See also articles by local historian Alfonso Sderci (in Italian):
Castello di Monteluco a Lecchi
Castello Di Tornano indicato anche come Bonano
Ricerca storica su Gaiole in Chianti ed il suo territorio comunale
Villa e Castello di Ama in Chianti
Italo
Moretti
The historical Chianti (Chianti storico) is the territory situated between Siena and Florence which consists of the three present municipalities of Castellina in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and Gaiole in Chianti. They became part of the regional territory of Siena at the beginning of the 19th century, at the time of the French domination, and were confirmed as belonging to the province of Siena with the unification of Italy. In the Middle Ages Ghibelline Siena, which was loyal to the emperor, and Guelph Florence, ally of the pope, clashed repeatedly in the Chianti while trying to extend their possessions.
The hostilities between the two city states experienced a temporary lull at the beginning of the 13th century, and with the treaty of 1203, the so-called ”Lodo di Poggibonsi”, a definitive boundary line between the lands of the two rivals was established, which ratified Florentine control of the Chianti.
As soon as Florence had taken actual possession of the border territories towards Siena, a process of reorganization of all her possessions in so-called ”leghe” was initiated, and around the middle of the 13th century the ”Lega del Chianti” was set up, documented, however, for the first time in 1306. It was a military-political organization with the purpose of governing an extensive territory, which was consequently divided into the ”terzieri” of Castellina, Radda and Gaiole. Florence thus created an able instrument with which to exert its power over the territory. The leader of the ”Lega” was the ”Podestà” (Lord Mayor), who resided at Radda. Although the three villages with their sourrounding territory were to all effects independent, they were subordinate to the authority of the ”Podestà”, and they had to aid and assist each other, supplying funds and soldiers, when required.
The origins of the name ”Chianti” are by no means certain. Historical sources indicate that the Etruscans probably ”baptized” this land. ”CLANIS” seems to have been the name they gave to a stream originating near Montegrossi in Gaiole, and whose present name is the ”Massellone”. However, other sources note that the name ”CLANTE”, which belongs to an important Etruscan family from these parts, appears in numerous inscriptions.
The hills of the Chianti have been inhabited from time immemorial. The mild and healthy climate, the woods abounding in game and the fertile land have created a haven for man since about 2000 B.C. It was however the civilzation of the Etruscans which first left its mark on the landscape. The Etruscans made the transition from shepherds to farmers, and they introduced winegrowing. A number of placenames bear witness to the presence of this people here, and notably the suffixes –na and –ne testify to ancient Etruscan descent: Adine, Avene or Avane, Rietine, Nusenna and likewise the names of Starda, Galenda and Vercenni have Etruscan roots
Graves and archeological finds have come to light almost everywhere in the Chianti: near Castellina you will find the famous tumulus grave of Montecalvario, which probably belonged to a noble family, and at Cetamura (see Florida State University and chiantinet), near Badia a Coltibuono, there is another important archeological site, where ruins of a settlement from the third or second century B.C. have been discovered. The finds from all these sites can be seen at the newly opened Archeological Museum of the Chianti in Castellina.
The Etruscans were succeeded by the Romans, who developed the agriculture even further, introducing, among other things, the cultivation of olives on a large scale, not only for its culinary qualities, but also because the oil was used in lamps.
With the fall of the Roman Empire and the barbarian invasions, the Chianti experienced centuries of decline, leaving little trace in the form of finds. Settlements became sparse, dwellings and parish churches fortified. The Longobards and the Franks followed, and christianity gradually took hold, replacing ancient pagan beliefs and cults, substituting temples with churches.
The Chianti we see today is predominantly Medieval, as the majority of Chianti architechture belongs to this period. Before the municipalities emerged, the rural hamlet was the most common form of settlement. They rose on hilltops and consisted of modest housings huddled together around a parish church. The patron saint of the church became the distinguishing element, as he or she gave name to the ”popolo”, i.e. the inhabitants of the village. Houses were placed and enlarged in haphazard order, according to current needs, a typical trait of urban, medieval architecture still much in evidence in many Chianti villages, as they have mostly remained unchanged.
Examples of this are: Ricavo, Tregole and Sommavilla in the municipality of Castellina, Selvole, Collepetroso and Capaccia in that of Radda, and Ama, Adine, San Marcellino and Vertine in that of Gaiole.
During feudalism (9th-10th century) and at the height of the clashes between Siena and Florence (12th and 13th century), the unprotected villages became fortified and many castles were constructed. At the centre of these fortified settlements, sourrounded by heavy walls and guard towers, stood the fortified tower, the residence of the feudal lord. Apart from the noble family, this fortified settlement housed farmhands, servants and a few artisans.
Medieval agriculture was based on bare self-sufficiency, inasmuch as only just the strictly necessary could be produced. It was thus impossible to obtain a surplus, and hence no profit was created.
When feudalism disintegrated and the bourgeosie of the cities started to invest in landed property, a new type of agriculture was born: the ”mezzadria”. The ”mezzadria” (sharecropping) was based on a production unity called the ”podere”, which, apart from the ”casa del lavoratore” where the peasant and his family lived and worked, consisted of a certain expanse of arable land and of woodland, which was able to keep the whole extended family gainfully employed. Often the landowner would erect a ”casa del signore” on the land of the podere, not just to enjoy a life of leisure in the country, but also the keep and eye on the activities of his workers, especially at harvest time.
The sharecropper contract provided that the owner of the land left the cultivation of it to the so-called ”colono” or ”mezzadro” (crofter) – in order to then divide in equal parts the produce and earnings amongst them. This system started to spread in the Chianti around the year 1000, but the transformation process from feudalism to mezzadria was only completed in the 16th century. As a matter of fact, the sharecropping system gave rise to a more rational use of agricultural resources, and thus permitted a development from pure selfsufficiency to the achievement of profit.
The antagonistic positions of the political and commercial rivals, Florence and Siena, gradually became more acute, and the Chianti, by way of its intermediate position, was the principal scene of these controversies, which continued throughout the Middle Ages.
The armies which passed through the area were by no means only those of the two historical rivals: the Chianti also had to suffer the invasions of more or less ”foreign” gangs of soldiers and mercenaries. First the war between the Visconti of Milan and Florence at the end of the 14th century, then the Aragon invasions (originating from the kingdom of Naples and Sicily) in the second half of the 15th century, which both entailed raids and plunderings, leaving the Chianti destroyed and desolate.
The 16th century was not particularly peaceful either for the population of the Chianti. The plague left its devastating mark on these parts too, and in 1527 the imperial troops, led by the Duke of Bourbon, left the Chianti to lick its wounds, as did the lansquenets of Charles V, bound for Florence to restore power to the Medicis in 1529. Only after Montalcino was finally taken in 1555 and Siena utterly defeated, was the Chianti to enjoy a more than deserved period of peace and tranquillity.
The arms, at least in the Chianti, fell silent, and the lands began to be regarded as being a good capital investment. The agricultural system based on the ”poderi” (farms) asserted itself, and it had a lasting influence on its rural landscape and economic structure. More small farmhouses were built and castles abandoned. Steep and uneven stretches of land were rendered tillable, thanks to the construction of terraced fields and to the ”agricoltura promiscua” (mixed cultivation), which became the predominant system almost everywhere in the Chianti: rows of vines and olive trees at fixed intervals with wheat grown inbetween.
In some places you can still see the remnants of these traditional farming methods as little islands in the landscape, glimpses of what life was like for the peasants in the old days.
Everything connected with the production of food and wine has played a major part in the history of the Chianti. To symbolize this territory, around the middle of the 16th century Vasari painted a black cockerel on a golden background on the ceiling of the ”salone del Cinquecento” in the Palazzo Vecchio (Bargello) of Florence. The Chianti wine became so famous that the poet Francesco Redi mentioned it in his ”Bacco in Toscana”, and describes it as a ”magnificent” and ”grand” wine. The Chianti wine began transcending local and regional boundaries, and finally achieving official acknowledgement: in 1716 the Grandduke of Tuscany, Cosimo III, narrowed down the production areas of the most important wines produced on Florentine territory, in order to regulate the wine trade. In the decree he actually indicated the boundaries of the region where the Chianti wine was to be produced: ”from Spedaluzzo until Greve, and from there to Panzano, comprising all of the ”potesteria” of Radda, Gajole and Castellina and stretching right up to the border of the state of Siena”. These boundaries thus included the initial part of the valley of Greve (as seen from Siena), apart from the historical territory of the ”Lega”.
A prime player on the scene of the Italian ”Risorgimento” (the unification of Italy) and great benefactor of the Chianti was the so-called ”Iron Baron”, Bettino Ricasoli. On his estate, the Castello di Brolio, he undertook enological researches, which made him the originator of the Chianti wine of today. His recipe to obtain a wine with more personality was followed for many years and has contributed in no small measure to the fame and appreciation of the Chianti wine. In 1878 the wine was presented with great success at the World Exhibition of Paris, and its reputation grew steadily, only to be interrupted intermittently by the wine parassite filossera and the two World Wars.
As a result of the growing demand for the Chianti wine, the areas of production were continuously enlarged. Already in 1924 an attempt was made (unfortunately without success) to establish the boundaries of the area of production with the setting up of the socalled ”Consorzio del Vino Chianti Classico”. However, a symbol was decided upon: the ”Gallo Nero”, a black cockerel on a golden background, i.e. the old symbol of the ”Lega del Chianti”.
With the end of World War II the depopulation of the countryside started, and this socio-economic development left its indelible mark on the Chianti too. The sharecropping system, which had for centuries defined everyday life in the Chianti, had proved inefficient in the face of changing social requirements. The quality of life was poor, the means of communication being few and in bad condition, electricity and acceptable drinking water rare, and quite often the farmhouses were in dire need of reconstruction. The crisis quickly deepened and within few years the Chianti was depopulated and in degradation.
The depopulation, which began in the fifties, was brought to an almost complete halt during the seventies, thanks to the wineproduction. The sharecropping system having disappeared, the agricultural reorganization encouraged the emergence of highly specialized vinyards with a quick turnover. The value of the land went up as confidence in the future returned and the demand for land increased. This of course also left its signs on the landscape, which has had to adapt continuously to ever-changing needs. As a result of this restructuring, which changed the features of the area yet again, the Chianti is perhaps more appreciated than ever.
The Chianti has gradually become the tourist destination of quality par exellence. It was first discovered in the seventies by the English, the Germans and the Dutch. They were attracted by the traditions, the landscape, the climate and last but not least: the gastronomy and the wine of the Chianti. Its appeal has now spread to most parts of the world, whereas in the beginning its enjoyment was limited to the privileged few. As a consequence the Chianti now receives visitors form all over the world, including all the new European countries, as well as France, America and Japan, maintaining however its unique character, lifestyle and traditional hospitality.
Kindly contributed by professor Italo Moretti, Department of Medieval History at the University of Siena, translated by Birgitte Høiberg.
© 2007 chiantistorico.com
Official Site of the Tourist Information Offices of
Castellina in Chianti,
Gaiole in Chianti and
Radda in Chianti.
Last change: 24. 04. 2008