Farmhouse Holidays Follonica, Tuscany Sea

Farmhouse Tenuta di Vignale

"...con cagne magre, studiose e conte
Gualandi con Sismondi e con Lanfranchi
s'avea messi dinanzi dalla fronte..."

Dante Alighieri, Inferno. XXXIII, 31-33

The Tenuta di Vignale is situated south of Campiglia on moderately high ground which dominates the plain of the river Cornia. It is near to a ruined castle known in ancient times as Vignale Vecchio. The name “Vignale” probably derives from the Latin, vinealis, indicating that vineyards were cultivated in the area at that time.

The castle belonged to the Lambardi Longobards and in 711, it became part of the Archbishop of Lucca’s revenue. In 1365, the castle was destroyed by troops from nearby Piombino who made it a feudal property of the powerful Lords of Appiano.

In 1704, having succeeded the Appiano family, the Princes of Piombino (Ippolito and Gregorio Ludovisi) went about restoring the estates in Vignale. They were then purchased by Cavalier Lelio Franceschi.

The Franceschi family (Corsican nobles) arrived in Livorno with Adriano, Commander of the S.A.S. Grand Duke of Tuscany’s warships, which at that time were employed in the Mediterranean in privateering – the main marine activity in the 17th Century.

In 1878, the property was divided into two parts of equal value between the heirs of the cousins, Francesco and Luigi Franceschi. Earl Francesco’s half went to his daughter, Marianna (1817-1865), as her dowry and became part of the estates of the Rosselmini Gualandi family on her marriage in 1841 to Earl Alessandro Emanuele (1800-1852). The latter was an Arcadian pastor of the Alfean Community and member of the original Academy of Eccentrics, founded by Margaret Jane King – later Lady Mountcashell (alias Margaret Mason). She was a good friend of the poets, Angelica Palli Bartolomei from Livorno and Giacomo Leopardi during his stay in Pisa (1827).

Earl Luigi’s half went to his heirs and was subsequently bought by the Earls of Genoa, Figoli des Geneys after 1876.

The Ghibellini family, Gualandi, one of the most illustrious aristocratic families in Pisa, (they took part in the famous battle of Meloria) came to an end with the death of Maria Anna Cecilia, daughter of Antonio Gualandi Campiglia. The latter stipulated in his will (1804) that the celebrated surname should be continued by his nephews, Giuseppe Odoardo and Alessandro Emanuele (husband of Maria Anna Cecilia) – the sons of Pietro Leopoldo Rosselmini and Maddalena Roncioni.

(Maddalena Roncioni’s sister, Isabella, was the lover of the poet, Ugo Foscolo, and inspired him to write his book, “The Last Letters of Jacopo Ortis”) With the marriage of Emma Rosselmini Gualandi (1851-1921), daughter of Alessandro Emanuele and the last living member of this illustrious family, to Giuseppe Giuli (son of the Senator Domenico), the Tenuta di Vignale and other historic and prestigious properties became an integral part of the estates of the Giuli Earls who combined the name of this ancient family (remembered by Dante in the “Canto” of Count Ugolino) with their own surname.