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Valdera - Montecchio

Alica

By "Aliga", Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Alica, in the Commune of Palaia.

Badia di Morrona

By "La Badia", Leonardo indicates Badia di Morrona in the Commune of Terricciola, situated "far to the north" - writes Repetti - of the castle of Morrona.

Celli

Leonardo represents and indicates the stronghold of Celli, in the Commune of Peccioli. Between Celli, Usigliano and Montopoli, Leonardo indicates the village of "Serra Vallino".

Collelungo

Leonardo represents and indicates Collelungo, in the Commune of Palaia, on map RL 12683 (Windsor Castle) and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.

Era

On maps RL 12277, RL 12278, RL 12683 and on folio 53r of Madrid Ms. II, Leonardo indicates several times, among the tributaries on the left bank of the Arno, the most important river in the Valdera. He mentions its position in relation to its confluence with the Arno on folio 22v of the same Madrid Ms., and, above all, on map RL 12279, describes the Valdera with a view of the hills on the right bank of the river, presumably seen from the height of Volterra. The course of the Era begins in the Commune of Volterra, flows for 55 km, has as its main tributaries the Cascina, the Roglio, and the Sterza, and traverses the Communes of Capannoli, Lajatico, Peccioli, Ponsacco, Pontedera, and Terricciola.

Fabbrica di Peccioli

Leonardo represents and indicates the locality of "Fabrica" twice on map RL 12683: one of these is certainly Fabbrica di Peccioli, shown also on map RL 12278.

Forcoli

Leonardo represents the stronghold of Forcoli, in the Commune of Palaia, on map RL 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.

Ghizzano

By "Ghizano", Leonardo represents and indicates the locality of Ghizzano in the Commune of Peccioli.

Lajatico

Leonardo sketchily represents and indicates "Laiaticho", today's Lajatico.

Montacchita

By "Monte Achita", Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Montacchita, in the Commune of Palaia, on map RL 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.

Monte Castello

By "Monte Castelli", Leonardo indicates the locality of Monte Castello in the Commune of Pontedera on map RL 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.

Montecchio (di Peccioli)

Leonardo represents the stronghold of Montecchio in the Commune of Peccioli.

Morrona

Leonardo represents and indicates the locality of Morrona in the Commune of Terricciola, after haven written by mistake and then deleted the place name "Morona" in the position of Terricciola.

Orciatico

Leonardo sketchily represents and indicates the locality of Orciatico, in the Commune of Lajatico.

Palaia

Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Palaia, which - like its neighboring Communes - was in his time subject to the Signoria of Florence.

Peccioli

Leonardo represents the stronghold of Peccioli without indicating its name, showing its strategic importance in Valdera.

Ponsacco

By "Ponte di Sacco", Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Ponsacco, a meeting place of roads in Valdera at the confluence between the canals in the Pisa plain and the Cascina, a tributary of the Era.

Pontedera

By "Pontadera", Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Pontedera, a centre of notable strategic importance for the thoroughfares at the confluence of the Era with the Arno, on map RL 12683 and also in Madrid Ms. II (folios 1v, 2r, 16r, 22v "Ponte ad Era", 53r) and in the Codex Atlanticus (f. 305r).

San Gervasio a Montecastello

By "San Gervagio", Leonardo indicates San Gervasio a Montecastello, in the Commune of Palaia, on map RL 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.

Terricciola

Leonardo indicates "Terricola", that is, Terricciola, between the nearby village of Morrona and the stronghold of Monte Vaso, which stood on a height between the Sterza and the Fine torrents.

Toiano

Leonardo represents and indicates Toiano, in the Commune of Palaia.

Treggiaia

By "Tregona" (traditionally read, also by Baratta, as "[To]glia[no]"), Leonardo indicates Treggiaia, in the Commune of Pontedera, on map RL 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.

Usigliano

By "Usilgliano", Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Usigliano in the Commune of Palaia.

Villamagna

Leonardo represents and indicates "Villa Magna", a locality in the Commune of Volterra.

Texts by
Alessandro Vezzosi, in collaboration with Agnese Sabato / English translation by Catherine Frost