What is a podere Leopoldino

The 'poderi Leopoldini' were a particular type of agricultural estate designed during the period of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany under the rule of Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo of Lorraine, between the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th century.

These buildings were constructed as part of a land reorganization and agricultural development policy, aimed at reclaiming and better exploiting the land. Between 1737 and 1859, approximately 260 of these farmhouse complexes were built within the reclaimed estates during the reign of the Grand Duke.

The farms were part of large estates conceived as self-sufficient production units, where mainly agricultural and livestock activities took place under the supervision of a steward. They could also accommodate complementary artisanal activities such as woodworking, blacksmithing, and stone processing. The steward coordinated the activities of the sharecroppers assigned to individual farms.

Their design is attributed to the architects and engineers working on behalf of the Grand Duke, with the aim of rationalizing and modernizing Tuscan agriculture through a broader program of agrarian reforms.

The main architectural features of the Leopoldine farms included: a two-story isolated block structure with a gabled roof; the presence of one or two porticos, a loggia, and a dovecote with a biforate window; generally built in stone or brick, often with barrel vaults and flooring in terracotta or Pietra Serena stone. On the ground floor, there were spaces dedicated to productive activities such as stables, barns, and pigsties, while on the upper floor, there were living spaces for the sharecroppers and their families.