History of Caparsa and Chianti

history la storia del chianti e di Caparsa

AROUND CAPARSA

"The true journey of discovery is not to search for new lands, but to have new eyes"

(Marcel Proust)

Historical, geographic and nature info

From la Croce Hill - Etruscan eating pot from III century B.C.

(photo ArcheoProgetti)

Chiantino

noble peasant

of Caparsino

passionate about good wine!

Radda in Chianti is on a hill (535 m.) close to La Croce (633 m.), on whose north-west slopes at 450 m. lies Caparsa. (see map)

BACK TO THE ORIGINS

On the top of La Croce hill some interesting remains have been found from an ancient etruscan settlement of shepherds around sixth Century B.C..

The ancient settlement was almost certainly chosen for the high position and the presence of the Borro Sassicaio springs that originate from the Pesa river (an important contributor Arno river) on the side of Caparsa.

The people of that time modified the village that in the seventh century B.C. became a fortified stable settlement, where remains informing us of normal domestic activities have been found; for example cloth, and grapes seeds which confirms the ancient origins of the wine culture in this area. Moreover in the buildings several bones have been found confirming their hunting and shepherding activities. The settlement was abandoned suddenly around the end of the third century B.C., probably because of a traumatic event. Today the archeological area can make an interesting visit also to see the beautiful views. (For more information contact ArcheoProgetti tel. 055/2313662)

THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD

In the second half of the third century, Florence organized its peasant population into small independent areas ("Leghe"), each one governed by its own authority (Podestà).

In 1415 Radda was declared the capital of the "Lega dei Chianti", consisting of Radda, Gaiole and Castellina. The history of Radda, regarding the position of its boundaries, was influenced by the war between Florence and Siena. Radda was damaged and partially destroyed in 1230 and in 1268, because of sienese attacks, and in 1478 follow an invasion by the troupes of Carlo d'Angiò. Today only the tower and some walls remain from the original castle; the structure of the original medieval village remains, around the S. Niccolò Church, and the sixteenth century "Palazzo dei Podestà", today this is the town hall.

TODAY

In the 1950/'60's the agricultural reform and the gradual end to the "mezzadria" system influenced the abandonment of rural and isolated houses. Radda in Chianti's distance from the modern infrastructure of communication meant a low level of interest in developing industrial areas and so Radda has become an important wine production area and most recently an area of great interest to tourists.

Radda, at the heart of Chianti, in its prime position brings together the network of small villages and isolated farms, today more than ever risks an unsustainable rate of development. The threat comes about from a lack attention for the protection of the natural resources and landscape, caused by the insensitivity of some businessman and the ineffective Italian legislation in particular regarding the environment. The high level of wine production requires more and more use of chemical products which pollute the water and the animals. With the new construction of buildings come new lights everywhere which make the night time landscape look like a Christmas tree. In addition the cutting back of the forests complete the damage.

However in the surrounding area, there are places of particular beauty and interest still kept in tact by the traditional peasant culture. To give some examples the "Convento dei Francescani" today being restored, the "Pieve di S. Maria Novella", "Albola", "Selvole", "San Giusto", "Badia Montemuro" and finally "Volpaia", the little pearl with its Tenth century Castle which inspires a great medieval atmosphere .

Luca Robustelli