Borgo di Volpaia

The village of Volpaia is a small fortified village of medieval origin. Located in the countryside surrounding Radda in Chianti, it is characterized by its walls, within which is produced and preserved a very valuable Chianti classic wine.
History
Volpaia located in the Chianti area of Siena, had to suffer several times the consequences of the centuries-old struggle between the Republic of Siena and Florence. The two states, which bordered precisely in this region, were mutually hindering each other in territorial expansion, and therefore found continuous pretexts to clash on the military level. What left their marks were above all the raids of the mercenary captain Alberico da Barbiano, during the war between Florence and Filippo Maria Visconti, and the two disastrous Aragonese invasions of 1452 and 1478. On several occasions, in fact, the Castle of Volpaia participated in the defense of the positions of the Florentine Republic in the Third of Radda. But it was during the second Aragonese invasion that it was particularly highlighted for its attachment to Florence. On 24 December 1477 the Republic of Siena and Ferdinand, King of Naples, allied themselves against Florence. In July 1478 the Sienese and Aragonese army attacked the Florentine state from the Staggia valley, In August of the same year they seized the main Chianti fortresses, including that of Volpaia. And since the third and sixth articles of the League established that all the lands and castles conquered by the connected within a radius of 15 miles from Siena should belong to the Sienese, Volpaia seemed by now to be part of the camp against Florence. Conversely, the month of August was not yet over and already Volpaia rebelled against the Sienese who had taken possession. On the contrary, having expelled the garrison that had been placed on her watch, the Sienese commissioner, named Cipriano, was taken prisoner and taken to Florence. The army of the connected, warned of the revolt, ran with Frederick, son of the king of Naples, at the head of many troops, and on September 2, won the resistance of the defenders, captured again the castle of Volpaia. But it was not a lasting conquest: on October 7 of the same year the fort was recaptured by the Florentines, like most of the Chianti castles. Finally, the war moved out of the Chianti territory, but continued with ups and downs until the truce that was negotiated in Rome in 1479, and transformed into peace in March 1480.
Interesting Facts
The Museo Galileo in Florence has many works of the Della Volpaia, and especially of Girolamo, of which we must remember, among others, a night and solar clock signed and dated 1568 and an armillary sphere, also signed and dated 1564