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| VILLA VITIGLIANO: HISTORICAL HINTS |
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Ancient village dating back to the fifteenth century (already mentioned in the maps of the cadastre of the Florentine republic of 1427) completely autonomous and self-sufficient where oil and wine are produced, it was used for baking and breeding of animals for meat and dairy.
Its history is linked to one of the most illustrious families of Chianti: the Da Verrazzano, owners of lands and estates in Vitigliano since the fifteenth century. The Villa has been owned by the family and its descendants, including the famous navigator Giovanni and the cartographer Girolamo, until 1936.
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Placed along the road that leads from Greve to the ancient village of Panzano, the farm of Vitigliano dominates with its huge dimension the valley below. It is reachable by going through a tree-lined ave which architectonically marks the landscape. |
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The Da Verrazzano, of Lombard progeny, came from the homonym place where does still exist the ancient fortified castle. The family heirlooms tell that in 1237 the three brothers: Bene of Petruccio, Bonagio of Graziano and Orlando of Buccjanegra bought lands in Verrazzano. Later Bonagio moved to the near village of Greti, accommodating his family in his properties creating in this way another branch of the family. His son, Bertoldo of Bonagia, moved from Greti to Panzano with his children, Cece, Dino e Nuccio and they drew the line of origin of the family Verrazzano from Panzano owners of Vitigliano. |
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The Verrazzano, as many notorious families of the countryside moved to Florence, where they are documented since the end of the thirteenth century. The branch of Panzano resided in the district of Santa Croce, while the other branch of the family lived in the district of Santo Spirito. Bankers and merchants, registered since 1293 to the Magnatizia class, they covered many public functions.
We might mention three Gonfalons and thirty-five priors. Of guelfic faith, they actively participated in the political life, being often involved in conflicts between the two factions. The armorial bearing is an eight-pointed star, it was chosen by Chiaro from Verrazzano as symbol of his personality “clear as a star”. Cece from Frosino was he first of the Verrazzano from Panzano to attend the Lordship in 1319. From this branch it would seem to derive the most illustrious of the family: the famous navigator Giovanni and the cartographer Girolamo who probably was just original of Vitigliano.
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