Londa is a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Florence in the central Italian region of Tuscany. It falls within the Chianti Rufina DOCG but produces little or no wine. It occupies ‘a narrow valley’ which ‘edges out in a northeastern direction’ says Dr Ian d’Agata: 2014, p.285).

History:  Londa territory has been inhabited since the Etruscan era, evidenced by the discovery of houses dating to the 6th century BCE and the so-called Londa Stele, today held in the National Archaeological Museum in Florence.

In addition to these, the Etruscans also left traces of their time here in the names of the municipality’s hamlets, called Rata, Rincine, Vicorati and Vierle. On the contrary, the names of the hamlets of Bucigna, Caiano, Caspriano and Petroio date to the 3rd century BCE, when the Romans first began to settle in the area.

During the Middle Ages, the area was controlled by the Guidi Counts, who later gave it to the Bardi family. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, Londa held the status of county, tied to the San Lorino Castle. Feoffed to the Guadagni family, it once again became fully part of the Grand Duchy’s realm after Pietro Leopoldo d’Asburgo Lorena’s reforms.

The village is full of character, surrounded by the typical Tuscan mountain panorama. Historically isolated by the convergence of the Rincine and Moscia creeks (which flowed along a different path than today’s), the town was initially called Isola and was only later changed to Onda, from which the town’s current name derives. The name is also depicted in the civic coat of arms, which shows a silver wave against a blue background.

At the town’s entrance, you’ll cross over a nineteenth-century bridge with two arches. From here you’ll arrive at the entrance to the historic center and Piazza Umberto I, a natural amphitheater often used for events and shows. The Palazzo Comunale, other historic buildings and the church of SS. Concezione all face onto the piazza.

Bibliography

Dr Ian d’Agata, Native Wine Grapes of Italy (University of California Press, 2014).