19Jan 0 Barberino Val d’Elsa Posted By: Elena Spolaor In: Chianti architecture, Chianti castles and forts, Things to see and do in Chianti All about Chianti Italy, Chianti, Italy, Sights of Chianti Barberino Val d'ElsaThe charming town of Barberino Val d'Elsa in the Chianti area of Tuscany Barberino Val d’Elsa Although is is mentioned in a document dating from 1054, Barberino Val d’Elsa developed as a township in the first decades of the 13 C after the Florentine destruction of the city of Semifonte in 1202. After a long siege, Semifonte was razed to the ground by Florence in 1202, and the Florentines forbade its reconstruction. This resulted in an increase in the importance of Barberino Val d’Elsa as a safe haven on the road from Florence to Sienna, after Florence surrounded it with defensive walls and transformed it into a military garrison. The Ospedale dei Pellegrini (Pilgrims’ Hospice) dates from 1365 and Berberino lies close to the Via Francigena pilgrimage route that runs through the valley below. The walls remain more or less intact to the present day and the two gates are still to be seen, one original and the other a reconstruction. Barberino takes the suffix of its name from the Val d’Elsa which lies to one side of the ridge upon which it is located. On the other side is the Val di Pesa. Among the sights near Barberino Val D’Elsa is the Church of Sant’Appiano which was constructed during the 11 C (the part in stone) and 12 C (the part in brick) and now includes the Antiquarium Museum housing various Etruscan artefacts from the many necropoli in the area. The Chapel of San Michele Arcangelo was built in 1597 by Santi di Tito as a perfect 1:8 scale reproduction of the Cupola of the Cathedral of Florence. It was constructed on the site of Semifonte, destroyed by the Florentines in 1202. More about Barberino Val d’Elsa. Here are some similar topics: Castello di Montefioralle Holiday homes near Montefioralle in Chianti Village Apartment near Montefioralle and Greve in ChiantiCasa Forese vacation rental is an apartment for 2 adults (and 1 small child) in a recently restored house at the foot of the walls of Montefioralle. It has a large, flat, enclosed garden, an excellent location and a very reasonable price. […] Read More » All about Greve in Chianti All about Greve in ChiantiSights of Greve in Chianti, the market town of the Chianti Classico wine zone Greve in Chianti is a small and quite charming town located, unusually for a Tuscan village, on the floor of the valley of the Greve stream. It has always been a market place but only in the [...] Read More » Val di Greve – the valley of the river Greve in central Tuscany Val di GreveVal di Greve - the valley of the river Greve in central Tuscany The Greve river (fiume Greve), 43 km in length and among the best known rivers of Tuscany, arises on the hill known as Querciabella, in the Chianti hills just below Lamole, where it is fed by the springs of Fonte [...] Read More » Greve in Chianti activities, castles and other sights Greve in Chianti - things to see and doGreve in Chianti activities, architecture, villas, castles and other sights The whole area of Chianti around Greve is packed with castles, even more so than other parts of Tuscany, in addition to walled villages such as Montefioralle, Vertine and Volpaia, fortified abbeys and farmhouses that have developed [...] Read More » The gods, goddesses and mythology of the Etruscans The gods and goddesses and other mythological characters of the Etruscans with their Roman equivalents Many of the names listed here are Etruscan spellings (and pronunciations) of Greek and native Italic names, but some names are entirely Etruscan. An Etruscan tomb fresco Achlae: Greek river god, Achelous Achle, [...] Read More »
