An old leggend that is based on recent historical recoveries says that one of the greatest Italian poets, Dante Alighieri, passed from the ancient village of Stoppi on his way to the Campaldino battle between Guelfi and Ghibellini in 1289.
As a matter of fact the old road that used to take ancient travellers from Arezzo to the present town of Reggello ran exactly along the houses of Stoppi, where we still can see the image of Virgin Mary in a little shrine.Stoppi located at 600 mts. o.l.s. had been for a long time property of the Counts Guidi since the XIth century, until 1539 when the settlement was given to the City of Florenceand had already become the rural capital of the surrounding mountains with its own Town Hall and a weekly big market.
We still have some news in that time about the terraces, called “manette”, where olive oil trees were grown close to rye and to wheat.The name of the place itself derives from stubbles (stoppie), which are residual straws from harvest.
The last owner, who purchased Stoppi in 1946, contrary to the general trend of that time to abandon the fields, encouraged an agricultural renaissance, by reafforesting the mountains.
His sons continued his good work, restoring the ancient houses of the inhabitants of Stoppi and improving tremendously the beauty of such a fascinating place.
Cypresses, oaks, pines, beeches, chestnut-trees stand as silent sentries to watch over this uncontaminated nature. Wild-boars, hares, squirrels, pheasants, jays and owls often peep through trees or through the grass to welcome the guests of the farmhouse Stoppi.
From its olive terraces which produce one of the best and most genuine extra virgin olive oil in the area, you can enjoy a magnificent landscape of the Arno valley and of the wine district of the Chianti hills.
