Chances are that if you meet anywhere in the world a Tuscan, it will take him around 5 minutes to start pontificating on the incredible beauty of our land. Foreigners find it rather annoying but it's really beyond our control - we just HAVE to do it. Think I'm exaggerating? OK, name me another place in the world where you can literally bump into a little known archaeological wonder while you're looking for a wine tasting or a restaurant. Almost halfway between Florence and Siena, where the Elsa valley meets the Chianti, you can find something really remarkable. In the distance, on the top of a lonely hill, the unmistakeable contour of the famed Brunelleschi dome, much smaller but perfectly recognizable. Should you wander there and try to figure out what the heck is going on there, you'll be stunned to know that the small chapel was built on the place where, eight centuries ago, a new fortified city willed into existance by the Holy Roman Emperor challenged seriously Florence's domination on central Tuscany. When it was defeated, the city of the Duomo just wanted it erased from history, so much that not a single stone remains there. Just to err on the safe side, they also decreed that nothing could be built there, not even a simple shed. The meteoric rise and precipitous fall of the city that dared to challenge Florence is one of the most fascinating and lesser known stories from Tuscan history. That's why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you to the Chianti hills to tell you the sad tale of Semifonte, the proud, enterprising city that tried to unseat Florence only to be completely destroyed in the process. If you love Italy, its art, culture, food and wine, follow us on your favourite podcasting app so that you don't miss a single episode. Do you have a question on the very confusing land called Italy? Drop us a note at the contacts below: we'll be glad to have a chat!
Email: podcast@larno.it
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Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
https://summofonte.org/storia-e-mito-di-semifonte/
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semifonte
https://www.academia.edu/10458691/_CASTRUM_DE_SUMMOFONTE_ET_EIUSDEM_HOMINES_PRO_INIMICIS_TENEBO_SIENA_LA_GUERRA_DI_SEMIFONTE_E_LA_DEFINIZIONE_TERRITORIALE_DELLA_TOSCANA_MERIDIONALE
https://www.borghiditoscana.net/semifonte-una-citta-rivale-di-firenze/

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
The Passion Hi-fi - Buried
Audionautix - Water Wood and Stone
Wayne John Bradley - Always (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Mapping the Stars (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Fortress (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Gemini (Instrumental)
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/freehiphopbeatsforyou/free-the-passion-hifi-buried
https://www.free-stock-music.com/audionautix-water-wood-and-stone.html
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-mapping-the-stars-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-fortress-instrumental
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Pipe_Choir/SGONS_Instrumentals/Pipe_Gemini_Instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/