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Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Monteaperti
Photo © LigaDue
Photo © LigaDue

Monteaperti

Famous scene of a historic battle between the Florentines and Sienese mentioned in the Divine Comedy, too

Monteaperti is a locality in the municipality of Castelnuovo Berardenga known for the famous battle in 1260 fought between Siena and Florence in the plain of the Arbia and Malena streams. Both republics wanted to expand their hegemony over the territory, given the commercial and mercantile growth they were experiencing. Economic rivalry soon translated into political rivalry, as Siena was of Ghibelline supremacy, while the other, politically, was Guelph. After several warnings the final clash took place on September 4, 1260 with the final victory of the Sienese over the Florentines. The battle was tremendous, as Dante reminds us in Canto X of the Inferno in the Divine Comedy.

“Lo strazio e 'l grande scempio che fece l'Arbia colorata in rosso, tal orazion fa far nel nostro tempio.”

A commemorative pyramid has been placed to recall this event, and every year the Monteaperti Past and Present Committee organizes a torchlight procession to the Cippo di Monteaperti.

Inserire titolo paragrafo

Inserire titolo paragrafo

The town of Monteaperti is also famous for the thermal springs of Acqua Borra, a small spring that tradition describes as miraculous. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, this water is suitable for healing skin, joints, bones and muscles. Not far away you can visit the oratory and Church of Sant'Ansano in Dofana.

The town of Monteaperti is also famous for the thermal springs of Acqua Borra, a small spring that tradition describes as miraculous. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, this water is suitable for healing skin, joints, bones and muscles. Not far away you can visit the oratory and Church of Sant'Ansano in Dofana.

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