Barberino Val d'Elsa is set in a charming landscape, characterized by vineyards and olive trees; it has retained its medieval layout of an elliptical pattern, the ancient walls with two turreted towers (Porta Romana and porta Fiorentina).
The history of Barberino Val d'Elsa is connected with the destruction of the castle of Semifonte, constructed by the Albertis at the end of the XII century and developed in a very rapid time; after a long siege, it was completely razed to the ground by Florence in 1202, forbidding its reconstruction to everyone. The razing of the castle of Semifonte, however, increased the importance of Barberino: infact it became the administrative center of Barberino Val d'Elsa League, which gathered more than 30 villages together, located in the area betwenn the Pesa and Elsa valleys.
Another important archaeological site, together with the castle of Semifonte, is Sant'Appiano, where many important Roman relics have been found and are preserved in the Antiquarium, strictlyclosed to the church of the X-XI century.