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Barbian land © Photo: Andrea Barghi |
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| Subbiano, a
town put under the protection of the two-faced god Janus, as
some have tried to explain the origin of its name, indeed
seems to constitute the limit between two different faces
of the Casentino valley. The northern part of Casentino is narrow and wooded, while the southern part has a flatter landscape that is mainly given over to farming, a prelude to the plain of Arezzo. Subbiano seems to have always played this pivotal role between two distinct territorial spheres, as is also confirmed by the numerous fortified settlements that once existed here. More than any other, the Lombardic period appears to have left important traces. Subbiano, together with present-day Castelnuovo, Caliano, Bibbiano, Nussa and Montegiovi, formed part of a defensive system meant to close off the valley. The ruined fortifications are a point of interest. According to some, the "Palazzo", built along the Arno, dates back to Roman times. The Castello di Subbiano, with its concentric structure, is located on the banks of the Fosso Palbena. The Arno, quite large here, has always played a key role in the economic life of the town. Water-mills were an important resource for the town, as attested by the still surviving Mulino di Subbiano, an ancient property of the Arezzo canons’ house, positioned near the castle for obvious reasons of defence. Milling also characterises another hamlet, Falciano, where a single water intake served a system of four mills, two of which are still perfectly preserved. Other castle buildings, most displaying extensive changes to the original structures, are scattered throughout the area, such as the castle of Castelnuovo with its interesting tower crowned by battlements on brackets and the ‘neo-Gothic manor’ of Valenzano. From here a road punctuated with cypresses leads to Poggio D’Acona, which affords an excellent view of the little valley cut by the Rassina torrent as well as of the Valdarno. |
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