Chianni

Chianni’s origins are certainly Etruscan, as evidenced by recent discoveries of tombs from that period. Chianni was undoubtedly a medieval castle, frequently contested between Pisa, Volterra and Florence due to its strategic geographical position.
In 1186, the settlement of Chianni was entrusted to the Bishop of Volterra thanks to the intervention of Henry VI, and through him again in 1193 it was assigned to the Republic of Pisa, thus causing tensions between the two cities. Control of the settlement was disputed several times between the Republic of Pisa and the Volterra bishopric from 1288 until 1406 when, together with Rivalto, it submitted to Florence. In 1629 Ferdinand II granted it as a fief to the Florentine Riccardi family, who maintained their rule until 1776.

The territory of Chianni is bounded by the Sterza stream and surrounded by woodland of cerro oak, oak and chestnut trees, which provide an undergrowth rich in wild plants, with damp, cool soil.
The municipality covers approximately 70 km on the slope of a spur that divides the valley of the Era river from that of the Fine river.
Chianni is part of the Upper Valdera district and borders Terricciola and Casciana Terme to the north, Santa Luce and Castellina Marittima to the west, Lajatico to the east and Riparbella to the south.

Things to do in Chianni

In Chianni, among the monuments worth visiting, we should mention: the Madonna del Carmelo (a church built in the 12th century on the site of another dedicated to S. Maria di Chianni), the Church of Compagnia and the Pieve di San Donato, the current parish church. Not to be missed is Rivalto, a picturesque village at 320 metres. As for culinary traditions, the much-celebrated “King of the Scrubland”, wild boar, becomes the “King of the Kitchen” on the occasion of the festival (in November).

Church of Madonna di Rivalto

Rivalto (probably derives from the Rio Maggiore stream, literally “high stream”, which has its source from a hillock half a mile from the town centre) was an ancient fortress, and its houses, all huddled halfway up the hill, were built on its ruins. The history of Rivalto from the 15th century runs parallel to that of Chianni. It was contested several times by Pisa and Volterra. Famous for its chestnuts, Rivalto is a destination for countryside outings and Sunday excursions. Worth visiting are: the 14th-century parish church dedicated to SS. Fabiano and Sebastiano (patron saints of the village), the Church of Compagnia and the Church of Madonna di Rivalto, dedicated to S. Maria del Carmelo, situated in a splendid pine wood, a viewpoint of extraordinary beauty.

Chianni Weather

Recommended hotels in Chianni