The nucleus of L'Aia Country Holidays is contained within a larger complex of buildings of mediaeval origin that was once a hospice on the Via Francigena (or Romea), a route opened by the Longobards to join Rome and France.
In the nineteenth century the hospice was acquired by the painter Francesco Nenci, and it is his work that decorates the impressive main room of the principal villa.
The inspiration for the scenes comes from the surrounding countryside, and his work can also be seen decorating the annexed chapel of Santa Croce. The main building is now a country villa belonging to the owners, and it, along with the chapel, can be visited on request.
______ The original name of the Soggiorno Lo Stellino come from the ancient silver coin (Testone) of the time of Cosimo I dei Medici duke of Florence, marked by a star behind the head of the Sovereign.
The weight bigger of the other testoni, valued 43 moneys, its issue has been ordered in the 1554 to make easier the payments to the State and especially those ones of the ducal troops; considering many of these coins had been done with coins of Genova it has been wrongly thought that they have been coined to pay back the loan done with the Republic of Genova by the duke. |