Petrognano between Semifonte, History and Trails

Petrognano is a borgo outside the former city of Semifonte. With its stone houses and the still-visible remains of Semifonte’s walls and old buildings, the village preserves a medieval atmosphere. Villa-Fattoria Capponi forms the center of the Petrognano-Semifonte settlement. The townscape thus places the present-day settlement and the visible traces of the former city within a shared historical context.

Semifonte and Its Buildings

Alberto IV degli Alberti founded the fortress of Semifonte in the third quarter of the 12th century; it was destroyed by the Florentines in 1202. The Cappella di San Michele Arcangelo was built between 1592 and 1597 at the initiative of the canon Giovanni Battista Capponi as a true-to-scale replica of the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore. The ground floor of the Cappella di San Michele a Semifonte serves as an exhibition venue and is operated in cooperation with the local Pro Loco and the Gruppo Archeologico Achu. In this way, the earlier history of the fortress is connected with a later sacred building and an exhibition venue in the area around Semifonte.

Art and Historic Sites

The Cristo di Petrognano is a painted wooden sculpture from the first half of the 13th century and comes from the church of San Pietro a Petrognano. Its dating therefore follows the founding of the fortress of Semifonte in the 12th century. Pieve di Sant’Appiano, a historic site, is also located near Petrognano. Other places in the area around Petrognano include Castello di Fulignano and two museums: Museo Archeologico/Spezieria di Santa Fina and Torre Grossa. The cultural focus thus extends from the medieval art object and a sacred site to a castle and museums.

Mountains Around Petrognano

Monte Calvarino is a mountain in the area around Petrognano. Monte Maggio, Monte Querciabella and Monte Vasone are mountains in the wider regional surroundings of Petrognano. The landscape references therefore extend from the area around the borgo into the wider region. When planning a trip with a focus on landscape and relief, it is consequently important to distinguish between the surroundings of Petrognano and the wider regional area.

Trails for Walks and Hikes

Le briglie sul torrente Agliena is a historical and natural-history trail along the Agliena Grande and Agliena Piccolo streams. Further along, the trail passes the Petrognano borgo and the hill of Semifonte before descending towards the Agliena Valley. The Anello Barberino–Semifonte circular route reaches the Petrognano borgo via ascending forest paths. This describes two different trail characteristics for walks and hikes: a route along the streams followed by a descent towards the Agliena Valley, and a circular route that leads to the borgo via ascending forest paths. Anyone wishing to take inclines into account when choosing a personal route can consider the ascent of the Anello Barberino–Semifonte as a specific feature. Those seeking a historical connection will find the hill of Semifonte and the Petrognano borgo along the further course of the Agliena trail; the circular route leads uphill to Petrognano via forest paths.

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