Castelfranco di Sopra, the village nestled among the ravines

Castelfranco di Sopra, also known as Castello Franco, is one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, founded at the end of the 13th century by the Republic of Florence as a defensive outpost and supply center. The name “Franco” comes from a ten-year tax exemption granted to those who settled there, while “di Sopra” refers to its location upstream from Florence. The area boasts ancient roots: from the old Etruscan route later turned into a Roman road, to traces of Lombard presence around the 8th century, up to the official founding of the village in 1299. In the following centuries, historic palaces, churches, and convents were built, and in the 19th century the village was incorporated into the province of Arezzo, while still preserving the charm of its thousand-year history.

The treasures of Castelfranco di Sopra

The ravines and clay formations (balze) of Valdarno, between Florence and Arezzo, fascinated Leonardo da Vinci, who used them as backgrounds in various drawings and paintings. Among these, the balze of Acqua Zolfina, visible from the road of the Seven Bridges (Strada dei Sette Ponti), offer breathtaking views with Castelfranco’s medieval tower framed by the ravines. Castelfranco di Sopra, like other “new lands,” has a Roman castrum-style urban layout, with orthogonal streets and a central square, once facing the podestà’s palace and the now-lost church of San Pietro. According to Vasari, the town was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, with Florentine influence still visible in the houses along Via Maestra. Among the main buildings, the Town Hall preserves prisons and 14th-century frescoes, while the Church of San Filippo Neri houses works by Matteo Rosselli and the school of Andrea del Sarto. Also remaining are the Arnolfo Tower, Casa Campa, the chapel of the Compagnia dei Bianchi, Via Arnolfo with its walls and walkway, and historic palaces like Sassolini. Not far away, the Abbey of San Salvatore a Soffena preserves 15th-century frescoes and testifies to the Vallombrosan presence. The surrounding countryside, dotted with farmhouses, towers, and castles, completes a landscape of olive trees and terraced hills typical of Valdarno.

Events in Castelfranco

In Castelfranco di Sopra, folk traditions enliven the village all year round. The Festa della Grandine, held on the third Sunday of May, dates back to the 18th century and celebrates Saint Philip Neri, with his relic carried in procession to protect against illness and hail. In June, Corpus Domini features a floral carpet along the main street, drapes on windows, and a religious procession. The last week of August marks the Festa del Perdono, with musical, cultural, and culinary events. The Living Nativity Scene, every December 25th in odd-numbered years, involves 150 participants, while the theater season at the Town Theater runs from December to March.

photo credits  Simona Bottone