and a fresco of Madonna of the Peace attributed to Luca Signorelli
Luca Signorelli
Luca Signorelli was an Italian Renaissance painter who was noted in particular for his ability as a draughtsman and his use of foreshortening...
. These works are currently all in the museum of the Collegiata Church of San Giovanni Battista, a Romanesque-Gothic building with a notable portal. It houses a Holy Scene fresco (16th century), a 14th century crucifix, and a wooden Dead Christ by Giuseppe Paleari (1783). The church of Madonna della Rosa takes its name ("Madonna of the Rose") from a fresco portraying the Virgin giving a Rose to the Child, the work of a 15th century Sienese master. Also from a Sienese artist is the Madonna delle Carceri (14th century).
Today, the Terme section is considered among the finest health resorts in Italy with its parks, numerous hotels and especially its therapeutic water that is reputed to cleanse the liver via an increase in the production and excretion of liver bile. Among the more notable spas are Acqua Santa, Acqua Fucoli, Acqua Sillene, Acqua Santissima (which also advertises itself as a spa for those with respiratory problems), and Acqua Sant'Elena (which advertises that the calcic-alkaline bicarbonate in its water can treat kidney and urinary tract problems).
The Chianciano Museum of Art
Chianciano Museum of art
The Chianciano Museum of Art is a Museum in the centre of the thermal Town of Chianciano Terme, Tuscany, with collections of both contemporary and ancient art...
is also an interesting attraction, with a large collection of contemporary and ancient art, including many pieces of historical interest. It has been praised by art journals and newspapers around the world, including the New York Times
External links
- Official website
- http://www.museoetrusco.it/
- http://www.museodarte.org/