Certaldo

Certaldo is a town located in the province of Florence in Tuscany, Italy. Certaldo is located close to Florence and Siena and is spread out over an area of approximately 75 sq km. The main industries in Certaldo are agriculture, wine, furniture and shoe making. According to the various archeological finds that were discovered in the area during excavations, the history of town goes back to the Etruscan ages.

Certaldo is not yet a major tourist destination, which is why many travelers like to visit the town to experience the laid back lifestyle of an authentic Tuscan town. The architecture, the cobblestoned streets and the many ancient villas in town are admired by travelers that come here.

Getting to Certaldo

Certaldo is located quite close to two major cities, Siena and Florence. Visitors an take a flight to Florence from other countries or other areas in Italy and then either take a bus or a taxi to reach the town. Buses and taxis are very easily available at the airport. Another option is to travel by train. Certaldo is fairly well connected to both these cities as well as other smaller towns of the province of Florence through train network. Getting tickets might be a little difficult during peak tourist seasons. Apart from that, travelling by road through cars or buses is also quite comfortable.

Moving Around the Town

Certaldo is not a very large town but there are quite a lot of options for moving around the town. The local buses in town cover almost all areas of town, buses are very regular and the tickets are available at quite a lot of places all around the town. Visitors can also explore the center of the town on foot, since it is quite compact. Those who have their own car can move around in cars, however, parking might be a problem in some areas. There are also plenty of places where visitors can rent scooters, mopeds and bicycles.

Attractions in Certaldo

Certaldo street

Boccaccio's House

Certaldo was home to Giovanni Boccaccio and his house still remains one of the most visited places in town. Boccaccio had died in Certaldo and was buried here in 1375. His ancient house is built in red bricks and was later restored in 19th century. The main square of the town has Boccaccio's statue.

Palazzo Pretorio

The Palazzo Pretorio was built in Certaldo as a residence for the Florentine governors and rulers who had once ruled Certaldo. The palace was recently restored and the façade of the palace is adorned with a coat of arms made from ceramics. The interiors are equally impressive with several beautiful frescoes which were made here from the 13th to the 16th century. The palace is open for visitors who want to explore it.

Museum of Holy Art

The museum of holy art might be of interest for art lovers. The museum has a decent collection of religious art works that have been collected over the centuries. Most of these pieces were made by local artists and others by artists from Tuscany.

Stiozzi Palace

The Stiozzi palace is another important palace in Certaldo. Although it is not as impressive as the Pretoria palace, it is still worth a visit. The palace is much smaller in size compared to other and has renaissance style architecture.

Mercantia

Boccaccio's house in Certaldo

Certaldo hosts several famous festivals all through the year, the Mercantia being one of them. The festival is a week long celebration that is held here in town every year. The week long party features several street performances from troops and groups that come here from all over Italy and Europe. The atmosphere in town during the Mercantia is very festive and several people from all over Tuscany and even other parts of Italy travel to Certaldo to participate.

Fish Festival

The fish festival is another popular festival with the locals. The month long festival is held every year from mid May to mid June. The festival is interesting for food lovers since there are several food stalls during the festival that sell various local fish dishes including the famous fish soup "Caciucco alla livornese." Certaldo is known for its local cuisine, so visitors who are planning to visit Certaldo in May can definitely visit the fish festival.

Stay and Accommodation

Although Certaldo is not quite a large city, there are still many good places to stay here. Most hotels are located close to the center of the town and around the main Piazza. Inexpensive rooms can be easily found even without an advance reservation. There are also home run establishments available for those who prefer to stay in an authentic Tuscan family atmosphere. There are also a few inexpensive bed & breakfasts here. Some of the best known hotels in town are hotel Certaldo, Hotel Albergo Castello and Hotel La Sperenza.

Eating in Certaldo

Certaldo

There are a few good restaurants, pizzerias, eateries and bars in Certaldo. Most restaurants in town serve Italian and Tuscan dishes made from the fresh ingredients. Pizzas are one of the best things to have in town since there are a lot of good pizzerias. The traditional desserts and pastries available in Certaldo are quite good so those who have a sweet tooth will have many options to try. Some good restaurants in town are Osteria Del Vicaro, Pizzeria Pirata, Messer Boccaccio, and Pizzeria O' Vessuvio and Pizzeria Albergo Bissetto. 

Shopping in Certaldo

There are a few shopping places in Certaldo located mainly close to the center of the city that are lined with small shops selling locally made clothes, jewelry, shoes and various other things. There are also a few shops owned by local shoe makers where visitors can purchase good quality leather shoes and sandals. One of the best things to purchase here in town is the several varieties of local pastries, olive oil, agricultural products and local wine brands. There are plenty of wine shops in the town that sell several varieties of wines at quite low prices.