Places to visit

The first mention of Dievole dates back to 1090 and is about the rent of some sant’Eugenio a Pulisciano monastery properties. Around the half of XIII century it was a Sienese surrounding countryside village. At the end of the XVII century there is a mention about a Malavolti family’s farm, who since early XIV owned possessions around Dievole. In 1825 the settlement is mentioned as set up with a farmhouse and a court, a garden, an oil-press, a granary, a church and further more. In the central part of the place there is a villa, which took the current aspect after a big restoration occurred in XIX century on pre-existent XVI century structures.

Visitors of Chianti Sculptures Park live a unique experience. In an uncontaminated holm and oak wood, located in the heart of Sienese Chianti, several artists from the fi ve continents, tested their creativity and style out, making huge contemporary art sculptures. Every single sculpture has been proposed by artists after visiting the woods. In this way the union among operas, trees, sounds, colours, light and every element of the woods, is complete. Walking in the nature, admiring fascinating works, is very pleasant.

Scopeto place is already mentioned in a 1079 document. Lately Sozzini family transformed the fortified settlement in villa. During 1500 Scopeto became an important centre for theological conferences welcoming Reform thesis. Inside the little village there are several buildings, the villa, a tower with a shoe-like basement dating back to 1543, San Bartolomeo chapel.

Aiola villa has been built in XVII century over the ruins of the homonymous castle, in a strategic position on the borderline of Sienese and Florentine territories. At the beginning of the XVI century it was an important Sienese rampart, and it could accommodate three or four hundred foot-soldiers. Giving up its defensive function, at the end of 1600, the settlement became a farm. It is possible to get to the villa through the drawbridge, rebuilt over the still existing moat.

The Medieval fortified city of Cetamura has been a VI B.C. Etruscan settlement, but its first mention dates back to 1071. Since 1140 it was the seat of a castle and a first primitive commune organisation is mentioned in 1173-74. Around the half of XIII century it was a castrensian commune of Siena’s surrounding countryside. It results among Berardenga vicarage communities in XIV century. The castle, due to its strategic position at the borderline, had a relevant defensive role until the half of XVI century. There are only few traces of the castle, included in a rural complex. The most signifi cant evidence of Middle Age is the ruined of portal at the entrance of the settlement.

La Casaccia has risen up over a pre-existent rural settlement, possession of Del Taja family and then of Piccolomini Clementini family. This is mentioned in documents from 1692 and in register of landed properties of Arceno Estate (1709). Between 1884 and 1886 the manor house has been re-built, with a rectangular plan, typical late Renaissance architecture.

Montalto origin is uncertain: it probably stands on the site of an ancient Etruscan settlement. The original castle centre has been built by Berardenghi family, descendent of Winigis who was a Charles the Great vassal. Since IX century there was a castle, even if it has been firstly documented in 1004. It was a frontier rampart between Sienese and Florentine territories and it has always been faithful to Siena during the century-old contest. Montalto has been destroyed and re-built more than once: Montalto Battle in 1208 caused great damages. Berardenghi family owned the castle until XV century, when its strategic relevance was reduced. In this century Montalto has been included in Sienese Republic possessions and in 1456 it has been given to Giovanni Palmieri, whose family kept control of the place until 1572. Then it has been subdued to Florentine Government. Military Hall frescos date back up to 1500. Its current aspect is due to Antonio Palmieri who re-built it at the end of XIX century.

Badia Monastero was built to remind the 15th February 867 deed, when Count Winigis and his wife Richilda founded the women monastery of Santi Salvatore e Alessandro di Fontebuona a Campi. Later named San Salvatore della Berardenga. The monastery probably declined and was re-founded in 1003; this time it was given to a Benedictine male community. For the first time in 1028, it is mentioned as part of Camaldoli congregation. In XIV century the Abbey started to decline. Since early 1800 it is not a monastery anymore. Monastery and connected outhouses are currently used as villa and farmhouse. At the North-Western corner of the complex there is a cylindrical tower, re-built over the original one in Neo-gothic style. On the villa Eastern side there is a wooden bridge that leads to the garden. On the villa left side stands a Romanic imposing bell tower in Lombard style with a squared plan. At the opposite side there is the S. Salvatore Church, which is mentioned since monastery foundation.

Castell’in Villa is a farmhouses complex, dominated by the three fl oor medieval rectangular plan tower. Not far from the village there was a little church, mentioned in 1176. In late XIII and early XIV centuries tithe lists, this church is mentioned as S. Cristoforo parsonage. Since the half of XIII century Castell’in Villa appears as Siena’s surrounding countryside and in XIV century it results among Berardenga vicarage communities. In 1825 the tower is mentioned as “palace”. In the neighbourhood of the building there is the Virgin Mary Chapel, consecrated in 1801.

The chapel of San Liberato, even though small, is defi ned by some as “the Sistine Chapel of Chianti”, it is dated back to around half of the sixteenth century constructed for the noble family Cinughi dei Pazzi, whose coat of arms hangs on the façade and who owned vast amounts of land in this area. It is a modest construction with a rectangular layout and a bell shaped roof that demonstrates particular structural attention. The interior presents a vast alfresco on the vault and on the walls of the presbytery created by the artist Arcangelo Salimbeni from Siena in 1573. In the vault there is a representation of the Ascension to the sky whilst panels that run along the underneath strip and continue onto the four walls and underneath the arch represent episodes of the life and passions of Christ, separated by Latin motto’s.