Chiusi della Verna, Italian comune
Chiusi della Verna is a small commune in the hills of Arezzo province in Tuscany, sitting high on a mountain and surrounded by forests. The town has an old center with castle ruins and a newer section from the 1800s, with narrow streets winding between historic stone buildings.
The area has deep roots going back to Etruscan and Roman times, when an ancient road passed through connecting nearby territories. A castle was first documented in 976, later reinforced as a fortress, and the town came under Florentine control in 1384.
Chiusi della Verna takes its name from Mount Verna, which has been connected to Saint Francis of Assisi since the 13th century. Today the town remains a place of pilgrimage where visitors encounter its spiritual heritage through old churches and the mountain sanctuary.
The town is accessible by narrow but well-maintained roads and sits within a large national park with natural sights throughout the area. Wear comfortable shoes as the streets are steep and winding in places.
A local legend says Adam's Rock, the large stone visible from the fortress, matches the shape of a famous figure in Michelangelo's painting in the Sistine Chapel. Additionally, a small church in Vezzano is believed to be where Michelangelo was baptized in 1475.
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