Valdera
Map RLW 12278 and above all RLW 12683 show how this zone, around 1502-1504, held great strategic importance for Leonardo, being involved in the Florentine military campaign to recapture Pisa (which had become independent at the time of the incursion into Italy of Charles VIII, King of France) and thus to the project for deviating the Arno away from the rebellious city. Leonardo's reconnaissance of the territory was not, however, entirely systematic, especially as regards the territories farthest away from the course of the Era, and this fact explains the presence of irrefutable errors in the positioning of some localities, as in the case of the Terricciola area.
Alica
By "Aliga", Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Alica, in the Commune of Palaia.
Badia di Morrona
By "La Badia", Leonardo indicates Badia di Morrona in the Commune of Terricciola, situated "far to the north" - writes Repetti - of the castle of Morrona.
Celli
Leonardo represents and indicates the stronghold of Celli, in the Commune of Peccioli. Between Celli, Usigliano and Montopoli, Leonardo indicates the village of "Serra Vallino".
Collelungo
Leonardo represents and indicates Collelungo, in the Commune of Palaia, on map RLW 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.
Era
On maps RLW 12277, RLW 12278, RLW 12683 and on folio 53r of Madrid Ms. II, Leonardo indicates several times, among the tributaries on the left bank of the Arno, the most important river in the Valdera. He mentions its position in relation to its confluence with the Arno on folio 22v of the same Madrid Ms., and, above all, on map RLW 12279, describes the Valdera with a view of the hills on the right bank of the river, presumably seen from the height of Volterra. The course of the Era begins in the Commune of Volterra, flows for 55 km, has as its main tributaries the Cascina, the Roglio, and the Sterza, and traverses the Communes of Capannoli, Lajatico, Peccioli, Ponsacco, Pontedera, and Terricciola.
Era
On maps RLW 12277, RLW 12278, RLW 12683 and on folio 53r of Madrid Ms. II, Leonardo indicates several times, among the tributaries on the left bank of the Arno, the most important river in the Valdera. He mentions its position in relation to its confluence with the Arno on folio 22v of the same Madrid Ms., and, above all, on map RLW 12279, describes the Valdera with a view of the hills on the right bank of the river, presumably seen from the height of Volterra. The course of the Era begins in the Commune of Volterra, flows for 55 km, has as its main tributaries the Cascina, the Roglio, and the Sterza, and traverses the Communes of Capannoli, Lajatico, Peccioli, Ponsacco, Pontedera, and Terricciola.
Fabbrica
Leonardo represents and indicates the stronghold of Fabbrica di Peccioli, on maps RLW 12278 and RLW 12683.
Fabbrica di Peccioli
Leonardo represents and indicates the locality of "Fabrica" twice on map RLW 12683: one of these is certainly Fabbrica di Peccioli, shown also on map RLW 12278.
Forcoli
Leonardo represents the stronghold of Forcoli, in the Commune of Palaia, on map RLW 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.
Ghizzano
By "Ghizano", Leonardo represents and indicates the locality of Ghizzano in the Commune of Peccioli.
Lajatico
Leonardo sketchily represents and indicates "Laiaticho", today's Lajatico.
Montacchita
By "Monte Achita", Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Montacchita, in the Commune of Palaia, on map RLW 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.
Monte Castello
By "Monte Castelli", Leonardo indicates the locality of Monte Castello in the Commune of Pontedera on map RLW 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.
Montecchio (di Peccioli)
Leonardo represents the stronghold of Montecchio in the Commune of Peccioli.
Morrona
Leonardo represents and indicates the locality of Morrona in the Commune of Terricciola, after haven written by mistake and then deleted the place name "Morona" in the position of Terricciola.
Orciatico
Leonardo sketchily represents and indicates the locality of Orciatico, in the Commune of Lajatico.
Palaia
Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Palaia, which - like its neighboring Communes - was in his time subject to the Signoria of Florence.
Peccioli
Leonardo represents the stronghold of Peccioli without indicating its name, showing its strategic importance in Valdera.
Ponsacco
By "Ponte di Sacco", Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Ponsacco, a meeting place of roads in Valdera at the confluence between the canals in the Pisa plain and the Cascina, a tributary of the Era.
Pontedera
By "Pontadera", Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Pontedera, a centre of notable strategic importance for the thoroughfares at the confluence of the Era with the Arno, on map RLW 12683 and also in Madrid Ms. II (folios 1v, 2r, 16r, 22v "Ponte ad Era", 53r) and in the Codex Atlanticus (f. 305r).
San Gervasio a Montecastello
By "San Gervagio", Leonardo indicates San Gervasio a Montecastello, in the Commune of Palaia, on map RLW 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.
Terricciola
Leonardo indicates "Terricola", that is, Terricciola, between the nearby village of Morrona and the stronghold of Monte Vaso, which stood on a height between the Sterza and the Fine torrents.
Toiano
Leonardo represents and indicates Toiano, in the Commune of Palaia.
Treggiaia
By "Tregona" (traditionally read, also by Baratta, as "[To]glia[no]"), Leonardo indicates Treggiaia, in the Commune of Pontedera, on map RLW 12683 and mentions it on folio 305r of the Codex Atlanticus.
Usigliano
By "Usilgliano", Leonardo indicates the stronghold of Usigliano in the Commune of Palaia.
Villamagna
Leonardo represents and indicates "Villa Magna", a locality in the Commune of Volterra.
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Texts by Alessandro Vezzosi, in collaboration with Agnese Sabato
English translation by Catherine Frost
Last update 05/mar/2008