The Farm
The Fattoria San Giovanni is an ancient agricultural estate that has belonged to the Vannucchi family since the early twentieth century, but was previously part of the property of the sixteenth-century Villa San Donnino belonging to the Maffei counts. Today cereals and forage plants are grown on the 232-hectare estate, which also boasts sweeping meadows, woods and olive groves, set within a vast nature reserve for fauna repopulation, with a ban on hunting, run using environmentally-friendly farming techniques which have never comprised the use of chemical weed-killers. The main body of the farm building, comprising the cellars and the olive mill, dates to the eighteenth century; later in the early twentieth century the barns, tool sheds and stable premises were expanded through the construction of the two wings in red brick. Also annexed to the estate is the eighteenth-century park that originally belonged to Villa San Donnino. The farm was the backdrop to a lengthy battle in July 1944 during the Second World War, and still visible on the walls of the large barn are the traces of drawings and graffiti left on the walls by the American troops on their passage from the front. There is also a curious story regarding the pine tree that soars above the entrance to the farm. It sprung up spontaneously, around 1950, at the first curve of the park beneath Villa San Donnino. Then, on 18 May 1954, the farm foreman and the gamekeeper of the farm removed it from the park and transplanted it to where it now stands. At the time, the trunk was just a few centimetres wide and it was no taller than a man. The tree was watered with water from the basin that stood at its foot, which sadly no longer exists. It was a wager because it was not the right season for transplanting, but now, after nearly sixty years, the pine tree still offers its delightful shade on hot summer days.
The Territory
The Agriturismo Fattoria San Giovanni is situated in the hilly region of the upper valley of the Era river, in the province of Pisa, just 14 km from the city of Volterra. This is a territory rich in history, culture and traditions that offers enchanting itineraries in discovery of ancient parish churches, castles, aristocratic villas and mediaeval hamlets scattered throughout the district of the Alta Valdera from Volterra to Peccioli, Terricciola, Capannoli, Palaia and Lajatico. Places that have witnessed the passage of famous artists, such as the Chapel of Santa Caterina in Legoli, which conserves precious frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli, or the parish church of Sant’Assunta in Fabbrica with its Della Robbia ceramics. There are numerous footpaths all over the area for walking and horse trekking enthusiasts. There are also food & wine itineraries and natural curiosities such as the Mofetta, a natural discharge of carbon dioxide of geothermic origin, in the district of Borboi in the municipality of Lajatico. This is one of the rare Italian mofettas or fumaroles, and one of the best-studied by biologists since it has been the focus of interest and research activities carried out by many universities all over the world. Similarly famous is the Museo della Geotermia in Larderello, just 45 km from the Fattoria, open every day free of charge, but only on booking. Also worthy of note is the Museo delle Miniere in Montecatini Val di Cecina about 25 km distant, which in the summer period offers fascinating visits by lantern light.
