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History of Castelvecchio sinks in the darkness of
millenniums. Perhaps the hill on whose top Castelvecchio rises was inhabited
even before the arrival of Etruscans. Certainly it existed during the
Longobards age and afterwards it was the property of Volterra's Bishop who,
in the year 1210, gave it to San Gimignano, a town quickly delopping.
Thirteenth century was for castelvecchio the epoch of military glory. it was
quite an impregnable fortress, able to protect San Gimignano against all
attacks. Around 1270 Castelvecchio become also a little "Eldorado"
for silver, with searchers coming from every part of italy. Its population
quickly got wealthy embellished the church entitled to St. Frediano and
charged a well-known painter of siena to make a fresco, of which only small
pieces remain.<br< In XIV century Castelvecchio begun to decline having
lost its importance and a military stronghold, following the construction of
the modern Castelnuovo (Newcastle). A century after the "Comune" of
san gimignano considered that Castelvecchio was by now an useless burden and
an "epicentre of plague", provoking its abandon and its death.
The impressive town-walls, towers, church, redoubts, houses were submerged
with vegetation, amidst general indifference. Only wood-cutters and shepherds
used now and then the ruined buildings. Afterwards even them abandoned
castelvecchio, described as "extremely wild" by an historian of
XVII. Recent rebirth is due to a group of people who continue until now to
work with enthusiasm, helped by many italian and foreigners volunteers. But
is still a lot to do, because only 5.000 aquare meters have been cleaned on
the total of the 20.000 included inside the town-walls.
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Research
working fields
in order to recover Castelvecchio every year, in August, Research Working
Fields are Held, authorized by competent Departments. many persons of both
sex and of all age take part to these "Fields". Without any
specific preparation, but pushed by a great good will. They pay a daily
contribution covering partially the cost for: lodging at San Gimignano in
double bedroom with bath; breakfast and two meals including beverages;
transport from San Gimignano to Castelvecchio and return; a weekly excursion
to an historical-artistic place.  The program of Research Working Fields doesn't change
since years. it includes morning spent in Castelvecchiofor the recovering
activities under a qualified guidance and afternoon in San Gimignano for
guides visits, cultural seminars and free time (a swimming-poolis available).
Every week a day is dedicated to the above said excursion.
The
historical group Castelvecchio
It has been founded by the "discoverers" of castelvecchio and
actually numbers more than four hundred Members all over Italy. The H.G.C. is
a cultural association provided with Legal Status as Moral Organization
without lucrative purposes. It is registered at the Tribunal of Siena. Objet of the H.G.C. is the protection of cultural and
environmental goods. It carries on several activities. It publishes a
bimonthly newspaper freely distributed to all members; it organizes the
Summer Fields providing for a part of relative cost. For association to
H.G.C. is only requested to pay a yearly contribution of 1.000 liras to
obtnain the membership card.
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