The Borgo

Borgo Petrognano stands in one of the most captivating areas of the Val d’Elsa, a land where history, legend, and landscape have been intertwined for centuries. Just a short walk from the Borgo lies the hill of Semifonte, the ancient fortified city that once rivaled Florence in the Middle Ages for control of the major trade routes. Powerful and ambitious, Semifonte was completely destroyed in 1202 and later became known as the “lost city,” giving rise to a legend that still surrounds this place with an aura of mystery. The only structure built in the centuries that followed is the elegant Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel, a small sixteenth century octagonal dome created in memory of the vanished city and inspired by Brunelleschi’s celebrated dome. From here, the view opens onto one of the most iconic landscapes in Tuscany, with vineyards, olive groves, rolling hills, and sunsets that seem almost painted.