Certaldo and its surroundings

Certaldo boast ancient origins  dating back to 1164 when Federico il Barbarossa transferred the territory of the alti cerri (the tall turkey oaks), namely Certaldo, to the Alberti Counts.

In 1184 the Florentines,  pushed by their hegemonic tendency , imprisoned Alberto degli Alberti and his family in the Castello di Bargazza. The Count was forced to pledge allegiance to Florence and to have the Certaldo towers pulled down thus destroying, not only the family’s means of defence, but also the symbol of  its nobility and greatness. During Renaissance times Certaldo acquired major juridical relevance becoming the seat of the Vicariate and the most important political and juridical center of the entire Valdelsa area. In this period urban development reached its peak splendour and one can still today admire Palazzo Pretorio, the Medieval historical center, the house of Giovanni Boccaccio and the beautiful Medieval Palazzos.

- The story of the mill