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English Version

Economy and Territory

 

THE HISTORIC CONTEST OF THE TERRITORY COVERED BY THE CONSORTIUM

 

The Consortium covers the District and Borough of Barberino Val D’Elsa, one of the most suggestive areas in central Tuscany and the Chianti.

The territory of Barberino Val D’Elsa is one of the most suggestive parts of central Tuscany for its thousand years of history, the preservation and exploitation of its historic and monumental heritage, its agricultural and environmental patrimony and its economic and productive social structure.

The ancient City of Semifonte, built in around the year one thousand by the Counts Alberti, once stood in the centre of the valley of the river Elsa valley, only a few kilometres from the Via Francigena (or the road from France). In a just few years Semifonte acquired fame and importance thanks to the arrival of many notable families who came to settle there, while both arts and culture flourished alongside an extremely active economy. A sign of its success was the fact that Semifonte minted its own coinage and the system it used for calculating the quantity of grain – the “commercial bushel measurement” - was used throughout the Elsa Valley.
The destruction of Semifonte in around the year one thousand and eighty gave rise to the construction of the town of Barberino Val D’elsa.
Apart from the medieval town centre itself, completely restored in the 1970’s, the district of Barberino Val D’Elsa boasts several well preserved medieval villages – some large, some small - and various historic sites and ancient castle settlements, of which the best known are San Filippo, Sant’Appiano, Petrognano, Tignano, Vico D’Elsa, Marcialla, Olena, Linari, Monsanto, Paneretta, Poppiano.

The significant monumental patrimony includes several smaller buildings and architectural elements, among them tbe Churches of Sant’Appiano and Linari, the Church of San Michele Arcangelo in Collina, the small Etruscan Museum at Sant’Appiano, the remains of the Castle of Cepparello and the Castle of Pogni on the borders of the territory with Certaldo, St. Catherine’s Spring near Petrognano and the Spring of the Blessed Davanzato at Le Masse.
Countless important archaeological finds, distributed among the Museums of Florence and Siena, testify to Barberino Val D’Elsa’s thousand-year-old history. Hopefully they will eventually be returned to the borough in order to add to and enhance the local cultural and tourist attractions.

The local Agriculture and Environment, a priceless and traditional patrimony, is composed of the largest extension of usable agricultural land in the whole of the Chianti, thanks to the fact that there is a low density in population in this area. Characterised by a large number of farms specialised in biological agriculture, in general it has a low environmental impact.

Apart from the two industrial areas, where great care is being taken to ensure their adaptation to the environment, new residents, who have settled here in the last twenty-five years and given life to small, medium and large farms, complete this statistic data. Their vines, olives and Farm Holiday Accommodation are now well known throughout Italy and the world and have revitalised the centuries-old farm production, traditions, culture and the typical rural buildings of the past.

This same territory also boasts a vast heritage of protected environmental areas and extensive woodlands. The Chianti Botanical Park in the Chianti Classico area and the “Saffron Academy” Agricultural Park situated between the main Medieval township and the Hill of Petrognano-Semifonte are more recent creations.

The combination of all these special and particular characteristics has greatly contributed, in recent years, towards Barberino Val D’Elsa being selected to represent Italy as a partner in the Interregional “Village Terraneo” Project, directed by the Ecole of Avignon. The Town borough has moreover been selected for the “Orange Banner” Project organised by the Italian Touring Club.

More recently the Town Council of Barberino Val D’Elsa has activated a complex system of certification and control over environmental quality as part of the Agenda 21 and EMAS procedures.

Lastly, please note that the Consortium’s new web site has been financed thanks to the Eurochianti Competition.

LOCAL ROADS AND THEMATIC ROUTES

The borough and district of Barberino Val D’Elsa extends between the boroughs of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, Greve in Chianti and Certaldo in the Province of Florence and the boroughs of Castellina in Chianti and Poggibonsi in the Province of Siena.
It is therefore placed ideally, as well as historically and administratively, in an axial position that allows it to carry out a connecting function between the two Tuscan provinces lying in the plain around the river Elsa, whose plentiful waters and environmental resources have marked the history of entire populations and towns like Certaldo, Colle Val D’Elsa, Casole D’Elsa and Barberino Val D’Elsa.

The Cassia State Road cuts through the borough of Barberino, from the south at the Poggibonsi North motorway exit as far as its northern borders with the borough of Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. This project aims to construct three thematic itineraries – historic and cultural, agricultural and environmental, products and services - within these borders.

A)      The first thematic itinerary starts out from the medieval town centre along Via di Semifonte and then continues along Via Le Masse. This route includes elements that testify to the historic origins of Barberino and link the town of today to memories of the City of Semifonte. The route proceeds along the entire length of Via Le Masse and then cuts across the Valley of Scheto before climbing up towards the Hill of Magliano, where it intercepts the Magliano council road. From here it goes back down into the valley and crosses the stream of Agliena, before starting to ascend the Hill of Petrognano-Semifonte. At this point the itinerary intercepts the council road linking Barberino and Certaldo. After turning right in the direction of Barberino it first goes past the Cupola of San Michele Arcangelo in Collina, followed by the medieval village of Petrognano and the hamlet of Le Montigliane, before meeting up with the Cassia again to return to Barberino.

B)      B) -The second thematic itinerary starts out by following the same path as that used for itinerary A turning right near the hamlet of Le Montigliane. This route is linked to memories of the Via Francigena (or the road from France), which wound its way along the area of the river Elsa and today connects up Castel Fiorentino, Certaldo and Poggibonsi. It was the main road to the City of Semifonte in around the year one thousand. Four council roads departed for the Elsa basin from Le Montigliane.
The first road passes through the hamlets of Pastine, Volpaia and the medieval town of Vico D’Elsa and then meets up with the Provincial road linking Certaldo and Poggibonsi.
The second, again from Le Montigliane, goes through the hamlets of Palaiolo and Poneta and once more intercepts the Provincial road linking Certaldo and Poggibonsi in the locality of Zambra.
The third, also from Le Montigliane, descends the hill towards Poggibonsi, passing through the hamlets of Giugnanino, La Selva and Poppiano
The fourth and last road from Le Montigliane to the Elsa area passes through the hamlet of Monteghezzi, the medieval villages of Sant’Appiano and Linari and then meets up with the Cassia again in the area of Valcanoro-Poggibonsi North.

C)     C) - The third thematic itinerary explores Barberino’s historic Chianti Classico wine growing area and illustrates the historic memories of wine. This route starts out from Barbarino by taking Via Di Novoli, then descends towards the river Drove as far as the hamlet of Casa Sotterra, before climbing up again to pass through the hamlets of Torrigiana and La Valle and reach Poggiolo di Sotto. Here the road on the left leads to the Castle of Tignano, while the road on the right continues through the hamlets of Molino della Chiara on the river Drove, Casa Sola and the tiny village of Cortine before reaching the Provincial road linking Tavarnelle Val di Pesa and Castellina in Chianti. A little further on from here, a right-hand turning leads straight back to Barberino Val D’Elsa, passing through the hamlets of Uliveto and Villa Francesca. An alternative route turns instead to the left to follow a short stretch of the same Provincial road, intercepting the hamlets of Casa Emma and La Ripa. A little further on, a turning to the left leads back into the council territory along the Monsanto road. It passes through the hamlets of Peretola, Olena, Isole, Quercia al Poggio, Il Bossolo, Paneretta, Monsanto and Scarni, before arriving in the Valcanoro industrial area near the Poggibonsi North Florence-Siena highway exit, and thus connects up again with the A and B itineraries. These three thematic itineraries cover a total of over 50 kilometres of council highways, local and private roads that meander past the many hamlets, historic, monumental and archaeological sites, medieval villages, woodlands and countryside forming this suggestive natural and environment landscape, as well as the Farms belonging to Members of the Consortium Society.
The old town centre of Barberino, with its Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall) and various public offices marks the point of departure and arrival for all these thematic itineraries, as it represents the heart of the territorial system that the Consortium aims to create.

WINES AND VINES

Today the growing of vines and wine production represent an important stimulus for the local economy. There are about one hundred and fifty farms in the area, of which about one hundred produce wine. Wine production in the territory today is divided into various categories, from D.O.C.G. wines (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin) to a large number of I.G.T. wines (Guaranteed Geographic Identification). The production of Chianti wine is divided into three areas of reference: Chianti Classico D.O.C.G. wine, which is grown on soils rich in limestone and marl. The regulations regarding the production of Chianti Classico wine no longer insist that wine growers include white grapes for making their wine. The yield of the grapes must not exceed seventy-five quintals per hectare and the minimum alcoholic content is twelve degrees. It is an austere wine, suitable for aging and for serving with well-flavoured meat dishes. It is produced in the areas around Olena, Cortine, Prummiano and Monsanto. Chianti Colli Fiorentini D.O.C.G. is instead the wine that in the past the farms bottled in flasks and sold direct, especially to the city of Florence. The yield must not exceed eighty quintals per hectare. It is a robust wine and suitable for aging and an excellent accompaniment for roast meats. Ruby red in colour, it is slightly more brilliant than the Chianti Classico wines. It is produced in the areas around Petrognano, Sant'Appiano, Linari, Poppiano, Poneta, Pastine, Barberino, Tignano and Marcialla. Chianti D.O.C.G.: The regulations regarding the production of Chianti D.o.c.g. wine stipulate that the productive yield must not exceed 90 quintals of grapes per hectare and indicate the percentages of the various types of grapes to be used. The varied composition of the wine obtained also includes white grapes, which makes it more "beverino" (easy to drink), fresh and quickly mature enough to drink. It is therefore not suitable as a vintage wine, but should be drunk without a lengthy aging.

Historic and Naturalistic Sites

THE 10th CENTURY CITY OF SEMIFONTE

Built by the Counts Alberti, the founders of the Empire, the origins of the city of Semifonte date back to the 10^th century.
The site of the new city was carefully chosen and strategically placed near a richly gushing spring called the SUMMA FONTE on the largest plateau between Florence and Siena in the heart of the Region of TUSCIA. The valley below, known since Etruscan times as the Valley of Scheto, was well exposed to the sun and particularly fertile thanks to the two branches of the stream of the Agliena, a tributary of the river Elsa, that flowed right through it.
Between the 10^th and the 12^th centuries, the city of Semifonte, after a succession of events, became extremely important. This was not simply due to the large number of inhabitants, but also to its fast developing commercial and cultural activities connected to the busy traffic along the Via Francigena, the road that linked the whole of northern Europe with Rome.
Under the Imperial banner the city of Semifonte was occupied by many important families and great knights. A great many villages, like Magliano, Mercatale, Passignano, Sant’Appiano, Linari and Vico D'Elsa, grew up around Semifonte, whose parish included as many as 21 churches. Semifonte minted its own coinage and its COMMERCIAL BUSHEL MEASUREMENT was used by all the local towns to calculate the quantities of grain.
Dante Alighieri recalls the city in the Divine Comedy, PARADISE (XVI, 61 and onwards), when he goes in search of his family who originally came from Semifonte.
However Semifonte’s growing importance soon attracted the interest of the Florence, which decided that it must be destroyed as it obviously interfered with great city’s strategic intention of deviating the path of the Via Francigena in order to have it pass directly though its own territory.
The war between the two cities lasted for many years. Semifonte, well fortified and led by its Lombard commander SCOTUS, was impregnable and it was only thanks to various plots and treachery that the city was captured in 1202.
The surrender of Semifonte was negotiated near Vico D'Elsa and the victorious Florentines forced the inhabitants to raze the entire city to the ground, including the imposing Tower of Bagnolo, the highest in all the surrounding territory, and the Tower of the Leoni.
The remains of the city were later used to build the walls of Barberino Val D'Elsa.

Today the "CUPOLA OF SAN DONNINO" testifies to the existence of the City of Semifonte

Giovan Battista Capponi had the chapel carried out in 1597 thanks to a dispensation granted by Ferdinando I dei Medici, four centuries after all building had been banned forever on the hill of Semifonte. Octagonal in shape, it is a perfect replica of the famous cupola of Santa Maria del Fiore by Brunelleschi, although on a greatly reduced scale. Designed by Santi di Tito, it is, like other buildings in the Elsa Valley, a tangible proof of the Florentine dominion, which often had replicas of its famous monuments built in the country areas, as a way of marking the territory. It has the double significance, for it is both a religious building and a memorial, because it marks the site of the city destroyed by the Florentines. It would almost appear that Capponi, a member of the Florentine aristocracy, decided to build the chapel out of pity, as if he wished to redeem the tragic events of so long ago. Wrapped in an aura of mystery, many historical events were rediscovered in the second half of the sixteenth century and, as they were linked, or thought to be linked, to the birth of the Florentine State, its ancient Etruscan origins were therefore glorified or ancient victories of past wars, as in this case, were recalled. Even the double-layered system used to construct the cupola is the same as the original in Florence and only differs in the use of square windows.

VICO D'ELSA

A small town of medieval origin built in a strategic position on a hillock in the vicinity of the Via Francigena and near the bridge of San Galgano that linked the Volterra road to Florence and passed through Semifonte. It still retains its a spindle-shaped walled urban structure, built around the castle, with two central squares and two parallel streets that meet near the gates, today unfortunately lost. Some imposing houses, built for noble families of the past, surround the two large and attractive squares: Palazzo Torrigiani and Palazzo Brancadoro-Majnoni-Guicciardini with their respective outbuildings together with the Chapels of San Michele and San Bernardo. One of Semifonte’s allies, Vico hosted the negotiations held here with the government of San Gimignano in 1202 in an attempt to free Semifonte from the Florentine siege. However it was too late, Semifonte fell and the Florentines also conquered Vico, which gradually lost all its political importance in the centuries that followed.

SANT'APPIANO

Even today the monumental buildings of Sant'Appiano are wonderfully suggestive thanks to their position in the landscape and the historical memories they represent. Situated on a pretty hill and surrounded by severe cypress trees, the group of buildings is composed of the Romanesque Parish Church, the remains of a ruined octagonal building, the cloisters, the canons’ house, and a group of houses forming the village that stand only a slight distance away.
We should also remember that Sant’Appiano is situated on the "Volterra" road, a branch off the Via Francigena, and therefore stood on the Pilgrims’ Way to Rome.
The monumental buildings that can be visited include:
The Parish Church, the Cloisters, the Canons’ House and the Baptistery.

LINARI

Linari is a delightful fortified village of extremely ancient origin and particularly fascinating for its position among the verdant hills of the Elsa Valley. It stands on the road that branches off from the Via Francigena and leads to Barberino. The ancient castle formed the upper part of the village dominated by the small Romanesque Church of Santa Maria. The castle is built around a central street paved in stone that led from one gate to the other. The northern entrance is characterised by an entrance gate in medieval style that dates from the beginning of the last century, when the alterations to the villa-farmhouse situated by the southern entrance were also carried out.

TIGNANO

The picturesque castle of Tignano is situated on an isolated spur (334 m.) right opposite Barberino, and offers an extensive view over the Elsa Valley and the narrow valley of the river Drove. It is perhaps the most beautiful example of a "walled" fortress in the Elsa Valley.
This tiny hamlet has only recently been fully restored and particular care has been taken to respect the historic value of the buildings that still preserve - in miniature - the typical characteristics of a medieval village.
Its circular castle-like structure with a central square is particularly original. The buildings, constructed around the external perimeter, form "the walls" on one side and, on the other, the façades of the public palaces and private dwellings that frame the small inner square.

PETROGNANO-SEMIFONTE

Sprawled on green vine-covered hills, the village of Petrognano lies either side of the road from Barberino to Certaldo. It is formed of a cluster of ancient but scattered houses, built higgledy-piggledy around Villa Capponi though, if we look more closely, we can see that stone-built towers, most of them lopped with elegant and finely decorated arches, also rise alongside the houses.
Petrognano is a village standing outside a city, a city that has long disappeared: SEMIFONTE.
In the village we can find:
Villa Capponi, the Crucifix of Petrognano, the Morello Tower House, the Church of San Pietro a Petrognano, the Chapel by St. Catherine’s Spring.

Consortium

“LE API DI BARBERINO” CONSORTIUM SOCIETY a r.l.
Le Api di Barberino was formed in March 2004 as a part public-part private Consortium Society to promote local development.
Founder members are the Town Administration of Barberino Val D’Elsa and fourteen Farms on the council territory.
The general aim of the Consortium is:

- to improve agriculture, the environment and the rural infrastructures in the area,
- to develop local production and services of quality.

The Consortium Society is at present directed by an Administrative Council composed of five members. The President is Prof. Mario Becattelli, the Vice Mayor, while Dr. Paolo Caccetta is the Authorised Director.
The other councillors are Dr. Fabrizio Bianchi, Dr, Paolo De Marchi and Dr. Pietro Majnoni

All the many economic and productive firms, whether agricultural or not, established and operating in the council territory can become members of the Consortium Society.
According to the Statute, and to ensure the aims of the society, the agricultural firms have the function of guidance, selection and coordination of the various projects planned and also possess a majority quota within the society.

The registered office of the Consortium is in Via Cassia 49 inside the Town Hall of Barberino Val D’Elsa.

 

Town Council

TOWN COUNCIL OF BARBERINO: USEFUL INFORMATION

 

Palazzo Comunale - Via Cassia, 49
50021 Barberino Val d'Elsa (FI)
SWITCHBOARD: Tel. +039 055 80521 - Fax +39 055 8052668/232

website: www.barberinovaldelsa.net
e-mail: info@barberinovaldelsa.net

 

Town Hall - Via Cassia 055/80521 Fax   055/8075668

Traffic Police - Via Cassia 055/8075674

Fire Brigade 115

Carabineers 055/8077003

Emergencies 112

ACI Breakdown service 116

CHEMISTS

Barberino Via Cassia, 27 055/8075002
 
Tavarnelle Via Roma  055/8076555

Dry Cleaning - Barberino Piazza Capocchini  055/8075616

Paediatric Emergency Service - Vico D'Elsa 055/8073161

Health Emergency Service 118

Tourist Information Office Via Cassia 055/8075622

 

DISTANCES AND CONNECTIONS

San Gimignano 18 Km

Florence 32 Km

Siena 35 Km
 
Poggibonsi 8 Km

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa: 2 Km

Certaldo 15 Km

San Casciano 18 Km

Florence - Siena Motorway 7,5 Km

State Road n° 2                                                 
A1 Milan Rome (Florence - Certosa) Km. 24,5

 

USEFUL INFORMATION

Province of Florence

C.A.P. 50021

Area sq. Km. 65,88

Altitude 373 metres a.s.l.

Inhabitants 3618

Families 1281

Telephone prefix 055

MORE ABOUT THE TOWN

 

Historic notes

 

The area of Barberino, full of history and legends, is situated in the heart of Tuscany, between Florence and Siena. The large number of architectural elements scattered throughout the territory greatly contribute towards understanding its history. The characteristic oblong or “spindle” shaped medieval town centre is cut through lengthwise by the main street linking the two entrance gates, the Sienese or Roman Gate and the Florentine Gate.

The two other streets that run parallel to the Florentine gate meet near it. This type of urban structure is fairly typical among the “walled” towns in the Elsa Valley and Barberino has remained substantially intact, though the ring of walls has been defaced in places. Both gates are still standing today, even though the Florentine Gate is a modern reconstruction. The two surviving towers of defence overlook the Drove valley...

 

http://www.barberinovaldelsa.net/it_storia.html

 

Itineraries

 

The Council territory offers some really suggestive itineraries that take in the villages, buildings, the typical artistic and architectural elements and the loveliest beauty spots in this unspoilt part of the Chianti countryside, an area that tries hard to maintain a harmonious blend between history, art, traditions and farming. A more detailed itinerary includes the following stops:

 

1) Visit to the village

"Le Api di Barberino" Società Consortile a r.l. (P. Iva 05419530489) - © PlanetSeven