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Radda Servizi Srl
www.immobiliarechianti.it
www.chiantirealestate.it
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Radda in Chianti
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Population: n°1720
Area: Km2 80,05
Height a.s.l.: m. 535
Territory
Inhabitants: 1.588. Stretching over the hills occupying the first reaches of the Pesa and
Arbia valleys, it extends over 80.56 squares kilometres. The highest point is Monte
Querciabella (Chianti Mountains) at 845 meters, and the principal town is 533 meters above
sea level. It is entirely comprised within the Chianti Classico region, and borders on the
municipalities of Cavriglia, Gaiole in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Castellina in
Chianti and Greve in Chianti. |
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 History
Located in the center of Chianti, the Radda territory reveals the antiquity of its
settlements in toponyms of both Etruscans (Garbina, Modane, Spanda, Vècine, Vercenni etc)
and Latin origin (Bracciano, Ceperano, Livernano, Lusignano, Pornano etc.). But it is only
recently that significant archaeological evidence has emerged, with the excavations at
Poggio La Croce and La Malpensata, where important Etruscan finds have come to light.
In the Middle ages numerous castles in the area were controlled by powerful feudal lords
such as the Guidi counts, or by local nobles as the Monterinaldi family, all of wich very
soon came under the control of Florence. The first documentary evidence of the hamlet and
castle of Radda dates back to the beginning of the eleventh century, when they were in
possession of the Florentine Badia.
When, from the mid-thirteenth century on, the Florentine Republic organised the towns of
its regions into "Leagues", the territory of Chianti went to make up one of the
largest - being consequently divided into "thirds" - documented among the first
at the beginning of the fourteenth century. The principal town of one of the Thirds, and
later of the entire league was the Castle of Radda, which had by now assumed the character
and dimentions of a "walled-town", as is shown in the fifteenth century Palazzo
Pretorio, where the facade is still adorned with the coats of arms of the successive
Podestà. Among the other castles of the Radda territory, only Volpaia was particulary
extensive, with a fine ring of walls with towers and a keep, still largely preserved. Of
most of the other castles only fragments remains, as at Albola and Monterinaldi, while
others such as Castelvecchi were transformed into villas, or farmhouses like Castiglione,
il Trebbio and Paterno. Other rural dwellings preserve the tower structure of the medieval
"lord's mansions", as in the case of Borracolli, Camporempoli, Casa Vecchia,
Montevertine, il Palazzo, Pornano, le Ripe and il Fornale. Instead Selvole appears to have
always had the features of an unfortified rural village. Finally, among the noble
residences we have to remember the spendid mansion house "Le Marangole" situated
not far from the center of the town.
The evidence of the ancient religious organisation of the territory is also interesting
and significant, starting with the parish church of Santa Maria Novella. Altough this
underwent significant renovation during the last century, it still preserves the original
plan, as revealed in the fine Romanesque capitals, and also houses numerous works of arts.
Various other churches reveal more or less consistent Romanesque remains, such as those of
Albola, Bugialla, Livernano, Montemaione and Radda itself (in spite of the modern
restoration by Coppedè), but these are particulary visible in the "canonical"
churches of San Fedele in Paterno and Santa Maria in Colle (la Badiola). The latter is now
single-naved, but retains the arches of the original basilica layout. The remains of the
camaldolite Abbey of Montemuro (now la Badiaccia) have been incorporated into various
buildings of the present village. Also from a Romansque nucleus, the beautiful convent of
Santa Maria in Prato developed over subsequent centuries; in the interior we can still
admire Neri di Bicci's famous "Madonna and Child" (1474)
Another religious edifice, which was dedidedly unusual in the countryside in view of its
evident connection with the great architecture of the Florentine Renaissance, was the
church of Sant’Eufrosino in the vicinity of Volpaia. This was know as "la
Commenda" because linked to a benefice granted in 1443 in favour of a hospital of the
Knights of St. John of Jerusalem (a clear sign ofa road of a certain importance). By now
eighteenth century, in spite of its connections with the tradition of Tuscan Mannerism, is
the small chapel of Mercatale, near Radda, the name of wich recalls the presence in the
past of an area devoted to trade. |
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