three examples from each Itinerary.... Red Itinerary Blue Itinerary Green Itinerary
|
Castellina in Chianti
|
Tours Around Tuscany |
three examples from each Itinerary.... Red Itinerary Blue Itinerary Green Itinerary
|
Castellina in Chianti
|
Castellina
in Chianti is another quietly affluent hilltop town, yet it was at one time at the very
frontline of the ebbing and flowing wars between Florence and Siena. A striking remnant of
those times is the Via delle Volte, a covered gallery that was once part of the town
fortifications. The old fort, in the central square, is now home to municipial offices.
Also we ca see a clear example of Etruscan tomb, with the typical cypresses at the top of
the hill containing the tomb, and the 4 entrances rapresenting the 4 cardinal poles.Near
Castellina in Chianti there have been the most considerable archaelogical finds of
Chianti: the four graves dating back to VII-VI century b.C. under the tumulus of
Montecalvario make the reaserchers to assume the existence of an important Etruscan centre
between Casa Vico and Salivolpi (testified by recent proofs), even if the territory of
Castellina is rich of other archaelogical (Rencine, Vignale) and toponomastic finds, which
prove considerable Etruscan and Roman settlements. Castellina is reminded from the XI
century as depending from the noblemen of the castle of Trebbio (the current Trebbia in
the council of Radda) and from the Guidi family. In the following years Castellina had a
primary role in the fights between Florence and Siena (the region of Chianti represented
the main theatre for these fights), even if according to the peace of Fonteruroli (1201)
and to the "lodo" of Poggibonsi (1203) - which followed a first agreement
reached in 1176 in San Marcellino - the border line between the two republics was already
defined. The development of Castellina was due to the fact that it was positioned on the
shortest road link between Florence and Siena (the so called "strada regia
romana"), so that, when the Lega of Chianti was established, it became its
administrative centre and it maintained this function in its own "terziere". At
the end of 1300 it was involved in the war between Florence and the Duke of Milano, who
was allied to Siena, and during these fights Castellina was sacked and burned, so that the
republic of Florence decided to build new fortifications. These fortifications are still
existing and they are formed by a tour of walls shaped as an irregular and stretched
polygon, reinforced by angular towers, and with two doors (now disappeared) in the minor
sides. On the southern side and on the highest point of the walls was included a powerful
quadrilateral building which, restored, is today the city hall; on the northern side of
the walls, the leaning of the houses against the walls has given origin to a particular
"sotterranea" (underground) street, the so called "volte" (vaults).
The built-up area inside the walls, except for the new romanesque parish, has kept an
important environmental value, from which some buildings arise, such as the ones of
Bignardi and Segni-Straccali. .