Castelnuovo Berardenga

The wide municipal territory of Castelnuovo Berardenga is located between the sweet hills of Chianti and the amazing "crete" (the typical southern Siena landscape) and goes from north to east Siena. The administrative district of Castelnuovo dates back to 1500 when Podesteria occupied the actual Comune area. If you look at Castelnuovo territory on a map, you may find it similar to a butterfly, with the narrowest part in Pianella, the western "wing" including Vagliagli, Pieve Asciata, Quercegrossa, Pontignano and Bozzone, the "south-eastern" wing with Castelnuovo, San Gusmè, Badia d'Ombrone, Villa a Sesta and Monteaperti. The main character of this landscape are the hills that separate Ombrone river valley from Arbia stream. Arbia and Ombrone are the main rivers of Berardenga territory (Arbia river was quoted by Dante in "Divina Commedia" too). Berardenga territory, inhabited since ancient times, got its name from the noble Berardo, who lived in the second half...