Holiday apartment in Levane: Nature, Geology and History

Holiday apartment in Levane: Nature, Geology and History

Near Levane, the 3.4-million-cubic-metre reservoir of the ENEL dam shapes the Valle dell’Inferno e Bandella nature reserve. The reservoir and the protected area form the scenic starting point for the other local features around Levane, ranging from geological strata to traces of historic settlements.

Geological Traces Around Levane

The hills near the town of Levane are of great interest to palaeontologists and palaeoclimatologists. The geological strata near Levane document climate changes over the course of the past million years. Anyone interested in palaeontology or palaeoclimatology should turn their attention to the hills near the town and the geological strata near Levane.

Levane Alta: Local History and Panoramic Views

Levane Alta forms the historic centre of Levane. The district is also the birthplace of the Italian poet and jurist Jacopo da Leona. The hill of Levane Alta offers wide panoramic views across parts of the Valdarno aretino. For those interested in culture, Levane Alta brings together local history, a direct connection to Italian literature and views across parts of the Valdarno aretino.

Santuario di Santa Maria della Ginestra

The Santuario di Santa Maria della Ginestra is located on the Poggio di Monteleoni near Levane Alta. The sanctuary preserves the 13th-century fresco “La Madonna con la Cintola”. The district of Levane Alta and the sanctuary located on the Poggio di Monteleoni are therefore directly connected geographically.

Castello di Leona and Early Settlement Traces

The Castello di Leona was located in the plain of Castelvecchio. Around Castello di Leona, archaeologists found late Etruscan pottery fragments with black decoration, pottery shards from the Roman and early medieval periods, and an Etruscan well. Remains of human activity have also been discovered in the Levane area. In addition to Castello di Leona, finds from several periods and the remains of human activity are therefore part of the Levane area.

From corte di Leuna to Levane Alta

The fortified settlement was known as “corte di Leuna”, meaning “inhabited village”. It was given the name Levane Alta when the actual, lower-lying settlement of Levane began to develop on the right bank of the Torrente Ambra between 1278 and 1279. In this sequence, the name Levane Alta and the lower-lying settlement of Levane represent two place names that are geographically connected along the Torrente Ambra.

State Road 69 and Strada Regia Aretina

Levane lies on State Road 69. The historic Strada Regia Aretina also ran through Levane. The two roads reflect different historical periods in relation to Levane.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to extend your search beyond Levane, you will find more places here: Ambra, Badia Agnano, Solata, Cennina, Pogi, Pietraviva, San Pancrazio and Capannole.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bucine.