From the first day of this podcast we've been hellbent on demonstrating that even the more mundane corners of this land hide incredible things. Some of you might have rolled your eyes, thinking this is just another attempt to bring back Tuscany to its golden age but this land is really special. Even if you're a seasoned traveller, expert in the art of avoiding the usual tourist traps, chances are you'll miss some of the outstanding beauties of our region. Look at Valdichiana, for example: while people gravitate naturally towards Cortona or Pienza, not many give more than a passing look to an ancient castle not far from the A1 highway. The town is quite small and looks like it's frozen in the Middle Ages but this is hardly special in this neck of the woods. And yet it's here, tucked away in a small museum, that you can find one of this land's best kept secrets. This castle that was fought over centuries between the powers of Central Italy was rich enough to commission one of the most unbelievable pieces of jewellery you have ever seen. That's why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you to the charming town of Lucignano to tell you everything there is to know about its amazing Golden Tree, a huge reliquary that has got to be seen to be believed. If you listen to the full episode you will learn about how it took 120 years and the death of a wealthy lady to finish it and how its outrageous value made it a magnet for thieves since the 1400s. People in Lucignano loved it so much because that exchanging marriage vows in front of it brought good fortune to the newlyweds but in 1914 a band of thieves actually managed to break down and steal the art treasure. It took years before most pieces were recovered and the Tree rebuilt but a few days ago a bunch of other ornaments were discovered, bringing it back to the original glory. I'll walk you through the charming alleys of this weird castle, explain a curious plaque placed on top of an escalade and tell you several quirky stories about this place. In the final chapter, then, I'll walk you through some festivals held in Lucignano throughout the year, from the explosion of colour of the Maggiolata to the nostalgic Christmas festival that brings back the Tuscany of old. Last but not least, a couple of charming hotels able to turn a weekend break into a real event and two really good restaurants where you can treat your taste buds without breaking the bank. This might not be the most popular part of Tuscany but if you come to Valdichiana you'll fall in love with it. That's a promise. Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY) https://viaggichemangi.com/italia/toscana/lucignano-cosa-vedere/ https://www.museodilucignano.it/il-museo/albero-d-oro/ https://www.intoscana.it/it/articolo/lalbero-doro-di-lucignano-stupisce-ancora-ritrovate-parti-trafugate-un-secolo-fa-al-via-il-restauro/ https://www.viaggiatricecuriosa.it/2020/11/11/lalbero-doro-di-lucignano/ https://www.tripadvisor.it/Restaurant_Review-g887269-d8594152-Reviews-Osteria_le_Botti-Lucignano_Province_of_Arezzo_Tuscany.html https://www.tripadvisor.it/Restaurant_Review-g887269-d2264112-Reviews-Locanda_del_Baraccotto-Lucignano_Province_of_Arezzo_Tuscany.html BACKGROUND MUSIC Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental) Wayne John Bradley - Waiting (Instrumental) Mike Chino - Calm and Harmony EzaOne - Supernova 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/ayneohnradley/waiting-original-uplifting-indie-pop-style-instrumentalcreative-commonsbr...