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The
area where the farm is built, in a watershed signing
the natural border between Siena and Arezzo, has been
representing an important communication link between
the Maremma and the cost and hilly region for centuries.
The hilly land, particularly healthy, was the place
where, during the Bronze Age, some peoples developed
and installed living in basins sheltered by the wind.
In the 70's, these places were studied by some groups
of researchers of the Florence University Archaeological
Department, and today they can be visited and, if lucky,
it is still possible to find out some machined flints,
arrows points and rests of tools. The most important
finds are kept in the archaeological museum of Arezzo,
together with all those Etruscan and Roman findings
coming from tombs and villas present mostly everywhere
in Tuscany lands.
The farm was practically crossed lenghtwise by Via del
Ferro (literally Iron street) used by the Etruscans
to take the pyrite from Elba island to Arezzo forges.
Along this way, many little centres grew up together
with houses and shops, some of which haven't left any
traces of their presence to anybody but the experts.
Many farmhouses, included those restructured for farmhouse
centre purposes, were built on the rests of those first
constructions on the same places. The books of history
about this area of Tuscany are rich of references about
it. In the medieval time, peoples gathered in some small
centres on the top of the hills, such as Rapale and
Palazzuolo, which were easily defensible from attacks
and robbery attempts. In that time, along the watershed,
sighting and defence castles rose very often on the
Etruscan and Roman ruins: Palazzuolo
Vecchio, for example. The frequent
battles between Siena and Arezzo did not spare these
constructions which, from time to time, were destroyed
by invaders.
It is well known that in the period of time from 620
to 1600, on the farm lands, there were 4, maybe 5, churches
and parishes, some of which were managed by orders of
warrior monks (Jerolosomitans and maybe also Templars).
Beside the holy story, a long series of legends, some
pagan, developed: the gold-egg hen (Etruscan), the old
witch who annoyed the wayfarers, the ghosts (a fire-eyed
Knight is supposed to be seen recently), the fairies
and the elves from "Borro della Vecchia".
In those times, especially around year 1000, Rapale
and Palazzuolo counted more inhabitants than today.
In this area, there were also Lombard settlers, especially
on the Aretino slop (Sala hillock).
Also the recent history shows that in this area many
battles and wars took place. In fact, during the second
world war, in our woods many battles between the allies
and the retreating Germanic forces were fought. For
this reason, it is still possible to see many stones
trenches, left by the Etruscans and the Romans.
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