San Fedele

The canonica of San Fedele is an architectural site formed by a romanic church, mentioned since 1203 in the "lodo di Poggibonsi", which defined the territories of the Republics of Siena and Florence.

It lived through the fierce battles between Guelfi and Ghibellini, and its fortified structure, like that of many other buildings in the area, shows the necessity of defending itself.

Over the centuries San Fedele has been connected with two important Florentine families, the Squarcialupi and the Cerchi.

Many documents and volumes regarding San Fedele and its territory can be found in the State and Church archives in Siena and Colle di Val d'Elsa. They contain numerous descriptions of the life and events through the centuries. In the most prosperous years San Fedele owned a number of near by properties, in which there lived and worked a community of 400 people.