Barberino Val d'Elsa

Barberino Val d' Elsa is a municipality ( comune ) with 4379 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) in the Province of Florence in the Tuscany region.

Geography

The municipality extends over some 66 km ². It is located about 30 km south of Florence in the Elsa Valley. The western districts such as Vico d' Elsa and Zambra are right on the river Elsa, the southern (such as Ponzano ) part of the territory of Chianti and vineyards of Chianti Classico. In the north the municipality borders on the Pesa Valley (Val di Pesa ).

Other districts include Casa Nuova del Piano, Cipressino, Linari, Marcialla, Monsanto, Pastine, Petrognano, San Filippo a Ponzano, San Martino, S. Appiano, Sosta del Papa, Tignano and Vigliano.

The neighboring municipalities are Castellina in Chianti ( SI), Certaldo, Montespertoli, Poggibonsi (SI ), San Gimignano (SI) and Barberino Val d'Elsa.

History

Its history is closely linked to that of semi Fonte, a fortified town in the vicinity of present-day Barberino, whose castle was built in 1177 and destroyed in 1202 by the Florentines. Importance erlang the place mainly because of its location on the Roman roads of Via Regia Romana, Via Francigena and the Chianti road connecting Siena to Florence. Today, two city gates are still preserved; the Porta Romana ( also called Porta Senese ) is still in its original condition, the Porta Fiorentina was reconstructed.

Attractions

• Pieve di S. Appiano, a ruined Pieve, which was already mentioned 990 and 1805 destroyed by an earthquake. Was later rebuilt.
• Chiesa di San Bartolomeo, the main church of the village.
• Chiesa di San Lorenzo a Vigliano, church in the district of Vigliano, built around 998.

Sons and daughters of the town

• The town is the headquarters of the Barberini family, which produced several high-ranking clergymen.

Community partnerships

• Schliersee, Germany
• Publier, France
• Amgala, Western Sahara

Awards

• The place is a carrier of Orange Flag of the TCI