The Etruscan Foundation was established in 1958 by Ferdinand Cinelli as a non-profit organization to promote research and scholarly study of ancient Etruria, the region of Italy known today as Tuscany. Headquartered in Michigan, this American foundation sponsored its first archaeological campaign in that same year of 1958 at the ancient Etruscan city of Vetulonia, now recognized as a site of major historic and archaeological importance. Since that campaign, over sixty programs, co-sponsored by a series of American universities have excavated Paleolithic, Etruscan, Roman, and medieval sites.

In January of 2002, the Spannocchia Foundation was created as a collaborative partner to the Etruscan Foundation to promote international collaboration on research and education focused on conservation of the natural ecology and cultural history of Tuscany. The Spannocchia Foundation utilizes in Italy Count Cinelli's family estate of Spannocchia in central Tuscany near the city of Siena as its base. The Castello di Spannocchia is at the center of the farm estate, surrounded by farm buildings and tenant farmhouses, all utilized in support of the programs that fulfill the Foundation's mission, including the Internship Program.

The Mission of Tenuta di Spannocchia and the Spannocchia Foundation

The mission of the agricultural estate of Tenuta di Spannocchia is to operate a sustainable farm and forest, sharing its experience and knowledge with others. The mission of the Spannocchia Foundation is to promote international collaboration on research and education focused on conservation of the natural ecology and cultural history of Tuscany. The Spannocchia Internship Program is associated with the missions of both the Tenuta and the Foundation. The program focuses on operating a working organic farm, combining contemporary organic methods with traditional Tuscan farming techniques. Additionally, a portion of the workweek is dedicated to pursuit of cultural and educational activities including field trips, Italian language instruction, educational presentations, and special projects.

Conservation is an important part of life at Spannocchia, and the farm is involved in a number of projects geared toward responsible use of natural resources. All building renovation projects affect the minimum amount of intervention necessary, changing the existing structure as little as possible and restoring historic elements. The landscape of the estate is similarly being preserved and reclaimed - recent projects include the rebuilding of fieldstone terracing walls, the clearing and restoration of chestnut groves, and the implementation of one of the first all-natural wastewater treatment systems in Tuscany. The Noah's Ark animal project is part of a worldwide effort to maintain genetic diversity by preserving traditional but endangered breeds of farm animals. Present-day life at Spannocchia, as well as educating visitors about a range of conservation issues, attempts to show in a very fundamental way how the past of this historic rural community can be preserved and its traditions maintained in a manner that can provide a viable existence within the modern world. Spannocchia is in the process of evolving into a living museum but it is still in the early stages of development towards this goal. Current projects involve building renovation, landscape maintenance, animal care, organic gardening, and guest services. Future projects will focus on education, program development, specific conservation efforts, and maintaining the farm operation.

The Farm

The Tenuta di Spannocchia spreads over 1200 acres in the Montagnola Senese area of Tuscany, and is located approximately 20 km west of Siena and 80 km south of Florence. Of these 1200 acres, the majority is forest and the remaining cultivated area is made up of grain and legume fields, vineyards, olive orchards, animal pastures, fruit and nut orchards, and vegetable and flower gardens. Spannocchia is a registered organic Agriturismo-a working farm that also provides lodgings for guests. The guest operation offers accommodation to Spannocchia Foundation program participants in the Castello Villa and Fattoria facilities. In addition, Spannocchia rents the outlying tenant farmhouses to Spannocchia Foundation members on a weekly basis.

The central Villa/Fattoria complex is the center of activity at Spannocchia, clustered around the original 12th century castle tower. The Villa houses the bed and breakfast rooms, as well as the main kitchen and dining room, the library, the guest living room, and the main office. The Fattoria has accommodations for Spannocchia Foundation educational program participants, its own kitchen, a small shop for farm products, and the cantina where the estate's wine is still made and stored. Casa Pulcinelli has Internship Program participant accommodations, the Etruscan Foundation archaeology laboratory, a darkroom, and the woodworking shop. The former granary of the Fattoria houses the Etruscan Foundation museum. The remaining houses are permanent residences or rental houses for guests.

At Spannocchia, we raise a number of endangered local breeds of farm animals, including cows, donkeys, horses, pigs, sheep, and chickens for preservation purposes, for farm work, and for eating. In addition, we have bees, several cats, and a dog on the property. We also produce fruits and vegetables, grain and hay for animal feed, olive oil, wine, honey, jam, and other preserves. Although staff and guests consume most of what we produce, some of our products are sold on site in our small shop.

A very large component of Spannocchia is our forestry operation; approximately 80% of our 1200 acres is woodland. A substantial portion of the wooded area is cut or coppiced for firewood, which used on site and sold in the province of Siena. Spannocchia's woodland is one of the leading examples in Italy of a sustainably managed forest and has recently attracted the attention chief forestry experts from both the U.S. and Italy.

Spannocchia is part of the Alto Merse Nature Reserve, and there are a number of public hiking paths that crisscross the property. Spannocchia is a very rural community-the nearest town is approximately 8 km away, down a long and winding dirt road, and intern access to transportation during the workweek is limited.