Faltona

Faltona, a territory of the Municipality of Talla

The term Faltona indicates not so much a village as a geographical area. The historical information about this territory – that was annexed to Talla in 1808, year in which this municipality was created after a Napoleonic decree – are scarce. From the Middle Ages to that moment, Faltona had been under the jurisdiction of Castel Focognano, apart from a short period of time at the beginning of the 15th century, when it was within the control of Pontenano by the will of the Florentine Republic. The Villa is the first important thing that you see going up to Talla from the local road. This area used to be the agricultural center of this community until the post-WWII. From a historical point of view, it is important to say that one of the mediaeval streets that crossed the Faltona area, used to pass from here. From the Villa, this road used to go down towards the stream and crossed it through a mediaeval bri- dge, which collapsed during the 1966 flood. Beyond the river, the road – that still shows cobblestone tracts – led to Castel Focognano and went down to the Church of Socana. Or, after reaching Castel Focognano, with a detour it led towards the ridge above it and along it reached the Castle of Civitella Secca, then continued towards Poggio Masserecci on the ridge of Pratomagno.
Following the local paved road, you will reach Castelvecchio, commonly known and indicated as Faltona, the most important build up area of the three since forever. The name and certain architectural aspects, particularly a watchtower, suggest that this used to be a fortified place. Walking through its bristly alleys is very pleasant. Also the church – recently refurbished – is worth visiting and contains modern paintings. From Faltona there is a road that goes towards Capraia. It is a beautiful nature trail that in several places offers beautiful views towards the bottom of the valley where the village of Talla is located. Castelvecchio as well, was affected by a very important ancient practicability, and this is testified by the rests of the “Annibale Bridge” located on the Ginesso creek, which can be seen through a walk less than a kilometer long from the village. According to oral testimonies, the bridge, datable 13th-14th century as others in the area, reportedly collapsed in the 1920s.
The structure still shows clearly its parts attached to the banks of the creek and what is interesting is that they are double. This suggests that the bridge had already collapsed, surely in ancient times, and that a new one had been constructed next to it. Back on the local road, if you keep following it, you will reach Castelnuovo. This district is at 816 meters of height, therefore it is the highest in the municipality of Talla. Here, the beautiful gateway to the little build-up area and some typical roofs are interesting. The view from Castelnuovo is very wide, not only on the Casentino valley, but also beyond it. In September, from here it is possible to admire a particularly spectacular dawn, with the Monte Sacro (Sacred Mount) in La Verna, which appears on an intense orange sky. For those who want to widen and diversify the views, it is possible to go on – also by car up to a certain point – on the only road that from Castelnuovo keeps going up towards the top of the mountain. This path called “Via del Passo alla Forca” in a few hours walking leads to the top of the Pratomgano ridge, in the area of Cima Bottigliana.