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

Ristorante La Sosta a Barberino Val d'Elsa

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 satisfy the bodily needs of ...

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

Ristorante Pizzeria Triocco, Barberino Val d'Elsa

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. The pizzas are very good ...

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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 the historic center located on ...

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Barberino di Mugello outlet: the realm of Made in Italy

The Barberino Designer Outlet is located in Mugello, at the Barberino di Mugello exit of the Autostrada del Sole (A1), just 30 minutes by motorway from Florence and less than an hour from Bologna. The Outlet is built like a classic Tuscan village, it houses shops and boutiques of the big names in footwear, clothing, underwear, perfumery, sports, etc. Inside ...

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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 period when Montaione was an ...

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Malmantile: a fortified village to defend Florence

The walled village of Malmantile is located on a hill southwest of Lastra a Signa about 20 km from Florence. This is an interesting excursion from Lastra a Signa, the village was in the Middle Ages, together with the walled villages of Lastra a Signa and Signa, one of the three defensive bastions of the city of Florence against Pisa. ...

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Lastra a Signa: a village with intact medieval walls

Lastra a Signa is located 15 km from Florence, its name was originally “Lastra a Gualandi”, which derives from the name of the noble Gualandi family. The name Lastra derives from the stone (slab) that was found in quarries near the city. The village has medieval origins, as a rest station on the road between Florence and Pisa, since the ...

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The Chianti vineyards in autumn: a marvel of colours

Colori dei vigneti nel Chianti nei pressi della Torre del Chito. Autore e Copyright Marco Ramerini.

Autumn is the season of colors, and this also happens in the Chianti vineyards, that is the hilly area located between Florence and Siena. An area rich in history and art, but particularly beautiful for the union created by man and nature. When do the Chianti vineyards take on colour? There may be slight differences depending on the year, but ...

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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 will write about the chapel ...

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Linari: a small village in the Val d’Elsa

Selciato, Linari, Barberino Val d'Elsa. Autore e Copyright Marco Ramerini.

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 foundation due to its strategic ...

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Tavarnelle Val di Pesa: resting place on the Strada Regia

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa is a town located about 378 meters above sea level in the Chianti hills in the province of Florence, which is about 32 km away. Tavarnelle was born in the Middle Ages as a post station along the Via Regia Romana which led from Florence towards the Via Francigena and the Val d’Elsa, its ancient name ...

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San Casciano in Val di Pesa: production of wine and oil

San Casciano in Val di Pesa is a town located at an altitude of 310 metres, in the Chianti hills in the province of Florence, which is about 22 km away. San Casciano was already a post station in Roman times. Subsequently, in the Middle Ages, the town developed at the meeting point between the Strada Regia Romana and an ...

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Impruneta: the town of the Florentine cotto

Impruneta is a beautiful town located at the beginning of the Chianti hills in the province of Florence, which is about 17 km away. Already in Etruscan times, the sixth century BC, where Impruneta is today there was a place of worship. AN IMPORTANT SANCTUARY But the history of the town itself dates back to the Middle Ages (11th century), ...

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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 km from Florence, allows you ...

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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 the municipality of Florence in ...

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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 ancient times, in the Middle ...

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Greve in Chianti: ancient market place in Chianti

Greve in Chianti is a beautiful town located in a flat area among the Chianti hills in the province of Florence, which is about 30 km away. Greve in Chianti was born on the edge of the important communication networks that headed the via Volterrana and the via Francigena. Originally, in the 11th century, a small settlement was established on ...

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San Donato in Poggio: village in the Chianti hills

Located along the road that connects Tavarnelle Val di Pesa to Castellina in Chianti and just 6 km from the splendid Badia a Passignano, San Donato in Poggio is located 418 meters above sea level immersed in the typical Chianti countryside made up of hills with olive groves and vineyards. San Donato in Poggio is a walled village of ancient ...

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Tignano: a medieval castle in Barberino Val d’Elsa

The small village of Tignano, located on a hill facing the medieval village of Barberino Val d’Elsa, is a small castle dating back to the Middle Ages. According to some studies it seems that its existence has been established since the year one thousand. Of its ancient structures, the circular medieval plan is recognizable. Inside the small village you enter ...

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Walk in Chianti: between La Piazza and San Silvestro

La chiesa di San Silvestro con la finestra rotonda. Autore e Copyright Marco Ramerini

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 road 222, the Chiantigiana. This ...

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Badia a Passignano: a fortified abbey

Badia a Passignano, Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Florence. Author and Copyright Marco Ramerini

To reach Badia a Passignano, from Florence take the SGC Firenze-Siena (this road starts from the Firenze-Impruneta exit (ex-Florence-Certosa) of the A1) towards Siena, exit at Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. After the exit, turn right and after about 100 meters, after crossing the bridge over the Pesa river, turn right. Then continue along this road until you start to see ...

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Scarperia: knives and Mugello Circuit

The frescoed ceiling of the entrance courtyard of the Palazzo dei Vicari, Scarperia. Author and Copyright Marco Ramerini

Scarperia was founded in 1306 by the Republic of Florence, which decided to create a military outpost to guarantee connections from Florence to the north. The design of this new fortress was entrusted to the architect Andrea Pisano, it seems that he took part only in the construction of the palace-fortress seat of the vicars. The castle became the most ...

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Video: Florence

Florence is an absolute masterpiece of Renaissance art. The city is one of the most famous and known tourist destinations in the world. Here are unique masterpieces such as the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore, built by Filippo Brunelleschi. Brunelleschi’s dome has been for hundreds of years the largest dome in the world, and has been surpassed only in modern times ...

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Medici Villas: the villas of the lords of Florence

Villa di Cafaggiolo, Barberino del Mugello. Author and Copyright Marco Ramerini

The Medici Villas are among the most original architectural structures of the Italian Renaissance. These villas were built between the fifteenth and seventeenth century by the lords of Florence, the Medici. The Medici Villas represent a kind of new building for its time, which differed both from the typical farms from the stately castles. The Medici Villas are an example ...

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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 in this region. Let’s start ...

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