OLD
VILLAGES around BARBERINO VAL D'ELSA, Chianti (Florence): TIGNANO,
SANT'APPIANO, LINARI, PANERETTA, PETROGNANO, SAN DONNINO (SEMIFONTE) |
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TIGNANO
| Many
archeological finds were discovered in the territory around Tignano. In that area in the
year 1000 there was a little village and later, in 12th century, Alberti Count's castle
was built to create a defensive wedge between the cities of Florence and Siena, the two
mainly medieval antagonists in this Tuscany region. During the 13th century, Tignano
became part of Florentine Republic. |
|
The Tignano
Castle is placed on a hill at 334mt., and has a typical circular structure of a fortified
village. Actually has just a portal of entrance. An arch with decoration in brick can also
be seen, with a coat of arms in the middle, probably belonging to a captain from north of
Italy. Nearby there is a cistern for water supplying and the 14th century 'Palazzo dei
Begliuomini'.
A good bed and breakfast in the outskirtses of Tignano,
that can be used as base for visiting Florence, Siena, San Gimignano and Certaldo is the Bed
and Breakfast Antica Pieve in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa.
Hotel, B&B and agriturismi near Barberino Val d'Elsa
|
| A typical Chianti landscape: the old
village of Tignano, as seen from Barberino val d'Elsa (Florence). |
SANT'APPIANO
| Sant’Appiano
existence can be traced back to Etruscan-Roman times, with the ruins of the Baptistery and
Romanesque Church where the mortal remains are conserved of the Saint who lived here in
the IV-V century, and whose name was given to the village that had previously been called
Monteloro. |
| Parish Church of Sant'Appiano, this
suggestive and beautiful Parish Church, mentioned in documents as early as 990, still
retains many early Romanesque structural remains, like the part in stone in the left nave,
the apse and the crypt. |
 
| The stone stairs. |
Column remains of the Baptistery. |
| The very old Parish Church of
Sant'Appiano, in stone (11th century) and brick (12th century), whose attached Antiquarium
Museum contains various Etruscan finds and ceramics that come from the many necropoli in
the area. In the the photo, in the foreground are the remains of the Baptistery. |
LINARI
| Linari, a
pretty fortified borough of very old origins and very attractive because of its position
among the green hills of Valdelsa. It can be reached from Barberino Val d' Elsa, after to
have crossed the village in direction of Poggibonsi-Siena, turning to right following the
indications to Sant' Appiano-Linari, Linari is approximately 5 km from Barberino, along a
beautiful road that slides on the top of the hills from which you can see a wonderful
sight over the entire Tuscany, in the fine days along this road can be seen the
Apuan Alps, the Appennino and the Amiata Mount. |
PANERETTA
 
| The Castle of Paneretta, Monsanto. |
 
| The Castle of Paneretta, Monsanto. |
The ruins of the castle of Cepparello, near
Paneretta. |
| The ruins of the castle of Cepparello,
near Paneretta. |
PETROGNANO
| Petrognano, representing
all that remains of the lost city of Semifonte, razed to the ground in 1202 by Florence,
that later, according to legend, built Barberino with
stones taken from it. |
| Campagna vicino a Petrognano. |
 
| From the road between Barberino Val d'Elsa
and Certaldo you'll see beautiful landscape and in the distance also San Gimignano's towers. |
SAN DONNINO (SEMIFONTE)
| The Chapel
of San Michele Arcangelo is particularly interesting. Built in 1597 by Santi di Tito, it
is a perfect 1:8 scale reproduction of the Cupola or Dome of the Cathedral of Florence. It
was constructed on the site of the ancient city of Semifonte, completely razed to the
ground by the Florentines in 1202. |
| The hill where is the Chapel of San
Michele Arcangelo. |
| Chapel of San Michele Arcangelo. |
| Chapel of San Michele Arcangelo. |
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