Castelnuovo Berardenga

The area of Castelnuovo Berardenga covers 177 square kilometers, between the plain and the lovely hills of the high valley of river Ombrone. The original community nucleous dates back to the XIV century, even though we have to go back to 1777 for its definitive structure, due to the Leopoldine reform.

The city along with the splendid surrounding territories is extremely fascinating, full of character and history, with dozens of marvels to offer...

The toponym derives from Berardo, person of noble French birth, who lived there during the second half of the X century and was direct descendant of Guinigi, count of Siena.

Once in Castelnuovo, you cannot miss:

• Villa dell’Aiola, built during the XVII century, on the ruins of the ancient homonym castle, strategically located between Siena and Florence. At the beginning of 1500 it was an important bulwark of Siena, able to host up to 300 infantrymen. Once declined its defensive function, at the end of 1600, it became a farming seat. You'll access the villa via an ancient bridge (that used to be a drawbridge) that's been rebuilt over an pre-existing moat.
• Villa di Geggiano have belonged to the family Bianchi Bandinelli from the first half of the XVI century... it used to be a cottage, transformed in 1768 into a huge villa with stunning chapel and garden, in occasion of the society wedding of Anton Domenico Bianchi Bandinelli and Cecilia Chigi. You'll admire a long tree-lined road, with cypresses on the first tract and holm-oaks on the second, ending at the front gate, as well as impressive oeuvres and architectural stateliness of the buildings.
• Villa di Monaciano, built from 1870 and 1885, by the noble Alessandro Pucci Sansedoni, coming from Siena but living in Florence. Following the spirit of renewal that reigned in Florence during that age, he built a completely innovating complex with villa and garden: moving the entrance road, pulling down the old walls that surrounded the garden and creating a lovely romantic park, in the wake of the parks designed by architects like Poggi in Florence.