Farneta: Literature and Rural Tuscany

Farneta combines a rural Tuscan setting with specific connections to literature and local history. When choosing a destination, the landscape is not the only consideration: Emma Perodi’s storytelling framework and medieval references to the town give the place several cultural points of interest.

Rural surroundings and getting there

The area around Farneta is predominantly agricultural, with rural settlements scattered across the landscape. This makes the focus of choosing a destination different from that of a trip centered primarily on an art city. If you are looking for a rural setting in Tuscany, Farneta can be understood through the character of its landscape, with literary and local-history connections adding a cultural dimension. For travel planning, Farneta has a public municipal car park called Parcheggio di Farneta. Check the car park’s current availability before setting out.

Emma Perodi’s literary connection to the town

Emma Perodi’s “Novelle della Nonna,” published in 1893, is a collection of 45 fantastical stories. In the narrative framework, the elderly grandmother Regina tells them by the fire or in the courtyard of the Farneta estate. In this way, the work connects the place name with a character and specific settings. The stories are linked by a shared narrative framework set in Farneta. If you would like to include literature in your travel decision, the connection between the work and the place offers a specific point of interest.

A third stage of the Parco Letterario Emma Perodi e le Foreste Casentinesi to Farneta, the location of Emma’s house, was announced for September 16, 2022.

Medieval routes and local history

The medieval settlement of Farneta lay on a historic side road at the foot of the slopes, which led to Lierna and reached Camaldoli via Freggina and Serravalle. Villa Farneta is also part of the town’s history: Florence acquired it from Marco di Modigliana. Farneta is also considered a feudal residential castle. These connections offer different insights into the town’s medieval history—from the settlement’s location on a side road to the villa and its acquisition history.

Church and religious history

The church in Farneta is now dedicated to Santa Maria; it was formerly dedicated to Santo Stefano. Both dedications are part of the town’s history and record the change over time from its former to its current dedication.

Farneta as a destination for your trip to Tuscany

If you are looking for a hotel in Farneta, consider whether a rural setting with literary and local-history connections suits your trip to Tuscany, or whether you would prefer to make an art city your main destination. Farneta offers a distinctive rural focus for this choice, complemented by specific literary, religious, and medieval connections.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Banzena, Partina, Poggiolo, Soci.

For the main travel overview: Bibbiena.