The Fornia Farm is located on a gentle hill in the area of Fornia, a place name with historical roots extending over 500 years, as evidenced by Leonardo da Vinci’s studies on the diversion of the Arno River. Fornia is mentioned in his cartographic and hydrographic notes, clearly demonstrating the strategic and natural importance of the area. The farm is crossed by an ancient road that connected Bacchereto, a small village known for its ceramics since medieval times, to the famous town of Vinci, the birthplace of Leonardo.
Leonardo da Vinci certainly traversed these lands several times during his youth. His visits to his grandmother’s house, located in Toia, reflect an affectionate and familial connection to these landscapes. In those days, Toia was easily reachable thanks to a network of paths linking the surrounding villages, which today are preserved and enveloped by the wild beauty of the Tuscan woods. These routes, which Leonardo walked on numerous occasions, now offer an immersion into history and nature, revealing an area that has remained virtually intact in its rural and historical charm. The woods are primarily composed of oaks, holm oaks, pines, and chestnuts, but the centuries-old holm oak stands out with its sprawling branches forming a large green umbrella, an unforgettable place for swings and childhood games for the generations that have experienced it.
These lands, which now belong to the Fornia Farm, were once owned by Marquis Eugenio Niccolini, who had the phrase “Vigne di Carmignano del Marchese Niccolini” engraved on the façade of the large cellar. It is said that he took pride in showing it to his guests from the windows of his palace (still standing) on Via dei Servi in Florence.
The farm not only fits into this context of significant historical relevance but also serves as a privileged observation point for those wishing to explore authentic Tuscany, where history, art, and nature blend into a landscape of extraordinary beauty. In fact, the entire area of the Montalbano hills, which extends over approximately 16,000 hectares in the region between the provinces of Florence, Pistoia, and Prato, and particularly the hill of Fornia, which is centrally located and in close proximity to major cities such as Florence (31 km), Pisa (65 km), Lucca (52 km), and Siena (83 km), is the ideal starting point for visiting all of Tuscany.