{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-story-js","path":"/story/a-masterpiece-in-castiglion-fiorentino/","result":{"data":{"sanityStory":{"_rawBody":[{"_key":"727f5affefd4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5733fdde4f9e","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The reliquary bust of St. Ursula (Sant’Orsola) on display in the art gallery at "},{"_key":"52f30347771c","_type":"span","marks":["strong","em","aa812c61a095"],"text":"Castiglion Fiorentino"},{"_key":"bb7a7d888611","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" is without doubt a masterpiece of its type; stunning in its design and execution with a mesmerizing presence that must be seen to be believed. Recently dated to the 3rd decade of the XIV century and not as previously thought by a French artist; most historians today believe the workmanship of this exquisite piece comes from what is called the High Rhine. However, the superb opaque enamels that decorate the base of the bust are considered the work from a Parisian studio; the French at the time were considered the masters of this technique."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"aa812c61a095","_type":"link","href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castiglion_Fiorentino"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ceef79df263b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"dfc6e2f084730","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The bust is made of silver with a gold-coloured "},{"_key":"f80b89451cc3","_type":"span","marks":["strong","em","71830ff07db8"],"text":"gilt finish"},{"_key":"fab3bdd2e9ab","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", minutely worked to give the impression of expensive cloth covering the shoulders of the saint. A silver crown beautifully designed with an abundance of semi-precious stones, coloured glass and enamels imbues the piece with the importance given to Saint Ursula. A unique feature of this piece which makes it stand apart from the many impressive reliquaries one can see in Italy is the painting of the neck and her face to convey an even greater sense of realism, quite unlike anything this writer has seen before in the world of the goldsmith (Oreficeria). Achieved by covering the silver with a series of layers of dense and very opaque gesso (not unlike the painters prepared their canvases) and then with the skill of a painter of the period, completed the piece by painting the most sensitive skin tones with perfect lip colouring and eyes that are penetrating but compassionate."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"71830ff07db8","_type":"link","href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilding"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"513322b96ff6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"26bb0956fbdf","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Who was Saint Ursula?"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"db0386327b5e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1563567d73ae0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to the Golden Legend written by "},{"_key":"9b5d11d9e6d6","_type":"span","marks":["strong","em","ae54b7f45216"],"text":"Jacobus de Varagine"},{"_key":"1a47c303ef60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", Ursula was the exceptionally beautiful daughter of the "},{"_key":"18f7fd6a5a69","_type":"span","marks":["strong","em","34a4a9679f16"],"text":"King of Brittany King Dionotus"},{"_key":"4c7b37a26ac9","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", who set sail to join her future husband, the pagan governor"},{"_key":"28bd267f7160","_type":"span","marks":["strong","em","24063f92fb1a"],"text":" Conan Meriadoc of Armorica"},{"_key":"277026ab70f9","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", along with 11,000 virginal handmaidens. After a miraculous storm brought them over the sea in a single day to a Gaulish port, Ursula declared that before her marriage she would undertake a pan-European pilgrimage. She headed for Rome with her followers and persuaded Pope Cyriacus (unknown in the pontifical records, though from late 384 there was a Pope Siricius), and Sulpicius, bishop of "},{"_key":"cbc008e711ea","_type":"span","marks":["strong","em","9a0e6be5c987"],"text":"Ravenna"},{"_key":"6d2754f865a1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", to join them. After setting out for Cologne, which was being besieged by Huns, all the virgins were beheaded in a massacre. The Huns' leader fatally shot Ursula with a bow and arrow in about 383 AD (the date varies)."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"ae54b7f45216","_type":"link","href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobus_de_Voragine"},{"_key":"34a4a9679f16","_type":"link","href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionotus"},{"_key":"24063f92fb1a","_type":"link","href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_Meriadoc"},{"_key":"9a0e6be5c987","_type":"link","href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenna"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"24ce32b2e19d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"bb5d7d93e6f6","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":""}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"578b61512768","_type":"betterImage","asset":{"_ref":"image-58cdd83a034093748c6acd0ac34b132850495fb8-1500x1000-jpg","_type":"reference"},"caption":"St. Ursula shot with a German arrow."},{"_key":"53e364d07bf2","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a69cfea14aba0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In"},{"_key":"9086de38426c","_type":"span","marks":["strong","em","78a603b34377"],"text":" Cologne"},{"_key":"3919a3077878","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in Germany, commemoration of virgin saints who ended their life in martyrdom for Christ is remembered by the devout on the same site where afterwards the city's basilica was built, which is dedicated to the memory of the innocent Ursula who is looked on as their leader."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"78a603b34377","_type":"link","href":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne"}],"style":"normal"}],"_rawTips":[{"_key":"be90e6e95a7a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"933be0c98844","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Castiglion Fiorentino has an excellent collection of museums, and all the information you need, including opening hours, can be found here by clicking this link - "},{"_key":"5729df157573","_type":"span","marks":["strong","em","b80cad48a158"],"text":"MUSEI CASTIGLION FIORENTINO​"},{"_key":"af679113b9ee","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"​ "}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"b80cad48a158","_type":"link","href":"https://www.museicastiglionfiorentino.it/en/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a190d78ef3eb","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7f517b680c97","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The "},{"_key":"90d5dd51f5e1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"reliquary bust of St. Ursula can be found in the Art Gallery in Castiglion Fiorentino."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"adeed97852a0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f4ba204d1e7d","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A Traveller’s Delight – good food and a good price!"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f7d2c50d87c5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"a9af92f83c160","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Perfect Traveller will be writing more about the treasures of Castiglion Fiorentino and as with any small Italian village that has not sold its soul to mass tourism one can still enjoy delicious local cooking and here look no further than "},{"_key":"601c5595f53a","_type":"span","marks":["strong","em","4e83f47461d2"],"text":"La Sfizieria"},{"_key":"024611f26f35","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", which looks like a café and take away joint, which I guess it is. However, there are some tables on the inside and I would encourage you to enter and sit down and wait until you are told the plates of the day; they are all delicious and very well priced."}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"4e83f47461d2","_type":"link","href":"https://lasfizieria.com/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c50d8d2198f5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"794c6b752781","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" "}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2b4c015b68d1","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d6da18f06a90","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"​ "}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"180076ea86a3","_type":"link","href":"https://www.museicastiglionfiorentino.it/en/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"1ccd9d360cfe","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"15365d96b4dd","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"​ "}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"180076ea86a3","_type":"link","href":"https://www.museicastiglionfiorentino.it/en/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"e3b2900a0e28","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c5392f3e1331","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"​ "}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"180076ea86a3","_type":"link","href":"https://www.museicastiglionfiorentino.it/en/"}],"style":"normal"}],"title":"A Masterpiece in Castiglion Fiorentino","_id":"23ac1597-12d3-48a9-88cd-dd84c9ef66b9","subscription":null,"slug":{"current":"a-masterpiece-in-castiglion-fiorentino"},"_rawPrecis":[{"_key":"3037d46c0eb6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"debc62d0b0bd","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Discovering masterpieces is an exciting adventure in Italy and in the small village of "},{"_key":"accc2e2da47b","_type":"span","marks":["strong","em"],"text":"Castiglion Fiorentino"},{"_key":"bec179e5196f","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" there are many discoveries to be found."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"author":{"id":"-d09ed835-3cf5-5e2f-a5c2-fa3118d14b4f","_rawBio":[{"_key":"8576a00f1e10","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8576a00f1e100","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Peter Kilby is an artist, writer, story-teller, journalist and avid traveller who lived and worked in Italy from 1987 to 2018. He created Perfect Traveller to bring the world of Italian art and history closer to you and in a way that is entertaining and informative; together with great travel tips. Getting off the beaten track in Italy is always an adventure and he invites you to join him in discovering an Italy that will surprise and amaze you."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"dec127f97ffe","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"dec127f97ffe0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":""}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"73110eccfad3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"73110eccfad30","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":""}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"image":{"_key":null,"_type":"betterImage","alt":"Peter Kilby in Italy","caption":"Peter Kilby in Italy","attribution":null,"crop":null,"asset":{"id":"image-0eb4e05ae62f0c5ba3fa314f79cecaeb58362926-332x363-jpg","gatsbyImageData":{"images":{"sources":[],"fallback":{"src":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/k3ih81r6/production/0eb4e05ae62f0c5ba3fa314f79cecaeb58362926-332x363.jpg?w=332&h=363&auto=format","srcSet":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/k3ih81r6/production/0eb4e05ae62f0c5ba3fa314f79cecaeb58362926-332x363.jpg?w=320&h=350&auto=format 320w,\nhttps://cdn.sanity.io/images/k3ih81r6/production/0eb4e05ae62f0c5ba3fa314f79cecaeb58362926-332x363.jpg?w=332&h=363&auto=format 332w","sizes":"(min-width: 332px) 332px, 100vw"}},"layout":"constrained","backgroundColor":"#6a4c3d","width":332,"height":363}},"hotspot":null},"name":"Peter Kilby","nickname":"Peter"},"keywords":["CastiglionFiorentino"],"id":"-9e81faa5-eca1-5816-b83a-26b581f9c6ad","reviewedAt":"2026-07-27","embargoedUntil":"2026-07-27","_updatedAt":"2026-07-27T01:57:17Z","topics":[{"id":"-ded47dea-bc29-509d-81b2-2acbdaa05b8e","description":"Art  is the making of objects like painting and sculpture, images, literature and music  that are beautiful and that express feelings.","title":"Art"},{"id":"-68e64a7e-c575-5db9-b805-55b64e8a163c","description":"Sculpture, an artistic form in which hard or plastic materials are worked into three-dimensional art objects. 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Tuscany produces wines, including Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Morellino di Scansano and Brunello di Montalcino. Having a strong linguistic and cultural identity, it is sometimes considered \"a nation within a nation\". The Etruscans created the first major civilization in this region, large enough to establish a transport infrastructure, to implement agriculture and mining and to produce vibrant art, much of which was adopted and absorbed by the Romans. Florence is the stunning capital of this region. 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