HistoryThe history of the settlement of Petroio goes back to the times of the ancient Romans, when it is thought to have already been inhabited. These ancient origins are testified to by the presence of a type of wall called “Opus Reticulatum”, or gridiron structure, used by the Romans, still visible in one of the farmhouses of the settlement, called “Il Paradiso”.
Around this Roman basis a medieval watchtower and, at a later date, a farmhouse, the church and other outbuildings were constructed.
The flagstone paved road that passes in front of the central part of the villa and leads toward the settlement church, dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, is still visible. This country lane is a remnant of the ancient road connecting Siena and Florence, which passed through the Chianti territory.
For many years the church of St. Michael the Archangel had fallen into disuse. But thanks to recent investments made by the Lenzi family for its restoration and to the consent of the Curia of Siena, religious services are now held there again. A good thing, because it seemed a shame to abandon the church where Jacopo dalla Quercia was probably baptized.
The Fattoria di Petroio belonged to a large agricultural community that included the estates of Chieci and Passeggeri, farms acquired by the lawyer Andrea Pallini at the beginning of the eighteen hundreds. In 1920 Petroio was assigned to Luigi Pallini, whose direct grandson is the present owner, Gian Luigi Lenzi.
The villa was enlarged during the eighteen hundreds and again in 1925, but it has never lost its typical Tuscan character: in fact, visitors are welcomed by a classic drive of century-old cypress trees.
The most recent remodeling has been done on the one hand to restore all the buildings in the ancient settlement (for example, the forester’s house) and on the other to modernize the buildings used in the wine-making.
