History

Town with Etruscan and Roman roots, Certaldo was founded in the Elsa Valley (Val d'Elsa) , at the confluence of the Agliena torrent with the Elsa river, on the ancient Via Francigena.

It was Conti Alberti's residence until 1184, when the Count was imprisoned by Florentine army and the town was sorrounded by Firenze, becoming a florentine vicariate.

It was Giovanni Boccaccio's home. According to tradition, the writer of the Decameron lived in a house in Certaldo Alta, which now hosts a Study Center on the famous author.

The high town, Certaldo Alta, still preserves the ancient medieval walls and buildings in burned bricks.