We are located close the ancient town of Semifonte.

« Se la gente ch'al mondo più traligna non fosse stata a Cesare noverca, ma come madre a suo figlio benigna, tal fatto è fiorentino e cambia e merca, che si sarebbe volto a Simifonti, là dove andava l'avolo alla cerca » « Fiorenza fatti in là, Semifonte divien città..»

Dante Alighieri, Paradise XVI, 58-63

Semifonte was a fortified village, with walls and towers and was formed by 300 famlies who formed the garrison of 300 soldiers.
It had 4 gates, the first in the direction of the village of Lucardo, with a high tower where there also was a very nice spring, it was so called "Porta al Bagnano" or "Porta alla Fonte". Entering this gate you were in the Borgo with houses, kitchen-gardens, smitheries and at the end there was the second gate called "del Borgo" or "della Bastia" because there was a tower (Bastia).
The third gate,  nicer and bigger was called "Romana", was merloned and higher more than 120 ells, had balcony and marble small colums and a linon in stone where the gonfalon had his discourses so that the tower was called the lions tower.
The "Postierla" was the gate in the direction of Vico called "Saint Niccolò" gate because there was the church devoted to that Saint. In the center of the village there was a square with the palace of the old Visconti and the houses of the magnates and where there was a solid Rocca or Fortress.
Semifonte was originated from Florentine generations and was a feudal empire until the 1167 from a family arrived in Italy with the Longobards. Emilia, the las daughter and heir of a viscount of that family get married in 1170 with the Count Alberto de Conti Alberti, they had sons Mainardo, Rinaldo and others.
The town was menacing with its power the supremacy of Florence so that was decided to move war against the town.
As a result the town was conquered and completely destroyed so that was litterally erased from the land. The same destruction was applyed to all the castles of the valley who were allied with Semifonte.

To let the people remember the defeat and state the power of Florence on the land a reproduction of the Dome Chapel in Florence was built where once stood the town of Semifonte.

 

 

We are located between hills of Chianti, close the town of Barberino Val d'Elsa (Florence)
Florence is at 25 Km, Siena at 35 Km, San Gimignano at 25 Km, Certaldo at 20 Km, Volterra at Km 40, Castellina in Chianti at Km 20.

Auto
From Highway A1 exit Firenze Certosa and take the "superstrada Firenze-Siena". Exit Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. At the end of the ramp, turn left. Travel for approximately 7 Km until you enter town. After Barberino there are signs for Petrognano on the right. After 2 Km on the right there are the apartments.

Train
From the Firenze S.M.N. Railway Station exit from its rigth side and go to Pulmann Sita station (80 metres from station) to take a pulmann to Barberino Val d'Elsa. Journey is 45/50 minutes long.

Air
From Airport of Florence or Pisa take a train to Firenze S.M.N. Railway Station.
From the Firenze S.M.N. Railway Station exit from its rigth side and go to Pulmann Sita station (80 metres from station) to take a pulmann to Barberino Val D'Elsa. Journey is 45/50 minutes long.