Marchioness Giuliana Galeotti Ottieri della Ciaja about La Fratta:

“I continue to honour the family tradition”

Together with her sister, marchioness Galeotti is managing one of the oldest and biggest farms of Tuscany . Moreover, la Fratta is one of the most respected Chianina breeding farms of the region. With their biological breeding methods the sisters can maintain the highest quality of the Chianina .

Since 1200, La Fratta has had many different functions and has accommodated the most prominent families. At first, la Fratta was a rural estate, became a feudal managing centre, a manor house, and now it is a cattle breeding farm, which also offers agritourism. At the moment, La Fratta still has sixteen smaller farms under its wings.

Marchioness Giuliana Galeotti and her husband marquis Bonaccorso Gondi: "At Christmas we invent 140 cow names"

“In 1934, La Fratta was the first farm that selected their animals using an official programme. Ever since the government has kept accounts with herdbook numbers. La Fratta and La Abadia are the only farms of that time that still exist,” says marquis Bonaccorso Gondi, the husband of marchioness Giuliana Galeotti.

Because of the meticulous selection of the animals, the quality has increased considerably. Until the fifties, La Fratta was one of the biggest employers of the region and therefore played a big social and economic role in the region.

Marquis Gondi: "The animals only
get biological food"

Hundred and forty cow names

The stables of La Fratta differ substantially from those of the other farms in the region. The well-being of the animals is a top priority. “Every transfer is a source of stress for the cattle. Therefore we have a flexible fence system in the stables, so we manage to bring them to the right place very easily. We've also installed special scrubbing brushes in the stables so that the cattle can relax when they are rubbing their back, it's a kind of massage,” says marquis Gondi. “The animals only get biological food that we grow here on the domain. The calves eat flour and straw. The fully-grown animals eat a mixture of corn, straw, barley and other grain.”

“Every animal has a name that begins with the letter of their birth year. Each year, about hundred forty calves are born, we can't invent so many names. Therefore, at Christmas we invent together with our grandchildren seventy girl's names and seventy boy's names,” says marchioness Galeotti.

The smell of and old house

“It has become very difficult to finance a farm these days,” says marchioness Galeotti. “We notice that the farmers of the surrounding areas are looking for an additional source of revenues. We have also done that. A part of our revenues is coming from agritourism and the rental of lodgings. Lots of art schools have also shown interest. They've come here to make sculptures or music. They like it here because they get a lot of freedom and space.”

“I had imagined a far more cultivated life when I was young. But I came to la Fratta to set forth the family tradition. After studying political science in Florence , I thought I would have a life full of arts and culture. But when my grandmother died, I moved to la Fratta. For generations this domain has moved on from woman to woman, a very important tradition. Now I love living here. I love the smell of the old house, of the history that is connected with it. We didn't install bathrooms or any other conveniences because that would have taken away the charm.” says the marchioness.

Marchioness Galeotti: "For generations this domain has moved on from woman to woman"

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