When you’re exploring Tuscany to the southwest of Florence, the old town of Certaldo in Tuscany, known as Certaldo Alto, is definitely worth a visit. This is the hometown of Boccaccio, author of the Decameron and contemporary of Petrarch, and it retains much of its mediaeval architecture and charm. Boccaccio’s house for the last years of his life is now a museum where early editions of his works are on display.
Certaldo old town, home of Boccaccio
Certaldo is also home to one of the best street festivals in Europe, the Mercantia, which takes place in mid-July and features dozens of performers along the few streets of the town and also inside the courtyards, where stages are set up to host clowns and comedians, contortionists and acrobats, puppeteers and ventriloquists, magicians and illusionists, fire-eaters and dancers, actors and street musicians.
Mercantia street fair of Certaldo
You can best reach Certaldo old town by funicular from the more modern part of Certaldo in the valley below.
Tourist information about the town of Certaldo, in Tuscany near Florence.
My list of recommended vacation rentals in Tuscany.
About Elena Spolaor
Although Elena was born in Venice, she was brought up in Tuscany and is a historian and frequent contributor to online articles about life in Tuscany and Umbria. Her specialities are Tuscan and Umbrian local history and folklore.
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