Categories
Chianti Province of Florence Restaurants Val d'Elsa

Osteria Restaurant La Sosta di Pio VII in Barberino Val d’Elsa (Florence)

Located along the ancient Strada Regia Romana, the current Via Cassia between Poggibonsi and Barberino Val d’Elsa, the restaurant is located in front of the hill of Sant’Appiano. The farmhouse where the Osteria Restaurant is located is known locally as the “Pisciata del Papa” because Pope Pius VII stopped here on 2 June 1815 to […]

Categories
Chianti Province of Florence Restaurants Val d'Elsa

Restaurant Pizzeria Triocco in Barberino Val d’Elsa (Florence)

In the historic center of Barberino Val d’Elsa in a location with an enviable panorama is the Ristorante Pizzeria Triocco. The restaurant has seats both inside, in an old house, and outside on a panoramic terrace overlooking the Chianti area. Among the delicacies are the Pici with Cinta Senese ragout with truffle and fried sage. […]

Categories
Val d'Elsa Villages

Castelfiorentino: ancient outpost in the Valdelsa

The town of Castelfiorentino is located in the southern part of the Florentine province. Castelfiorentino extends on a hill along the Via Francigena on the ruins of a Roman settlement and is made up of an ancient part and a modern part. The municipal territory is crossed by the river Elsa which flows downstream from […]

Categories
Province of Florence Val d'Elsa Villages

Montaione: in the past the center of glass art

Montaione is a town located on a hill at an altitude of 342 meters overlooking the Val d’Elsa, in an important archaeological area as many finds of Etruscan and Roman origin have been found. The municipality has about 3,700 inhabitants and preserves the remains of walls, towers and a postern dating back to the medieval […]

Categories
Abbeys, basilicas and churches Chianti Province of Florence Val d'Elsa

The dome of San Donnino: where the city of Semifonte was

This dome is a 1:8 scale reproduction of the dome of the Florence Cathedral In the countryside around Barberino Val d’Elsa there are some interesting medieval villages, such as those of Tignano and Linari, and religious buildings, such as those of the Pieve di Sant’Appiano and the chapel of San Donnino. On this page we […]

Categories
Castles, towers and fortresses Chianti Province of Florence Val d'Elsa Villages

Linari: a small village in the Val d’Elsa

The small semi-abandoned village of Linari is located in a beautiful position on a hillock 225 meters above sea level overlooking the river Elsa. It is a small fortified village of which some interesting medieval evidence remains. The first historical evidence of this castle dates back to the 11th century. Linari had importance since its […]

Categories
Province of Florence Val d'Elsa Villages

Montespertoli: the city of Chianti wine

Montespertoli is a town of medieval origin that extends on the top of a hill, 257 meters above sea level, which overlooks the Valdarno, the Val d’Elsa and the Apennine range up to the Apuan Alps. Its territory, largely hilly, is made up of vineyards, olive groves and wooded areas. Its strategic position, just 30 […]

Categories
Castles, towers and fortresses Province of Florence Val d'Elsa

Pogni Castle: the remains of a medieval fortification

The Castle of Pogni, known in the past with the name of Pogna, was one of the most important advanced fortifications of the city of Semifonte in the Val d’Elsa. Semifonte was the most important castle of the feudal family of the Counts Alberti. This castle was the last imperial fortification to be defeated by […]

Categories
Province of Florence Spa Val d'Elsa Villages

Gambassi Terme: the thermal baths in the hills of the Val d’Elsa

Gambassi Terme is a well-known spa resort located in the hills overlooking the Val d’Elsa, in the province of Florence, which is 54 km away. Thanks to its position along important communication routes, such as the Etruscan road to Volterra or the Via Clodia between Siena and Lucca, the Gambassi area has been inhabited since […]

Categories
Chianti Hills Landscapes Province of Florence Val d'Elsa Walks, trails, hiking

Walk in Chianti: between La Piazza and San Silvestro

Written by Marco Ramerini. My friend Marcello Marcucci introduced me to a corner of our land that I did not know. With a splendid walk in the Chianti of almost 10 kilometers we crossed the area that is located between the provincial road 101, which connects San Donato to Castellina in Chianti, and the regional […]

Categories
Hills Landscapes Province of Florence Val d'Elsa

Tuscany countryside, the area surrounding Montaione

What do you really expect from a vacation in Tuscany? Are you ready to discover a charming territory, the authentic aspect of this land? So, let us guide you through the real Tuscany and explore the countryside between Montaione and Castelfalfi, the enticing area surrounding Villa Ciggiano and the Castelfalfi golf club, the best course […]

Categories
Province of Florence Val d'Elsa Villages

Certaldo: an intact medieval village in Val d’Elsa

Certaldo is divided into an upper part, medieval, called Certaldo Alto, surrounded by fortified walls, and a modern part located in the valley below. The town is the birthplace of Giovanni Boccaccio, and still retains its ancient part of the original medieval structure with the Praetorian Palace, monasteries, churches, towers and fortifications, characteristic of the […]

Categories
Abbeys, basilicas and churches Chianti Province of Florence Val d'Elsa

Pieve of Sant’Appiano: a Romanesque church

To reach the Pieve of Sant’Appiano from Barberino Val d’Elsa, coming from Tavarnelle Val di Pesa you through the entire village of Barberino and near the end of the village turn right towards Linari, after about one km, turn left to Sant’Appiano-Linari, still a 1 km and you reach the Pieve of Sant’Appiano. AN ANCIENT ROMANIC […]

Categories
Chianti Province of Florence Val d'Elsa Villages

Barberino Val d’Elsa: a medieval village in Chianti

Barberino Val d’ Elsa is a fortified village situated on a hill over the Elsa River valley at 373 meters of height, the village lies half way between Florence and Siena in the north-western area of the Chianti hills. Barberino Val d’Elsa was founded by the Republic of Florence as a castle in a strategic […]