Welcome to Antica Colombaia B&B, a historic gem transformed into a welcoming accommodation by the Maroncelli family. Located in the heart of the picturesque historic center of Valdragone di Sotto, this property boasts over seven centuries of history.
Valdragone di Sotto originated in the 14th century as a workshop and dyeing facility and, because of its productive function, was built apart from the other houses of Valdragone. The complex comprised four dovecote houses arranged in a courtyard around an open area, the centre of craft production.
This evocative industrial setting was powered by a rich water spring, making the area ideal for leather processing and tanning production. In addition, its partial separation from Valdragone di Sopra, to which it was attached, resulted in the building of a continuous perimeter wall to protect the complex.
The original core of Antica Colombaia was a tower house already in use since the 14th century, featuring a large and striking arched opening on the first floor, oriented to the south. This strategic position ensured natural solar heating during the coldest months of the year, making the first floor a warm and comfortable working space for the inhabitants of the house-factory.
The foundations of the tower are a true testament to the architectural mastery of past builders. Characterized by a trapezoidal termination and stepped stonework, the foundations recall the style of the 12th-century tower of the Pennarossa castle, in the San Marino region now known as Chiesanuova.
During the restoration works of Antica Colombaia, started in January 2019, fascinating traces of the past were uncovered. First of all, ceramic fragments and other artefacts were discovered and sent to the archaeological section of the State Museums of San Marino for further study. In addition, the excavations uncovered evidence of a dramatic episode in the building’s history: remains of construction materials, mainly San Marino sandstone, near the tower, and red-marked stones indicate a fire that caused the collapse of the upper two floors of the tower (only one of which survives today), most likely in the second half of the 16th century.
Indeed, historical walls were constructed very thick at the base and progressively reduced in thickness towards the top, which made the upper part of the structure less stable. Here once stood the dovecote, which gave the name to the accommodation, used to collect pigeon guano that, thanks to its ammonia content, served as a bleaching and dye-fixing agent for leather processing. After being collected, the guano was left to ferment on the ground floor of the structure, as — despite its strong and unpleasant odour — it generated essential heat for the workers’ survival during winter periods. In this room, several pitted stones marked in green were found (still preserved today in the exposed stone walls of these spaces), as the ammonia contained in the guano, during fermentation, reacted with the sandstone.
The accumulation of debris near the structure and the gradual raising of the road over time completely buried the original ground floor of the tower house. Thus, this radical change helped shape the building’s current appearance; in fact, today the main entrance of the B&B is located exactly where the arched opening of the tower house once stood on the first floor, a silent witness to past centuries and to the changes that have taken place over time.
After the closure of the Valdragone tannery around the 17th century, the tower house became the residence of farmers, who between the late 18th century and the mid-19th century expanded the structure with a more modern wing, built with less valuable materials (fir beams instead of the oak used in the tower), used as a stable, thus contributing to the multifaceted identity of this house-factory.
Antica Colombaia’s restoration was a careful and respectful process that preserved its history.
High-quality original building materials have been carefully preserved and restored, ensuring both respect for tradition and seismic reinforcement of the structure, which was once secured by a system of timber tie rods still visible today, and has now been integrated with modern technologies without hiding the signs of its historical architecture.
The building now stands as a fusion of past and present, with modern comforts blending seamlessly with its rich historical heritage. In fact, the building is equipped with a wood-fired thermo fireplace powered by wood from its own lands, an EV charging station, and solar thermal and photovoltaic systems aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions and environmental impact. The property strives to preserve its historical heritage while embracing the future with ecological awareness.
Antica Colombaia is far more than just a B&B:
It is a window into the past, a living testament to the history and culture of Valdragone di Sotto and the historic industriousness of the people of San Marino.
Its timeless beauty and enduring charm captivate guests’ imagination, offering an unforgettable experience and a lasting link to the past.
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