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The wide municipal territory of Castelnuovo Berardenga is located between the sweet hills of Chianti and the amazing "crete" (the typical southern Siena landscape) and goes from north to east Siena. The administrative district of Castelnuovo dates back to 1500 when Podesteria occupied the actual Comune area. If you look at Castelnuovo territory on a map, you may find it similar to a butterfly, with the narrowest part in Pianella, the western "wing" including Vagliagli, Pieve Asciata, Quercegrossa, Pontignano and Bozzone, the "south-eastern" wing with Castelnuovo, San Gusmè, Badia d'Ombrone, Villa a Sesta and Monteaperti. The main character of this landscape are the hills that separate Ombrone river valley from Arbia stream.
Arbia and Ombrone are the main rivers of Berardenga territory (Arbia river was quoted by Dante in "Divina Commedia" too). Berardenga territory, inhabited since ancient times, got its name from the noble Berardo, who lived in the second half of 11th century and descended from "Guinigi da Lucca", Siena Earl between 867 and 881. "Terra Birardenga" name was quoted for the first time in official documents around 1050.
Since the second half of 12th century, Siena started to gain a stricter control of Beradenga territory and, in a century or so, Beradenga became part of Siena municipal authority.
Castelnuovo Beraderdenga village was built in 14th century in a location named "Poggio ai Frati" following the rule of Siena General Council.
Several romanic churches and pievi are spread all around the countryside, as an evidence of the great development of this area during 1100 and 1200.
The great number of castles in Beradenga territory is an heritage of medieval administrative structure (i.e. Montalto castle, owned by Beradenghi since 800). So from the medieval period we have: churches (Quercegrossa, Cagnano, Guistrigona di Cerreto, Sant'Ansano), monasteries (Certosa di Pontignano), castles (Aiola, Selvole, Pievasciata, Cerreto, Sesta, Cetamura, Orgiale, Valcortese), fortified villas and noble mansions (Palazzo, Palagione, La Torre).
In this territory, until 1960, agriculture and metayage have been following season routes for many centuries, creating a landscape of high-value rural architecture, infact you may find both 1200 farmhouses and 1800 rural complexes. This area is extremely rich of vineyards, olive groves and wheat fields. Landscape offers an armonic variety of elements: Berardenga territory, rich of water, amazingly includes woods, fields, hills dotted with castles, churches, fortified mansions, farmhouses and villas, “announced” by roads bordered with cypress groves.
San Gusme', Vagliagli, Quercegrossa, Monteaperti, Guistrigona, San Giovanni a Cerreto, Pieve Asciata, Rosennano, Villa a Sesta, Vitignano, Arbia river, Ombrone stream, Etruscan burial places in Campi: landscape, history and culture are strictly linked in a territory dwelt since ancient times, creating an administrative district of nearly 8000 inhabitants.
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