The origins of Anghiari are very old. It looks typically medieval and is perched up on a hillside, looking out over the Tiber and Sovara valleys. If you look up at the town from the valley you can enjoy a wonderful view, but wandering in the streets of the old town is even more delightful. Visitors can walk along the lanes and admire the traditional stone houses, stairways and attractive small squares which reflect the varied history of the town over the centuries.
Although the first settlement had a Roman origin, Anghiari became much more important during the middle ages because of it strategic position. Anghiari was named for the first time in a document dated 1048 which is still preserved in the archives at Città di Castello.
The monks of the Saint Romualdo Order were the first rulers of
Anghiari. The most important period in the history of the town
however, is connected with the Battle of Anghiari which was fought
in the year 1440 between the Visconti armies from
Milan and
those of
Florence which were allied with the Pope. Machiavelli spoke about
the battle in his Historiae fiorentinae and Leonardo da Vinci did a
huge (short lived) fresco painting of it in Florence.
Every year at the end of April and the beginning of May there is an extensive craft fair within the walls of the picturesque medieval town. The Mostra Mercato dell'Artigianato della Valtiberina is both a market and exhibition of hand crafts where you can admire and buy artisan products such as wood, wrought iron, fabrics and foods that are made in the Tiber Valley. Nowadays Anghiari is also well known for the tradition of antique furniture restoring based on its famous school, Istituto d'Arte, where students are able to learn the art of restoration.
Anghiari can also offer a convivial atmosphere, for example Tovaglia a quadri (the checked tablecloth) takes place in il Poggiolino, one of the delightful little squares in Anghiari's old town during Ferragosto week (Ferragosto is on 15th August).
The inhabitants of the square and the actors of the Compagnia del Teatro Stabile di Anghiari
"flavour" a delicious open-air dinner with a play or story told in four acts
or "courses".
