The Via Cassia [Cassian Way], which was then called Cassia vetus when a new road was opened on the left bank of the Arno river in 123 AD, resumed – improving it – the layout of the ancient Etruscan road that connected the lucumonie [territories ruled by a lucumon] of Arezzo and Fiesole, at the foot of the massif of Pratomagno, upstream from the plain in which the Arno flowed restlessly.
Two roads branched off at the entrance to the Via Cassia in the territory of the upper Valdarno: one went towards Cincelli and the Casentino, and the other, towards Laterina and the Ponte Romito. The locality is called Costa di Ferro. In this zone, there have been various findings of pottery. Also to the west of the present provincial road of Sette Ponti, parts of several recipients of varying sizes – probably ruins of a tomb of the type referred to as a ziro [earthenware tub] – and cinerary urns have been discovered, as well as fragments of transparent fine pottery vases. Other fragments have turned up in the vicinity of the road for Castelluccio, not far from the junction for Cincelli.
The Casentino Road leading to the Valdichiana used to branch off along the Cassian Way, in the vicinity of San Giustino, at Baccano. Instead, the main road ascended in the direction of Casamona, and then continued towards Casa Sesta in the direction of the Parish Church of Gropina. At Baccano, ruins of ancient Roman buildings, perhaps mansiones, have been found. Considerable rubble, consisting of tiles, bricks and vases, as well as pieces of Arezzo-type ceramics and transparent pottery, have emerged in the zone known as “Il Tesoro”.
Other settlements of a prevalently agricultural nature are present in the area around the church dedicated to St. Matthew, in the vicinity of the isolated cottage that is located beneath Monte Cocollo.
Remains of what were probably tombs have been found close to the old Romito bridge. However, the most important testimony is undoubtedly located in the vicinity of Laterina, very near the parish church of Campavane that is dedicated to St. Cassian, where consistent traces exist of a Roman villa. Here, part of a mosaic floor with geometric motifs in white and coloured tesseras has come to light, as well as – a short distance away – the traces of a pool. It was probably a Roman villa that was destroyed during the early Middle Ages, perhaps due to a fire.
In the vicinity of San Giustino in the locality of Monticello, descending 50 m after the farm house from the part opposite the sports ground of San Giustino, the present-day dugout road is crossed perpendicularly by what appears to be a wide footpath. In the part upstream, a paved tract of the Via Cassia about one hundred metres long is visible, aligned substantially with the road that leads to the Castle of Il Borro. On the opposite side, it is aligned with the curve of Baccano sulla Sette Ponti mentioned above. In the part downstream, there is a wooden cross, in relation to which is recalled the church of Sant’Apollinare, that belongs to the parish of Il Borro. Indeed, in the vicinity of the cross there is a heap of stones, some of which are square, which could well mean that they came from a building that had collapsed. However, the fact that this is a zone of stone quarries must not be overlooked. The Via Cassia used to pass under the bridge of Il Borro, and still re-emerges – visibly – a few metres from the bridge in the tract which descends from the tableland facing Castiglion Fibocchi to the borro [watercourse] underneath the castle. Another tract, one that is probably also referable to the Via Cassia, is evident in the road that connects Loro with Gropina, 800 m after turning into the detour from Via dei Sette Ponti.
The Roman road would seem to follow a route with varied tracts, compared to Via dei Sette Ponti, passing slightly upstream of the present-day provincial road along a layout that used to unite more ancient settlements – at a time when interest had not yet been directed at the valley bottom.