Farneta: Literature, Castles and Rural Landscape

Farneta is located in an area used predominantly for agriculture, with scattered rural settlements. The rural settlement pattern provides the setting for the town’s historical and literary themes.

Landscape and Orientation in the Town

For orientation in Farneta, there is the public municipal car park Parcheggio di Farneta. The Farneta-Agna-Porrena cultural landscape is part of the surrounding landscape. It is one of 40 areas designated in the Foreste Casentinesi National Park for measures to protect bird species. The car park serves as a point of orientation in the town, while the cultural landscape is connected with the national park and the protection of bird species. The rural surroundings and the cultural landscape thus form the landscape setting, while the car park provides a specific point of reference in Farneta.

Mountains and Historic Paths

The mountain Poggio Ginestrino is located in the immediate vicinity of Farneta. The mountains Poggio dei Tre Confini, Prato alla Penna and Monte Penna are also located in the area around Farneta. The four mountains are distributed between the immediate vicinity and the wider surroundings of Farneta.

The medieval settlement of Farneta stood at the foot of the slopes along a historic side road. This led to Lierna and reached Camaldoli via Freggina and Serravalle. The historic connection ran from Farneta to Lierna and via Freggina and Serravalle to Camaldoli.

Emma Perodi and the Farneta Estate

A literary connection leads to Emma Perodi’s collection “Novelle della Nonna”, published in 1893. The work comprises 45 fantastic stories. Its narrative setting includes the Farneta estate, where the old grandmother Regina tells the stories by the fire or in the estate’s courtyard. A third stage of the Parco Letterario Emma Perodi e le Foreste Casentinesi to Farneta, the place where Emma’s house is located, was also announced for 16 September 2022. Farneta is therefore connected in the literary history of the place both with the estate and with Emma’s house.

Church, Residential Castle and Villa

The church in Farneta is now dedicated to Santa Maria; it was formerly dedicated to Santo Stefano. Farneta is also considered a feudal residential castle. Florence acquired Villa Farneta from Marco di Modigliana.

Castles and Monastery in the Surrounding Area

The castle Castello dei Conti Guidi is located in the immediate vicinity of Farneta. The area around Farneta also includes Romena Castle, a castle, Castello di Porciano and the Monastero di Camaldoli monastery. The historical connection thus extends beyond Farneta to several castles and a monastery in the surrounding area.

Other Places for Orientation

For further orientation, you can also find Banzena, Poggiolo, Partina and Soci.

For the overarching travel overview: Bibbiena.