Camporbiano: History, Glass and Landscape

Camporbiano was already inhabited in the Neolithic period, as evidenced by finds of chipped red jasper points. The heights around Camporbiano were used by the ancient Etruscans for copper extraction. By choosing a holiday apartment in Camporbiano, you are opting for a place whose history stretches back to prehistoric times and can be seen in several tangible traces.

History and Craftsmanship in Camporbiano

Before the year 1000, Camporbiano was a villa dependent on the Bishop of Volterra. In the High Middle Ages, one of the castles of the Counts Cadolingi of Catignano and the Alberti family was located in Camporbiano. The development of the place can therefore be viewed through clearly distinct periods. This provides you with a cultural and historical perspective that connects early settlement, ecclesiastical rule and medieval castles.

The form of Camporbiano's late-medieval castle was recorded by Leonardo da Vinci on one of his famous maps. The first documented glass furnace in the Val d'Elsa, dated to 1230, was located in Camporbiano. Camporbiano also had a historic glassworks. The depiction of the castle and glass production give the history of the place two distinct facets and also make Camporbiano interesting for visitors who are interested in traditional craftsmanship as well as architectural history.

Traces along the Rio di Camporbiano

Along the Rio di Camporbiano, the so-called Buche del Rame, historic mining pits, are visible. On the steep slope on the opposite side of the Rio di Camporbiano, the remains of buildings erected for miners can also be seen. The landscape here is therefore clearly connected with earlier work and the extraction of raw materials. If, when choosing your accommodation, you value visible historical traces within a landscape, this is an important point of reference.

Regional Produce and Farm Shop

Poggio di Camporbiano keeps dairy goats and dairy cows in Camporbiano and grows vegetables, grain and fruit. In the workshops of Poggio di Camporbiano, dairy products, preserves, flours, products preserved in jars and baked goods are made. The range therefore extends from animal husbandry and cultivation to processing, adding a distinct focus alongside the history of the place.

The Poggio di Camporbiano farm shop can be visited every day except Sundays and public holidays. This opportunity to visit adds a specific activity for planning your day to the agricultural and craft-related themes. A holiday apartment in Camporbiano can therefore also be chosen based on the importance that regional produce and local processing have for your stay.

Historic Route and Suitable Accommodation

The Sienese route of the Via Francigena begins in Castagno, in the hamlet of Camporbiano, just outside the provincial boundary. This means that, alongside the castle, glass and mining, the history of a renowned long-distance route is also part of the place. This aspect may be particularly interesting for you if you do not want to consider historic routes and the landscape separately.

When choosing your accommodation in Camporbiano, you can therefore first decide on the focus of your stay. For families with different interests, this range of options offers several ways to shape the stay according to their own preferences.

Other destinations in the same area: Badia A Cerreto, Varna.

For the overview of the wider area: Gambassi Terme.