Chiusi della Verna

Stone house with garden for sale in the heart of the ancient village of Chiusi della Verna, renowned for the famous Sanctuary of La Verna, founded by St. Francis in 1213, when he was gifted the site by Count Orlando Cattani.

Even today, the ruins of the castle belonging to the noble feudal lord are visible and easily accessible on foot from the house. The Sanctuary can also be reached via a suggestive path immersed in the woods, known as the “Fairies’ Path,” which leads through scenic natural views of great charm.

The entrance of the house (241 m² – 2,593 ft²) opens into a hallway that leads to the large lounge with fireplace and the living room. The ground floor also houses the kitchen, dining room, and a bathroom.

A beautiful internal staircase leads to the upper floor, where the sleeping area consists of four bedrooms and a bathroom.

The property appears elegant in its simplicity and preserves the authentic character of its construction era. A large exclusive garden/apron of about 440 m² surrounds the house, offering pleasant outdoor spaces to enjoy.

In the piazza, there is also a practical storage room (28 m² – 301 ft²) and a laundry (4 m² – 43 ft²). An external staircase connects the garden to a terrace built on the storage roof, ideal as a panoramic relaxation area or as an additional parking space, thanks to the access from a road located above the building.

At the highest part of the ancient village of Chiusi della Verna, in the heart of Casentino and in a context of extraordinary naturalistic interest, the Castle of Chiusi della Verna represents an authentic piece of Tuscan history. Once belonging to Count Orlando Cattani, the castle dominates the surrounding landscape from a privileged position.

Its location offers an exceptional panoramic view of the Sacred Mount of La Verna, as well as the mountains and valleys of the surrounding territory. The history of the castle is also deeply linked to the figure of Saint Francis of Assisi and the birth of the famous Franciscan sanctuary.

The first testimonies related to the castle and the fief of Chiusi date back to 967, when the fief was confirmed under the dominion of Goffredo of Tuscany, a noble linked to the German emperor Otto I. Orlando Cattani, his descendant according to local historical tradition, is remembered for having donated Mount La Verna to Saint Francis of Assisi, who loved to retreat in this place for prayer and meditation. It was precisely at La Verna that, according to Franciscan tradition, in 1224 Saint Francis received the stigmata. After his death, the place progressively developed until becoming one of the most important Franciscan convent complexes and sanctuaries in Italy.

The history of the castle continues through centuries of political and military events. In 1324 it was taken from the Cattani by the bishop of Arezzo Guido Tarlati. In 1351 the countess Giovanna di Santa Fiora, wife of Tarlati, resided there, while a few years later, in 1360, Chiusi returned under the control of the Cattani.

In 1384, with the conquest by the Florentine Republic of the castles of the Arezzo county, Chiusi was granted to the Counts Guidi di Bagno. In 1440 the castle was occupied by the troops of Niccolò Piccinino and, subsequently, Chiusi became the seat of the Florentine Podesteria, later expanded with the annexation of the Caprese territory.

It is precisely in this period that another important page of the village's history is linked. Lodovico Buonarroti, father of Michelangelo, was indeed podestà of Chiusi and Caprese in the years when, on March 6, 1475, the great artist was born.

The exact place of Michelangelo's birth has been for centuries the subject of a dispute between Chiusi della Verna and Caprese. The issue, still present in the local historical debate, has given rise to studies and publications that support different interpretations about the actual birthplace of the famous artist.