Trequanda - Amongs forest and
vineyards, in the silance and tranquility of the Tuscan countryside,
Trequanda stands on a gentle hill at a height of 462 metres.
Like a woman jealousy guarding her
secrets, the town has never revealed its origins even to the
most conscientious seeker.
The very mythic Etruscanhero Tarkonte,
or perhaps more simply "Terram Quandam", a particular
land, to indicate its isolated position. If one were to look
for a meaning in the ancient coat of arms of the township
- three silver chalices on a red ground - Trequanda could
signify "three chalices" from the Abruzzi dialect
of "quanda" meaning chalice or cup.
Valuable information dating to the
centuries before 1200 used to be available in the archives
of Arezzo to which diocese Trequanda belonged, but a fire
in 1387 destroyed a large part of the documents contained
there. The little information in our possession allows us
to have an image of what our town might have looked like in
the Middle Ages.
Governed before 1000 by the Cacciaconti
della Berardenga, after 1200 it was the fief of the Cacciaconti
della Scialenga, a rich a powerful family of French origin.
Documents from the XIII century clearly record the interference
of the Sienese epublic in the politics of the Castel of Trequanda.
In these documents, privileges and concessions given by the
emperors Otto IV and Fredrick II, the name of the Cacciaconti,
tiedto the destiny of Trequanda above all by the figure of
Beata Bonizzella. As recounted in an ancient manuscript, "
it is quite prone to fogs, but nonetheless the air is judged
reasonable, and even though it is on a hill, the land is fairly
flat because there is no more than a slight slope, on the
part of the road which leads to the Public Palace of Justice".
At one time surrounded by battlemented
walls (only the battlements of the castle remain) with five
bastions and the tower of the castel, it is unusual structure
for this area. In addition, Trequanda preserves a clock tower
dating to 1380, a splendid parish church dating to 1300, the
Chiesetta del Sodo (XVII century), the tower of Molino a Vento
with its dovecote, the remains of the ancient Parish of Saint
Andrew in Malcenis (VII century) and two of the three gateways,
to the town, Porte del Sole and Porta al Leccio. The visitor
who passes through the stone alleys will become immersed in
the suggestive atmosphere of this medieval village.
How to reach Trequanda: From Siena, take indications
for Bettolle >> Arezzo, after about 40 Km you will see
on your right the exit for Sinalunga. Follow for Sinalunga
and then you will find the sign for Trequanda (9 km).
From the highway A1, exit bettolle and follow indication
for Siena. After about 9 km find the sign for Sinalunga, then
follow as above.
Where is Trequanda: is located in the east of Siena
province. See the map
Nearby: the val d' Orcia (Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino)
- Sinalunga
Distances: Siena 49 Km - Florence 110 Km - Pisa 180
Km - Arezzo 55 Km
Correct name is Trequanda
Common mistakes are Triquanda, Treqquanda, Tre Quanda
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