Quarata: Castle History and River Connections

Quarata can be explored through the history of its castle and its connections to the Arno and Chiana rivers. Other points of interest include an ancient archaeological artifact, the memory of a pilgrim hospice and a route to Castelluccio. When choosing your destination, it is helpful to distinguish specific historical connections from a more cautiously worded interpretation of the landscape.

The castle, maps and an interpretation of the landscape

Leonardo da Vinci depicted and labeled Quarata Castle on the Windsor maps RL 12278 and RL 12682. The castle stood near the Arno and Ponte Buriano. A separate interpretation linked to Leonardo should be distinguished from this: some researchers locate the viewpoint for the landscape in the Mona Lisa in Quarata, on Via Setteponti toward Castiglion Fibocchi. The maps specifically identify the castle; the attribution of the Mona Lisa landscape remains a research hypothesis.

Archaeological evidence and river connections

The Atleta di Quarata dates from the middle of the 5th century BC. The statuette depicts an athlete poised to jump, holding halteres in his hands. It also bears a dedication to the river god Klanins, identified with the modern-day Chiana. This piece thus combines the depiction of an athlete with a religious connection to the river. Its dating places it in a much earlier period than the pilgrim hospice, founded in 1433.

An Etruscan bronze object found in Quarata is held in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris. A small peat mine at Quarata, located where the Chiana meets the Arno, was in operation in the early 20th century. In the Basso Casentino, Quarata is one of the sites associated with the veneration of water at springs and headwaters. These connections span ancient archaeological finds, religious beliefs and early industrial history; they relate to different periods and forms of evidence.

The castle’s history and the village setting

A pilgrim hospice operated in the castle, founded in 1433 by Francesco di Andrea Quaratesi; an oratory was attached to the hospice. Quarata is also called S. Andrea. An early 20th-century description portrays Quarata as a village dominated by a hill, on which the irregular mass of houses belonging to the old castle could be seen.

Routes around Quarata

One route leads from Quarata to Castelluccio via the Arno crossing at the river bend at Buon Riposo; the church of San Michele stands there. The cycle and pedestrian path between Ripa di Quarata and Arezzo also has a date attached to it: a 2008 report described it as lit and protected. In 2007, a decision was made to build a lit and protected cycle and pedestrian path more than half a kilometer long along Setteponti Road. For specific trip planning, check the current route, access and condition.

Discover more destinations: Antria, Terrarossa, Indicatore, Ponte Buriano-cincelli, Ruscello, Palazzo Del Pero, Chiassa, San Firenze-Fonte Di Sala

For the broader travel overview: Arezzo.