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From the strada statale n° 68 (km 19.700),
turn onto a gently rising slope lined with cypress
trees to reach the top of the hill of Gello,
to reach the tiny village surrounded
by fields and trees.
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After the last curve, you arrive
at the casa dell’Arco,
a solid 3-story stone construction built
in the late 1700’s, joined to the
more recently constructed Parish house.
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After passing under the arch, you have arrived
in the main square, bordered by the S. Lorenzo church
with its 17th century brick bell tower, a grove of cypress
trees and 4 other stone houses, all which form
a semi-circle around this central space, recalling the defensive origin of this site.
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A path, bordered by white alabaster stone,
goes beyond the cypress trees up to the summit of the hill,
where the Casa Lunga, composed of 4 adjacent constructions,
and the Scuola di Gello are situated.
This school was still in use for local children
until the mid-1900’s.
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Casa del Sarperi, Casa del Simoncini
and Casa delle Acque (from left to right) face
each other around the ancient olive three
in the small “piazza” of Gello
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From the School, besides a perfectly preserved view
of fields and groves of trees, the surronding area
of Volterra and the town of Casaglia are visible,
as is the sea between two hills.
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An overlook of the valley as seen from
Casa delle Acque windows.
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Casa delle Acque and Casa del Simoncini fencing
the village and the little cypress wood.
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