[vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” background_animation=”none” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”0″ images=”10392″ img_size=”full” onclick=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” background_animation=”none” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTVCZmxleHlfYnJlYWRjcnVtYiU1RA==[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”center” background_animation=”none” css_animation=””][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” background_animation=”none” css_animation=””][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”4\/6″][vc_column_text]The municipality of Ortignano Raggiolo<\/strong> consists of the two ancient municipalities of Ortignano <\/strong>and Raggiolo<\/strong>, in an area crossed by the Teggina stream that goes from Pratomagno <\/strong>to the Arno <\/strong>river. The chestnut forests that surround both towns give a mystique dimension to visitors, particularly during summer.<\/p>\n Ortignano, from the latin \u201cHortinius\u201d, has its most ancient part perched on a hill; at the top of this hill there was a castle, now lost. The fortified town is cited for the first time in 1225 and in it there is the church of st. Margherita and Matteo<\/strong>, which became a parish church in 1699.<\/p>\n Before reaching Ortignano there is the hamlet of San Piero in Frassino<\/strong> where the church of st. Pietro and Paolo <\/strong>has a 17th century painting by Pier Dandini<\/strong>. Visiting the hamlet of Badia a Tega<\/strong>, where there is a small Camaldolese abbey<\/strong>, it is possible to look at the Romanesque church of st.<\/strong> Antonio<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Raggiolo<\/strong>, member of the club \u201cMost Beautiful Villages of Italy\u201d, was a place where Langobards <\/strong>stayed during the early Middle Ages and so it became an important strategic place in the Casentinese side of Pratomagno, on the border between the dioceses of Arezzo and Fiesole<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Cited since the 10th century, as a fief given to Goffredo di Ildebrando <\/strong>by the emperor Otto I the Great<\/strong>, from the 1200s it was a possession of Counts Guidi<\/strong>, who strengthened its fortifications. During the first half of the 14th century, it ended up under the rule of Arezzo, first governed by the Ubertinis <\/strong>and, in 1325, by the Tarlati of Pietramala<\/strong>. Raggiolo entered under the sphere of influence of Florence during the second half of the 14th century and then tried uselessly to regain its independence.<\/p>\n In 1440 the castle was destroyed by the Milanese army, who was at war with Florence, led by Niccol\u00f2 Piccinino<\/strong>. It was decided not to rebuild the heavily damaged parts, but to completely abandon the place. At the time of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany<\/strong>, some settlers from Corsica started populating the place again leading to the rebirth of Raggiolo.<\/p>\n In the central square of Raggiolo is found the church of st. Michele Archangel<\/strong>, built where the Palace of the Count Guido Novello<\/strong> was, which became a parish church during the 18th century. Inside this church there are two important statues of 13th century Florentine art: the \u201cMadonna with child\u201d of the studio of Donatello and the \u201cRedeemer\u201d made by Andrea Ferrucci<\/strong>, pupil of Andrea del Verrocchio<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Tourists in Raggiolo will be amazed by the steep paved alleys and go through them to visit the Museum of Chestnut<\/strong> with the old drying room and go down and reach the restructured Mill of the Morino<\/strong> on the Barbozzaia <\/strong>stream.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”60px”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” text_align=”left” background_animation=”none” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”40px”][vc_column_text]Share[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text]