The hamlet of Le Melorie (Ponsacco) results already inhabited in ancient era in VI century a.C. it develops an Etruscan village. It is localized near the estate of Sant’Eugenio. Some excavations in the zone have allowed to find numerous evidences, like amphora, coups and oinochoe of bucchero, olle and dolii of mixture. The village was placed side by side then classical epoch by others little villages deal with him localized in the estate of Casanova and the Casone od Gello.
In Roman epoch, the hamlet was crossed by Decumanus Maximus, it connected the hamlet to Ponsacco, in the inner of a first Centuriation of territory: they still find some traces and some toponyms present an etymology of Roman origin according to the phenomenon of “prediali”. Other research have allowed the identification of a Roman monumental farm.
Le Melorie developed as a center at farming vocation and remain evidence of some medieval fortification in the ancient building of brick datable between XIII and XVI century.
The territory stayed at rural character since the contemporary age. Following the realization of the road who connected Ponsacco with Fornacette, the hamlet was urbanized. The hamlet was selected for host an handcrafted area of the community it counted 67 citizens in 1961. Thanks to the realization of an ample residential area and the foundation of a independent church in 2001, the hamlet reach to absorb the small village of Gabbiano and I Poderi, they form an unique village in the community of Ponsacco and near the industrial area of Gello without solutions of continuità and with 2 600 rezidents.
The area, at the base of an hilly area between the valleys of the Era and the Cascina, was chosen by Duke Alessandro de ‘Mediciper to create a grand dwelling in the center of an extensive estate. The area also had a strategic role because the Medici’s interests were increasingly turning towards the Pisan plain, with a policy of expansion to the sea that was followed by subsequent granducs.
The villa is set in a scenic location at the end of a cypress avenue and dominates, with its compact cubic structure and the four mighty corner towers, the surrounding area.
The villa is very much reminded of a fortified structure, with the bases of raised towers (“scarpatura”) and reinforced corners, while the front yard, on which the villa rises majestically, was created to gather on occasion a square of arms .
This lawn, in which stands the sixteenth-century statue of the Edolo killing the Hydra, by Giovanni Bandini, is delimited by two symmetrical factory bodies, used as stables and barracks.
The military use of the villas became necessary after the anti-Semitic insurrections of Pisa and Valdarno, against which the villas of Camugliano were built, and later the twin Villa Medicea dell’Ambrogiana in Montelupo Fiorentino.
In the second half of the sixteenth century Cosimo I donated Camugliano’s villa to Giuliano Gondi for the services rendered to the Medici family. Subsequently it was given to Matteo Botti who, after having been invested in the title of Marquis of Campiglia d’Orcia by Cosimo II, returned it to the Grand Duke with an act dated 25 December 1615.
On September 23, 1637, the doctors in the person of Grand Duke Ferdinand II finally gave up the villa and the estate of Camugliano, selling it to Senator Filippo Niccolini, who at the same time was also nominated Marquis of Camugliano and Ponsacco.
The Niccolini family made some modifications to the original structure, such as the double ramp staircase that connects the façade and loggia to the first floor with the front yard. Later the loggia was closed by large windows, while the surrounding park was arranged according to the dominant English style. In front of the villa was created a scenic elliptical hedge trimming decorated with marble busts, which still embraces the square.
The villa is still privately owned and it can not be visited.
The estate also belongs to the oratory of San Filippo.
The Museum of Wood is located inside of Mostra del Mobilio,It’s possible to admire the ancient machines and the work tools of the artigians.
Tools
In the Museum of the old carpenter’s workshop has been recreated by exhibiting the most common work tools: the hammer, the saw, the plane, the gouge, the copper pot to heat glue in and the wood used by the artisan to build furniture such “la Pancina” and “la Ponsacchina” which were extremely successful on the Italian market.
Entrance
Museum of Wood
Adress: c/o Mostra del Mobilio, Piazza della Mostra 4, Ponsacco Tel: 0587731102 Email: info@mostramobilio.it
Opening time: The museum and mostra are open all the year
From monday to friday, from 9.00 to 12.30 and from 15.00 to 19.30 Saturday, sunday from 9.00 to 12.30 from 15.00 to 20.00
Leaving from Peccioli , we go down the steep via di Greta. In less than a kilometer we get to the gravel bed of Era River characterized by spontaneous vegetation, large and rich variety of birds.
So we continue along the river up to the Molino di Ripabianca . From Le Piagge, where the suggestive vision of tuff cliffs that run along the municipal road Peccioli-Fabbrica follows us on the left, we can make a road variation of up to Ripabianca , to be used in case of flooding of the river.
After approximately four kilometers we start to go up to reach the municipal road with which we reach the charming town of Montecchio and continue, still with the dirt road, in the countryside of the area of Serre, which has varied crops and is natural habitat of various game species. There are two ways of traveling to this area; one is from Costie and the other takes you back to Peccioli through the road of Madonna delle Serre , named after the namesake church in this area, and characterized by a fresh and hospitable little forest, place of pilgrimage the first Sunday of May.
EVENT
Randonnée ARI patent, Randonnée Mountain Bike patent.
INSPIRATION
The event, in line with the directives of ARI, will pursue the following purposes: self-sufficiency, affordability, simplicity, security, contact with nature.
The event was inspired by the slow travelling on nature trails
ORGANIZATION
The ownership of the event is the GSRC Galimberti, with the patronage of the Municipality of Pontedera and the collaboration of G.S. Treggiaia, POL la Perla “Razzi e Mozzi” and Borra Bike with ARI audax randonnée Italy.
The event will adopt the Regulation ARI / MTB.
THE EVENT
DATE
Sunday, August 31st, 2014.
Preliminary checks from 07.00 to 08.00 at the Club Galimberti in Via Galimberti, Pontedera.
Start from 8:00am to 08.10am from GSRC GALIMBERTI.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE
Cyclists and cycle tourists members with papers in order for the year 2014 ARI, or bodies recognized by CONI UISP; ACSI; CSAIN; ASI; CSI; ENDAS; FITRI, and also free hikers equipped with medical certificate, bike Mountain bike and helmet (mandatory). after filling the release paper ARI.
REGISTRATION
We accept MAX 300 people. The registration fee is € 10.
Entries close automatically when we reach the number of 300 paying cyclists, there is no possibility of pre-registrations.
Registration opens from June 20th, 2014 at the Club Galimberti in Via Galimberti n° 4, Pontedera. – or online via the website www.audaxitalia.it (REGISTRATION)
Registration fee: (10 €) to be paid by bank transfer before you sign up.
Description of payment (“causale”): you have to write “Iscrizione Randonneè della valdera.”
Account name: G.S.R.C Galimberti.
Bank: “Banca di Pisa e Fornacette”.
Bank account details: IBAN – IT37 Z085 6271 1310 0001 0375 939 – SWIFT BIC: BCCFIT33
Registration deadline Sunday August 31st, 7.30am
We recommend the use of RandoCard ARI (cyclist card ARI) to sign up, the preparation of the release of responsibility, which will have to be delivered to the preliminary checks, the validation steps at the start, the control places along path and at the finish.
RACE DOCUMENTS
Road Book route map with street guide (town refreshments and fountains), Paper ARI / MTB / RG as travel validation step in places of control. GPS path track.
THE ROUTE
40 / 70 / 115 km, short, medium and long, as for the ARI / MTB standards.
The “randonnée valdera” will make a great added value to the event, as it allows cyclists to follow paths and roads of GPN and horse trail through hills, woods and streams.
The route is marked as “Randonnée valdera”.
NB: Hikers enrolled arriving at the refreshment / control “LE SERRE” after 13:00pm will not be allowed to continue in the long route.
“We remind that the long path requires a good physical condition.”
Refreshments:
There are 4 food spots on the path next the checkpoints. (Terricciola, Le Serre, Castelfalfi and Legoli) – and a pasta party at the finish.
RECOGNITION
The GSRC Galimberti will distribute to all the cyclists who will get the approval ARI / MTB (40 – 70 – 115 Km) a scroll by the artist Giancarlo Calamai reproducing the logo of the event.
STREETS GUIDE
Roads / dirt roads of Randonneè:
A) PONTEDERA starting 8:00-8:10am from Via Galimberti – towards Ponsacco on the bike path parallel to via roma – underpass in Viale Europa – the street in front of cemeteries – bike path until “La Borra” – path levee Era River.
A) PONSACCO (time 8:15 to 9:15) Trail embankment ERA – via Melegnano – Viale Primo Maggio – via xxv aprile – Via Roma via dei mille – via cesare Battisti – via Era – Roundabout – dirt road to Camugliano.
A) CAPANNOLI (hours 8:45 to 9:45) via Camugliano – dirt road near “Solaia” – via delle pinete – via provinciale 26 – via del Pino – dirt road up to via dei Pontini – via delle case – dirti road via dei monaci – via di badia.
A) TERRICCIOLA (9:15 to 10:30 via di badia – dirt road via taneto – via della cascina – via terricciolese –
Via Bagno “A / R” – (First Food Spot.) dirt road via delle colline.
A). CHIANNI. Dirt road via delle colline – strada provinciale 14 “Miemo” –
A). LAJATICO (10 am – 11.30 am) “Fontanelle” . Dirt road from strada provinciale 14 to strada provinciale 45 – Via Pietro Nenni – unpaved local road via dell’uccelliera “theater of silence” – via Volterra SR 439.
A) PECCIOLI / MONTAIONE (11am – 13:30)
SR 439 – gravel road lake Gattero – municipal road of Montelopio – via di mezzo – Fabbrica – via della chiesa / towards Fabbrica – via delle case nuove – Montecchio – via Aldo Neri – dirt road, via madonna delle serre (2nd Food Spot). – GPN dirt road up to strada della bonifica – via della bonifica – via della bonifica gravel road towards Castelfalfi – dirt road and golf courses. – Castelfalfi (3rd Food Spot) Via SP 26 – via di mezzo / via Poggetta – via di monti – dirt road GPN towards via Libbiano Legoli -.Legoli – (4th Food Spot).
A) PALAIA (12.30 – 15:00) via SP 11 – dirt road up to municipal road Toiano – via Toiano – dirt road collelungo (agliati) until SP36 – Chiecinella – dirt road via della costa towards Marti.
A) MONTOPOLI (13.30 – 16:00)
Via della costa – via fontanelle – via della croce – MARTI – (WATER SPOT) via Mazzana – Varramista – via di ricavo – highway underpass – Castelbosco – dirt road via val di frigoli – via della falce.
A) PONTEDERA (-13 hours – 18) via della falce – municipal road Palaia / La Rotta – via del pietriccio – via di montecastello – cycle path of Braccini lakes – via Enrico de Nicola – cycle lane in Viale Italia – back, through cycle path, in the Era river embankment – arrival via galimberti.
R) FROM TERRICCIOLA (return on short course) – time 10:30 to 11:30 the road of Chianti towards Morrona – Stibbiolo – via dei cipressi – San Pietro Belvedere – via vignoli – via Corsica – provincial road 26 via san rocco – dirt road for Solaia – via Camugliano – Ponsacco – cycle lane on levee Era river – arrival via Galimberti.
R) FROM PECCIOLI (return middle course) (11:00 – 13:30) from madonna delle serre – Municipal road poggio al pino – provincial road 41 – via San Sebastiano – via dei cappuccini – cycle path towards Forcoli – via la bianca – via SP26R, via di santo pietro belvedere – sarzanese valdera – via Baciocchi – Piazza Castello – via san rocco – dirt road under the cemetery towards Camugliano – via Camugliano – via valdera – cycle lane levee Era river – arrival via Galimberti.
A) roads of the long route R) roads of return short and medium course.
Here you can see the video made for the 2014 edition:
You can spend extraordinary days of touring following the state highway Sarzanese that runs through the Valdera from Massa Marittima to Pontedera . From the beautiful old town of Massa Marittima you take the state highway 439 , called “Sarzanese” towards the North to Monterotondo Marittimo.
In Monterotondo Marittimo there is the very charming Park Biancane in which the force of nature shows itself in the form of steam emissions from the ground, fumaroles and geothermal wells. Again on the Sarzanese, you can reach the medieval town of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina where you must walk in the old town centre and pass the Chiassino the alley which, with its 50 cm. width, is the narrowest street in the world.
Just beyond Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, on the right there is the town of Larderello where you can really get surprised watching the giant geysers . Back on the main road 439, we go up towards Pomarance where you can enjoy beautiful views over the Cecina Valley. A bit forward the town of Saline manages to offer some beautiful views of the nearby Volterra .
With gentle bends and ups and downs, the Sarzanese leads us first to Capannoli, then to Ponsacco and eventually in Pontedera.
In 2003 some municipalities of Valdera have joined forces to enhance their small and large museums Culture; their environment and territory offer essential opportunities to the cultural and economic development of an area. One of the basic factors of this process is the knowledge of places, stories, societies, that you can acquire through a cultural journey. Tourism, therefore, enhances the territory and its cultural heritage, but to make this possible it is necessary to create a network of museums spread throughout the territory and appropriate to “welcome” the visitors. The Towns of Unione Valdera which adhere to the Museum Network for the year 2012::
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