Ancient Tuscan villages

Sights from our farm:

Montaione: Situated on a hill that dominates the Val d' Elsa, the first settlements from which we have historical evidence, date back to the Etruscan-Roman period. It is supposed that the name of Montaione is derived from the Lombard word "Allone of Lucca", detailed in a number of documents such as "Mons Allonis", corrected then as "Montacone" in a document of 988.

Montaione offers its visitors: Palazzo Pretorio in existence from the end of 1200. The church of Saint Regolo. The Roman cistern dating back to the II century AD.: the sacred mount of Saint Vivaldo, also called “Jerusalem of Tuscany” because of its chapels and small temples which reproduce  the Jerusalem of the XV century on a reduced scale. The Church of the Pietrina, famous for the painting representing "Madonna con Bambino" by the Sienese painter Bartolo di Fredi, the village and fortress of Castelfalfi with its castle and the Romanesque church.

Cellole: Pieve di Cellole, a Romanesque church a few kilometres from San Gimignano near the fortified village of Collemuccioli. In the surrounding area, a number of Etruscan graves can be found (Poggio alla Città).

Castelfiorentino: Typical town of the Tuscany plain, it is located about 10 km from our farm.
Not to be missed in Castelfiorentino: the Pinacoteca, an art gallery (annexed to the church of S. Verdiana); the Church of S. Francesco (1100); the Pieve di S.Ippolito (900); the Church of S.Verdiana (1600).

San Miniato: Episcopal centre, small historical town in a panoramic position on a triple hillock dominating the plain of the Arno. In the Middle Ages it was the centre of the Imperial Vicars.
Tourists can admire: S.Domenico, in Piazza del Popolo ( t. n. Popolo Square ) (1330), the Dome, the Tower called the Barbarossa, where Pier delle Vigne committed suicide (1249).

Fucecchio: Native city of Indro Montanelli (journalist) is situated on a hill where we can still see the remains of the ancient "Rocca"( t.n. Fortress ) and from you can observe nearby the natural Park of "il Padule", We draw attention to: the Abbey of S.Salvatore; the Collegiata of Saint John the Baptist, the compound of the small farm of the Corsini Princes.

Montespertoli: Montespertoli is situated among the hills of Chianti where you will be able to taste the native products such as the wine and the olive oil.
Of tourist interest: S.Andrea (1500); the Convent and the Castle of Bottinaccio; the Castle of Poppiano; the Castle of Montegufoni, the Pieve S.Pietro in Mercato; the medieval Village of Lucardo.

Empoli Not to be missed: Collegiata of S.Andrea; Museum of the Collegiata, with works of art of the XIV-XVI century; Church of S.Stefano (XIV century).

Montelupo Fiorentino: Of interest: Prioria di S.Lorenzo (1200); Villa Medicea of Ambrogiana (1500).

Capraia e Limite Of interest: Castle of Florentine Capraia; Church of S.Stefano.

Cerret Guidi: Also situated on a hill, as every ancient village in Tuscany, it has been the country residence of the Medici family.
Of interest: the Medicea Villa (that can be visited); the Parocchiale of S.Leonardo with Robbiano Baptistery; the Sanctuary of S.Liberata.

Vinci: To be visited: Vinciano museum. In the area of Anchiano: the native house of Leonardo.
In the area of S. Ansano: the rural parish church of Saint John the Baptist (900).

The ancient towns of the region Toscana