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Valdarno, a new territory to discover

Two or three million years ago Valdarno - or the Valley of the Arno River - was a large bowl formed by the upheaval of marine foundations following the pushing and shoving of the developing African and European continents. As a consequence there are countless formations of extreme geological interest which have indelibly marked this area.

Today this bowl is embraced to the west by the Chianti Mountains and to the east by Pratomagno. It's precisely at the feet of these mountains that bare walls of yellow earth rise, walls which finish in peaks, steeples, towers, chimneys. These are the balze, unmistakable and actual geological characters which attract numerous scholars and inspire the most unprepared spectator.

The events of two or three million years ago are also evident in the numerous fossil remains conserved in the Palaeontological Museum of Montevarchi - remains of tropical flora and of fauna typical of the Savannah such as elephants, tigers, bison, hippopotamus, panthers and tapirs.

Looking at more recent history we are reminded once again of the very special nature of this region. To exercise greater control over Valdarno and to reduce the influence of the nobles who, from their castles, cynically and mercilessly exploited labourers as animals, towards the end of the 13th Century the Republic of Florence began settling the territory.

The urban plan, with precise organisational and strategic aims, provided for the construction of three small fortified cities. These were new settlements - terre nuove, or new lands - designed according to the Roman castrum scheme.

Today the towns of Castello di San Giovanni, Castelfranco di Sopra and Terranuova Bracciolini are exceptional examples of cities planned according to refined and functional concepts.

In the second half of the 15th Century the special nature of the geological and historical events of Valdarno attracted the attention of Leonardo da Vinci, who became directly acquainted with the area, studied its morphology and described and reproduced it in dated and signed designs. In the background of some of his paintings, such as the Mona Lisa, some art critics recognise the countryside of the balze of Valdarno.

The typical country churches of antique origins are of great artistic and historical interest, many often being precious works of 14th Century artists - Renaissance and Baroque - such as Giovanni del Biondo, "Scheggia" (Masaccio's brother, and both born in San Giovanni), Beato Angelico and Giovanni da San Giovanni.

Today Valdarno preserves all the fascination and authenticity of a land crossed and enriched by history, but also by a sound economic and industrial development. This is why cities such as San Giovanni Valdarno, Montevarchi and Figline Valdarno are serviced with all facilities, including excellent restaurants "beyond the gates", shops and outlets of major fashion houses.

As well, the cities are readily connected to Florence, Arezzo, Rome and other places in Tuscany and beyond. The main railway line from Milan to Naples and the super highway, "Sole A1" are excellent facilities for visitors who wish to experience the authentic atmosphere of Valdarno without missing out on the advantage of conveniently visiting places which need no introduction such as Florence, Arezzo, Siena, Pisa and Lucca.