Cennina: Castle History and Trails in the Chianti Aretino

Cennina combines an old village with a history of castles, cultural events and trails through forests, vineyards and fields. The old village is characterised above all by distinctive rustic houses in the Romanesque and Renaissance styles, which have hardly been affected by modern alterations. Cennina lies on a graceful hill in the Chianti Aretino and occupies a commanding position overlooking the Valdambra. In the village landscape, the rustic houses stand alongside the historic remains of the fortifications.

The Castello di Cennina and its history

The Castello di Cennina was built in 1167 by the Ghibelline Count Brandaglia Alberigo d’Uguccione. Cennina was successively occupied by the Tarlati, the Ubertini and the Guidi counts.

The Castello di Cennina was besieged, destroyed and rebuilt several times. The fortification's layout and a largely intact section of wall in the northeast have survived; in the southwest, the collapsed corner tower lies on the ground.

The restored Castello di Cennina serves as a tourist and cultural centre. Theatre performances, conferences, concerts and exhibitions are promoted there. The Cassero was once the heart of the fortification. The present-day cultural use of the restored Castello stands alongside the former Cassero as the heart of the fortification.

The surviving sections of wall and the collapsed corner tower therefore belong to different states of the former complex, while the restored Castello is used as a cultural centre.

Trails through forests, vineyards and fields

Those wishing to explore Cennina on foot can follow the Alta-Valdambra Trail CAI 47 circular route through heathland and downy-oak forests. The trail also passes vineyards and fields, as well as a remarkable stand of strawberry trees, and reaches the medieval castles of Cennina and Montebenichi.

The Cennina–Cimitero stage of the Alta-Valdambra Trail CAI 47 initially begins on the road to the Castello di Cennina. It then descends along an old paved road between olive groves and vineyards to a stream. For planning this section, the paving and the descent are specific trail features.

While the circular route leads through heathland and downy-oak forests, vineyards and fields to the two medieval castles, the Cennina–Cimitero stage describes the change from the road to the old paved route and the descent to the stream.

Church, fortifications and protected landscape

On the Castelli Incantati route, the Chiesa di San Pietro lies north of the remains of an imposing section of Cennina's fortification wall.

The hill on which Cennina stands is protected by the Soprintendenza ai Beni Culturali ed Ambientali because of its high landscape value. The hilltop setting and the protection status are therefore part of Cennina's landscape description, while the Cassero and the wall remains concern the fortification complex.

Other places in the same area

Levane, Ambra, Capannole, Pogi, Pietraviva, San Leolino, Badia A Ruoti, Solata

For the broader travel overview: Bucine.