THE TERRITORY
The territory of the Commune of Sovicille is one of the largest of the 36 communes in the province of Siena and it has a very rare characteristic, begin that the grater part of it has remaind intact for hundreds of years. The Montagnola hills reach 620 meters in height and are covered with forest made up of varius oaks, chestnuts, hornbeams, cypresses, pines, junipers and many ithers bushes and scrubs that are typical of the Tuscan region. Naturally in this type of habitat there are numerous mammals such a boars, fox, deer, porcupines even some wolves and numerous rodents. There are also many species of permanentand migratory wildlife abounding in this territory. The soil is made up of cavernous limestone formations along with a beautiful yellow-streaked marble called Broccatello. One can see only old farmhouses, tinyhamlets, villages, castles, medieval churches and ruins of archaic settlements tht appear among the thick vegetation that changes color each season. This varied landscape attracts nature lovers, artist and photographers from all over the world. The plains at the foot of the Montagnola have an intensered color due to the presence of iron and bauxite in the soil. Here it is possible to find crystals fused with black quartz and hyaline, along with crystals of hematiteand calcite. There are spring at the hills slopes that are rich sources of soft drinking water. There is a large shallow underground watershed in the flatlands in the area of the Ampugnano airport. This Luco springs provides water to a vast district. This territory that is made up of forest, hills, ancd plains with streams of water running troughout them, has been inhabited from the beginning of civilization. Prehistoric findings auround the areas of Trecciano and Brenna date back to the Stone age. In various locations there are traces of Villanovan, Etruscan and Roman civilizations not to mention the great expanse of feudalism and city states. Considering the abundance of woodlands, up until the middle of the last century the main activities in this vast territory were charcoal burning and woodcutting. In Siena and in particular Ancaiano, mules or donkeys pulled carts that transported charcoal, twigs and firewood to Siena even as far as Florence. In memory of these old professions, there is a unique museum in the village of Orgia called Museo del Bosco. The Sovicille castle has been documented since the year 1004 under the ancient name of Suffichillum. Throughout the centuries the castle became a village which houses the town hall. The castle has kept its original shape and dimensions which were reconstructed in the second half of the year 1400.
The most populated hamlets of the commune are San Rocco a Pilli and Rosia where there are numerous commercial and artesian businesses. Many smaller and medieval villages and villas are nestled in the woods around Sovicille, each with their own special characteristic. Tonni, Borgo Pretale, Reniere, Radi, Molli, Tegoia, Recenza, Cerreto a Merse are some and one find them immersed in the woods of the Montagnola. On the downward slopes, the villages of Simignano, Ancaiano, Personata and Piscialembita have remainedintact, as well as the villa of Cetinale. Caldana, Valacchio and Toiano with its impressive stucture of the Palazzaccio castle, are located on the east side of Sovicille. These ancient settlementswere Etruscan in origin. Nearly there is the anciente village of San Giusto that bring us back centuries. On the southern side of territory the little village of Ampugnano, Barontoli, Pilli, Brucciano and Castelloare worth mentioning as they are all well preserved. Other historic jewels are Brenna with its old mill and woll textile plant, Torri with its famous Cistercian cloister of unique beaty, and the beautiful 13th centuryresidential towers of Stigliano. Along the green and suggestive road from Rosia to Massa Marittima an antique bridge appears like a vision fromm ancient times, the bridge of Santa Lucia, commonly called “Ponte della Pia”. There are also numerous medieval castle and places throughout the territory. Celsa, Palazzo al Piano, Capraia, Montarrenti, Spannocchia, Poggiarello, Palazzone, Villa di Cetinale, Villa di Toiano, Villa Cavaglioni. For the art lovers a visit to the romanesque churches shouldn’t be missed as they are the most suggestive that one can imagine. These are San Giovanni Battista al Ponte allo Spino, San Giovanni Battista a Pernina, Santa Mustiola a Torii, San Magno a Simignano, San Giovanni Battista a Rosia and also San Giovanni Battista a Molli.