Roccalbegna
Discovering Cana, a hamlet of Roccalbegna
Hello friends, today I want to tell you about a beautiful hamlet of the municipality of Roccalbegna, in Tuscany: I am talking about Cana!
The history of Cana
The village was founded in the Middle Ages on a hill, under the control first of the Aldobrandeschi, who built a fortress there, and then of the Sienese Tolomei family. At the end of the 14th century, it became part of the Republic of Siena and later of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Over the centuries, the population of Cana managed to maintain its autonomy, with a statute that remained in force until the 18th century, when the village was first incorporated into the municipal territory of Cinigiano, and then definitively to Roccalbegna.
Monuments and places of interest
Cana is a village rich in art and history, and thanks to its panoramic position on two valleys, it offers visitors a breathtaking spectacle. In particular, I suggest you visit the following religious architectures: the Church of San Martino, which dates back to the 13th century and was rebuilt in a modern style in the 20th century, except for the bell tower; the Church of Madonna del Conforto, built in the Renaissance era as a rural chapel outside the village, is preceded by a makeshift porch. In the past, it housed a sixteenth-century painting depicting the "Virgin of Comfort," which was later placed in the modern parish church inside the village. If you are interested in civil architecture, you can visit the Medici Cistern, a valuable cistern built in the early 17th century that collected rainwater to distribute to the inhabitants of the village. As for military architectures, do not miss the opportunity to visit the Aldobrandesca fortress (also known as "Rocca al Cane"), the ancient medieval fortified complex that makes up the historic nucleus of the village, and the Walls of Cana, a defensive structure from the medieval era.
Society in Cana
Regarding demographic evolution, since 1991, only the inhabitants of the town center have been counted by Istat, not the hamlet. In 1640, the population of the whole village was 462 people. In 2011, instead, there were 263 people in the town center of Cana.
Gallery of images
Finally, I leave you with some images to whet your appetite and further entice you to visit this beautiful Tuscan hamlet. You can admire the Medici Cistern of Cana, the Aldobrandesca fortress, the Church of San Martino, and the Church of Madonna del Conforto.
All you have to do is organize a trip to Cana and enjoy the beauty of this place!
