Landgoed La Fratta
From administrative centre to cattle breeding

The vast historical domain of La Fratta lies between Torrita and the nearby city of Sinalunga . The history of La Fratta begins in the Roman era, when the Via Cassia, connecting Rome and Firenze, ran straight through the estate. The first mention of La Fratta dates back to 1208 when German emperor Otto IV donated the domain to count Gualfredi di Guardevalle.

In the thirteenth century the estate also became a “Residenza di Podesta”, a local centre of government. Later on, La Fratta suffered severely under the wars and became neglected. One of the most renowned owners of the domain in the thirteenth century was Tacco di Ugolino, the father of Ghino di Tacco.

In 1469 Simone and Mino dei Pannilini, belonging to a noble family from Siena, purchased the estate. By order of Simone's son, the main building was constructed in true Renaissance style. This palazzo has survived the ages nearly unchanged. The domain was named La Fratta Gori Pannilini, and that name, together with the escutcheon, was kept until the end of the nineteenth century. In 1892 knight Leopoldo Gattai bought the domain. He modernised La Fratta and transformed it into a prospering farmstead. A few years later all this became lost when the domain was hit by the worst flood in its history. Agriculture was the main activity on the estate until the middle of the nineteenfifties, when La Fratta gradually switched over to agritourism.

Living above the stables
The most interesting place worth seeing on La Fratta is the aforementioned Renaissance palazzo, built in the sixteenth century by the famous Senese architect Baldassare Peruzzi.

In the central courtyard we find the San Michele chapel, decorated with frescoes of the illustrious Senese painter Sodoma. Between the palazzo's first floor and the chapel a passageway was built to prevent contact between the workers and the noble owners entering the chapel. Five hundred meters away from the palazzo lies the San Giovanni chapel, next to the old Roman Via Cassia. Next to the palazzo extends a long block of galleried flats; on the first floor, above the stables, lived the contadini together with their families.

These days, La Fratta is a large manor in the heart of the Chiana Valley. A stock of 300 cattle is kept here, originating from the original white Roman oxen. This well-known race, the Chianina, provides for the famous ‘bistecca alla Fiorentina'.

More about La Fratta:
La Fratta
Agritourism

Sant’Anna in Camprena: Sodoma

Gastronomy: The Chianina

back | top

- This site was realised thanks to the co-operation between the town council and the inhabitants of Torrita di Siena and ten graduated students 2004 from the “Katholieke Hogeschool Mechelen”, Belgium, department communication science, campus De Ham. - © Torrita di Siena