LUCIGNANO' S ALBERO D’ORO TO SAY “I LOVE YOU”

Lucignano is in Valdichiana, one of the four valleys surrounding Arezzo, the one facing south, a sort of natural corridor used by armies going to and fro for centuries. It is a hill town at 400 m asl: its winding urban structure is actually an ellipse formed by many different concentric rings: walking there means walking in the past… it is like a ring-a-ring-o’-roses through those lovely alleys decorated with flowers. By the way: in May they organize La Maggiolata, an astonishing feast of the flower, but I will speak about it next time. Lucignano is peaceful, colourful, medieval and at only 10 km from the A1 tollgate.

This picturesque hamlet has a tiny Museo Civico in which one can see an incredible object indeed: the only one tree shaped reliquary in the world! L’Albero d’Oro is 2,60 m high and they took 121 years to make it with gilded copper, silver, coral, rock crystal and miniatures: it consists of a gothic church with the twelve branch tree on it, six per side, then crucified Jesus Christ and a pelican and its young at the top. It is definitely precious, huge and refined: just unique!

According to an ancient tradition, the Golden Tree brings luck to the lovers making their promise in front of it: as a tree of life it turns into a symbol of human love.

Staying at Lucignano over St. Valentine’s weekend means participating to a number of most pleasant initiatives organized by the Town Council there and also having special food at very special prices for couples. If one has some spare time left, a  stop at Valdichiana Outlet could be of some interest: sales are still on!