Etruscan Gioiella

The ancient Etruscans were the first to notice the abundant beauty of Gioiella. Its ideal location above the fertile plains of the Chiana valley, the odd cooling breeze in summer and stunning sunsets were as hard to resist then as they are today. These ancient people left behind a 13 room necropolis, tiles, wine amphorae, coins and much more – all evidence of a rural village that lasted from the end of around C2 BC to the end of C3 AD.

Artefacts found by the Etruscans of Gioiella and the huge settlement at Chiusi can be seen in the Etruscan Museum of Chiusi and Palazzo della Corgna in Castiglione del Lago.

Medieval Gioiella

During the Medieval era, in 1550, Pope Julius III gave Castiglione del Lago to his sister and his nephew, Ascanio della Corgna (1516 – 1571) making them the Marquis of Castiglione and Chiusi. You can read more about that HERE.

Gioiella, perched on the sweet rolling hills above the Val di Chiana, with summer breezes and abundant wildlife, became the favourite summer hunting spot of the Duke of Corgna and his crew. The Duke’s hunting lodge is located in the piazza opposite Bar Pub Ruota.

Renaissance Gioiella

In the centre of Gioiella is a lovely little church, San Lorenzo the Marter, all that remains from the Jesuit estate formed when Perugia was defeated by the Papal forces of the Church.

Unbelievably, its original construction date is not known, but we know that in 1572 a certain ‘Monsignor Della Rovere’ visited, so at least we know the church was built earlier than that by Famiglia Della Corgna.