MONTEVETTOLINI'S HISTORY
At the north
western foot of Montalbano the borough
of Montevettolini rises, at 187 mt.
above sea-level. It was founded on the
top of the hill around the 12th century.The
Medicis chose Montevettolini as their
rest place for hunting and at the end
of the 16th century Ferdinando I entrusted
Gherardo Mechini and Domenico Marcacci
to build the imposing villa, today known
as Borghese, at the western end of the
surrounding walls. Ruins of the surrounding
walls ando of one of the six castle
defence towers, the so-called "Torre
dello Sprone" or "Torre delle
Murina" can be seen to the West
of the built-up area. The entrance to
the village consisted of the tree following
gates: the so-called "Porta del
Cantone", which was incorporated
into the Medicean villa, and the "Porta
del Vicino" or "del Malvicino",
later called "Porta dei Barbacci",
the only one which is still undamaged.
In the borough there were the oratory
of San Francesco to the West of the
church, and that of Corpus Domini built
in Bargellini's square, which today
is the seat of the local Music Society,
founded in 1863.
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The
thirteenth-century Town Hall
still shows the podestas' coats
of arms hanging on the facade,
and it incorporates an ancient
guard tower to the right. A
medieval tower was used as a
church blefry as well, which
was built in the 15th century
in the place of the older one,
which had been incorporated
inside the ecclesiastic building.
A chapel dedicated to San Michele,
belonging to "San Giovanni
Battista" and "San
Lorenzo a Vaiano" 's parish
church, had risen in the place
of the church since the 12th
century. It was enlarged over
the centuries, then it was raised
to parish after the wuppression
of the parish of Vaiano in 1449,
when it was dedicated to San
Lorenzo, too. |
MASSA E COZZILE
The territory of Massa e Cozzile, besides
representing a destination worthy of
visits and excursions, has the privilege
to be situated in a strategic position
among many places of remarkable tourist
interest. First of all, Montecatini
Terme, with which it borders, a renowned
and equipped resort of hydrothermal
treatments. Near Massa e Cozzile you
can also find Monsummano Terme , with
its beneficial mud baths, and Pescia
representing an important centre of
flower-growing and tree nurseries. Collodi,
with its park dedicated to the very
famous puppet Pinocchio, is also close
at hand for Pescia. The area of Massa
e Cozzile is also in a strategic position
among the most beautiful cities of art
in our country: Florence is only 50
kilometers away, easily reached on the
motorway (A11FI-Mare), Lucca and Pisa
are respectively 25 Km and about 40
Km away. Massa e Cozzile offers a beautiful
scenery and a pleasantly typical Tuscan
atmosphere. It is an attractive place
for the untouched landscape. Depending
on the season, you can see the corn
become golden, attend the grape-harvest
ceremony , look for mushrooms and gather
chestnuts. Moreover, the territory offers
a series of hikers' paths that, besides
connecting the oldest parts of the district,
allow us to go for pleasant walks in
generous and uncontaminated nature.
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History
The Massa e Cozzile district
stretches from the first slopes
of Tusco-Emilian Apennines
as far as the Padule di Fucecchio
natural park: from the luxuriant
chestnut woods, to the typical
olive-groves and vineyards
to the fertile fields and
estates in the plain.It neighbours
with Montecatini, a tourist
spa town which is only a quick
drive from Pescia and Collodi,
birthplace of the most famous
puppet in the world. At the
same time Massa e Cozzile
is very near the great lines
of communication (the A11
FI-Mare motorway and SS 435
A-class road, linking Lucca
with Pistoia.) and is in a
central position among the
most famous towns and natural
beauties in Tuscany.The territory
is divided into various populated
areas: the villages of Massa
and Cozzile on the hill top
and the hamlets: Le Molina,
Vacchereccia and Vangile stretching
to the South, as well as Margine
Coperta and Traversagna in
the plain. The district in
ancient times was indeed composed
of three distinct villages:
Verruca, Massa and Cozzile.
Even nowadays the coat of
arms portrays the symbols
of each community: the Verruca
Cross, the Cozzile Lily and
the Massa Ironshod Mace.
The borough of Massa is one
of the oldest settlements
in Valdinievole
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and its beginnings may be traced back
to an ancient farm of the third and
fourth cent. A.D. Proof of its Roman
origin can be found in the coins, cinerary
urns and epigraphs discovered near the
village: people could enter this typical
medieval settlement, fortified and surrounded
with walls, through three doors named
"Porta Pieri" in the North,
"Porta ai Campi" in the South
and "Porta Fontana in the West:
these last two are still in existence.
The first accounts we have about the
villages of "Massa sulla Borra"
and Verruca trace back to the second
half of the eleventh century, while
the origin of Cozzile is certainly subsequent.
Documentary sources indeed attest that
the countess Matilde di Canossa would
have stayed in Massa in 1078, while
Verruca is mentioned in one of the Emperor
Ottone Ill's diplomas dating back to
the tenth century.From the Lombardic
occupation to the Florentine domination
in 1339-40, Massa always remained dependent
on Lucca, although keeping a certain
autonomy, indeed already in 1208 it
became a rural district area with its
own Consuls.It was probably in this
period that Cozzile was founded and
that the district received the double
denomination it still has today.At about
the end of the thirteenth century the
people from Massa conquered the much
longed-for and unconquerable Verruca.
During the whole of the fourteenth century,
Massa and Cozzile were involved in the
continuous wars between Pistoia, Lucca,
Firenze and Pisa. Under the domination
of Florence , Massa was able to achieve
a wide independence.In its territory
a really independent "podesteria"
was formed and remained this way till
the end of the eighteenth century when,
with the Grand Duke Leopoldo's reforms,
it was united to Buggiano. Under the
restored Grand Duchy of Lorraine, after
1814, Massa e Cozzile remained an autonomous
territory. Not even the Unification
of Italy was able to touch the sense
of the collective identity that the
inhabitants of Massa felt so deeply
and that even today represents a fundamental
element for the defence and increase
in value of this picturesque Tuscan
area.
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MASSA
When we enter the village of
Massa, we plunge completely
into the atmosphere of the Middle
Ages. Indeed, like many Tuscan
settlements, it is a village
enclosed with walls, watched
over by towers, where we can
enter through ancient doors,
with a fortress dominating the
most elevated point. The fourteenth
century door "Porta ai
Campi" shows us into the
Southern part of the village
and, after a few steps, we arrive
at Piazza Cavour where we can
find the Romanic church consacrated
to Our |
Lady of the Assumption, rebuilt in the
seventeenth century, and a wing of the
imponent Convent of the Visitation founded
in 1683 as a feminine conservatory and
converted in 1714 into a convent commissioned
by the Gand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici.
The small chapel is situated next to
the church; which is decorated in an
eighteenth century style. From the square
we set off for the main road of the
village , Via Roma, where'buildings
and houses fully show off their medieval
origin, and we come to Piazza Matteotti,
the real heart of the village since
it was founded. The Northern side of
the small square is occupied by the
"Loggia del Podesta", on whose
walls, coats of arms appear. This is
in front of an exclusive building which
houses the Historical Archives of the
Council.From here we go along the main
road, which climbs steeply, lined with
buildings which take us further into
the past, until we finally arrive at
the top of the village where, hidden
by an olive-grove, there are the remains
of an ancient medieval fortress.
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A
WALK TO COZZILE
An ancient Romanic
road links the two historic
centres of Massa and Cozzile.
We turn into it at the end of
Via Roma and it steeply climbs
among the tilled fields and
olive groves, bestowing us scenes
of intense beauty. By looking
up we can see, set gently on
the ridge, the towering structure
of the Palace de Gubernatis.
But the horizon grows larger
during the walk, and with just
a glance, we can see the village
of Massa and the cupola of the
church as well as the valley,
the Verruca hill-top and the
Croci Sanctuary. Proceeding,
after the last ramp, we go into
the village of Cozzile by entering
through the Levant Door. |
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From there we are led into the main
street of the village, which functions
as its backbone and divides into two
lines of houses dating back to the Middle
Ages.It is worthwhile visiting, at the
end of the main road, the St Jacob Church,
with a Romanic structure, which was
rebuilt and enlarged in the sixteenth
century. Immediately close to the church,
we meet the imposing Gubernatis Palace,
which dominates the valley in a panoramic
position. Once outside the "Porta
Nuova", connected to the front
of the Palace, we enjoy a wonderful
view of the whole Valdinievole and on
the clearer days, we can distinguish
the dark mountainous outline of the
island of Elba. Finally, it is worth
paying a visit to the fifteenth century
Cozzile "Margine" (Holy Image).
Situated just outside the village, it
is a small jewel of minor clerical architecture.
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COLLE DI BUGGIANO
Buggiano offers the tourists
its rich natural, artistic and
historical heritage. In the
hills, tinged with the silver
of the olive-trees, you can
visit the ancient castles of
Buggiano. Stignano and Colle,
or the important speciments
of mediaeval religious and civil]
architecture (Palazzo Pretorio
of Buggiano dates back to the
XIII the century); Tourists
can go through old lanes running
along the splendid hills, scattered,
here and there, with cypresses
and occasional valleys.
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At the foot
of the hills lies Borgo a Buggiano,
the administrative and commercial
center of the borough, whit
its historical and artistic
stratifications of the Middle
Ages, the Renaissance and the
Baroque and its eighteenth-century
mansions.
In the country there are many
villas, like the Villa of Bellavista,
fine specimen of baroque architecture,
full of superlative paintings
and decorations. |
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UZZANO
E' uno dei luoghi medievali
più suggestivi della
prima fascia collinare della
Valdinievole. Il suo territorio
si estende per 7,82 Km²
sulle medie colline della valle,
da cui domina la conca pianeggiante
del torrente Pescia. Libero
Comune, poi sede di podesteria,
fu costituito in comunità
nel 1775 e ha raggiunto l'attuale
assetto nel 1963 con il distacco
della frazione di Chiesina Uzzanese.
Fin dai primi anni del XII secolo
(ma il centro fortificato ha
origini più antiche)
si hanno notizie di Uzzano come
Comune, sotto l'autorità
di Lucca. Nel 1339 entrò
a far parte dello Stato Fiorentino.
Il castello è raggiungibile
da Pescia e dalla frazione di
S . Lucia; vi si accede attraverso
la Porta delle Pille, già
Porta Nuova. Un tempo le porte
erano tre: una vicino alla Chiesa,
detta Porta Tassinaia, ora scomparsa.
Sulla piazza principale, tutta
in pietra, si erge il Palazzo
del Capitano del Popolo; presenta
monofore al primo e secondo
piano, al piano terreno vasto
loggiato sorretto da robusti
pilastri.
Salendo, a poca distanza raggiungiamo
la Chiesa dedicata ai Santi
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Jacopo e Martino: a navata unica, ha
una splendida facciata sormontata da
un colonnato ed ornata da un rosone
e da una lunetta in marmi bianchi e
verdi di Prato ed è fiancheggiata
da una elegante torre campanaria con
bifore; all'interno diverse opere di
rilievo: una scultura di S. Antonio
Abate del 1500 di ambito robbiano, pitture
cinquecentesche e del XVII sec. Dal
piazzale antistante è possibile
ammirare un magnifico panorama.Le risorse
economiche del passato erano basate
su un'agricoltura ben sviluppata; si
coltivavano: olivi e viti. Nel XVIII
secolo si sviluppò anche la coltura
dei gelsi per la preparazione della
seta grezza. Ancora oggi le colline
sono coltivate ad olivi.
Nella pianura
si è sviluppata la floricoltura.
In campo industriale, sin dai tempi
antichi, vi erano fornaci di laterizi
e vetrerie alle quali si sono aggiunte
in epoca moderna, officine metalmeccaniche,
imprese che operano nel campo della
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carta,
dell'abbigliamento e della gomma.
Il suo stemma: la legna che
arde sprigionando lingue di
fuoco al naturale. Il fuoco,
in araldica, è simbolo
di ardimento e di generosità
e costituirebbe, in questo caso,
un riferimento all'ipotesi che
vede il nome di Uzzano derivare
dal latino "urere"
, bruciare. Il riferimento al
fuoco sembrerebbe confermato
anche dal Boccaccio che fa riferimento
ad Uzzano citando un piccolo
vulcano in prossimità
del Rio Furicaia.
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POZZARELLO
Pozzarello piccola frazione di Monsummano
terme, situata alle pendici di Montevettolini,
prende il nome dal complesso archeologico
di Villa San Paolo al Pozzarello,
di Vaiano e Segalare da cui provengono
i reperti ceramici e laterizi esposti;
e possibile raggiungere l'Agriturismo.
Vi si accede proseguendo da Monsummano
Terme per Fucecchio, appena usciti
da Monsummano trovate un semaforo
con l'indicazione POZZARELLO.
"La Vergine dei Pini" uno
dei tanti Piccolo Santuari Territoriali
che si trovano innumerevoli sulle
nostre strade, si prosegue per Pozzarello
lungo la comunale che alla fine svolge
in una rotatoria, frontalmente si
procede per Montevettolini, qui una
strada subito a sinistra porta alla
Collina
Toscana Resort; sempre
dalla rotatoria a destra verso il
Campo da Golf "La Pievaccia ";
a sinistra si torna a Monsummano o
per la statale di Fucecchio.
La Documentazione storica di Pozzarello
è abbastanza scarsa, vi è
documentatala dinamica del popolamento
della zona dall'epoca protostorica
al momento medievale.In età
etrusco-romana la Valdinievole ha
rappresentato soprattutto un territorio
di transito, in cui alcuni luoghi
di sosta dovevano rivestire caratteri
di sacralità come testimonia
il bronzetto di Ercole promachos del
III secolo a.C., ritrovato nel 1887
presso Castelmartini.
La frequentazione romana è
documentata nella fascia pedemontana
del Montalbano come attestano i grandi
complessi archeologici di Villa San
Paolo al Pozzarello, di Vaiano e Segalare
da cui provengono i reperti ceramici
e laterizi esposti.
Esemplare testimonianza delle trasformazioni
insediative intervenute nella tarda
antichità è il caso
di Vaiano, villa romana su cui viene
edificata la pieve con annesso sepolcreto.
Nell'XI e XII secolo si definisce
il sistema insediativo dei castelli
che punteggiano i rilievi collinari
prospicienti il Padule di Fucecchio.
MONSUMMANO TERME
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Situated
between the last ramifications
of Montalbano and the northern
border of the "Padule di
Fucecchio" (the Marsh of
Fucecchio), Monsummano Terme
is actuallyfamous as thermal
resort and for the production
of footwears, exported all over
the world. The town has expanded
around the "Santuario della
Madonna della Fontenuova"
(the Sanctuary of the Madonna
of Fontenuova) founded in 1602,
as a will of the Grand Duke
Ferdinando I de' Medici, in
consequence of a miraculous
event. On the northern side
of the main square faces the
"Osteria dei Pellegrini"
(1607), where is placed the
"Museo della Città
e del Territorio". It's
divided in severalsections:
geology and palaeontology, environment
and history, archaeology, the
"Padule" (the Marsh)
and the reclamation, the grand-ducal
farms, sacred art |
and popular religiousness, the treasure
of the " Madonna della Fontenuova",
the "Valdinievole felix",
the "termalismo" (thermal
baths), productive activities and industry.
The medieval villages Monsummano Alto
and Montevettolini lie on hills around.
Monsummano is also the birthplace of
famous personages: the poet Giuseppe
Giusti (1809-1850), whose house has
now become "Museo Statale di Casa
Giusti ", and Ferdinando Martini
(1841-1928),a man of culture and brilliant
politician , whose stately villa, "Villa
Renatico Martini", built around
1887, is seat of the twentieth century's
collection of art called "Il Recanatico
".
Monsummano
Alto - The hill of
Monsummano rises 340 meters
above sea-level at the northern
foot of Montalbano. Today some
ruins of the ancient castle,
surrounded by a two-kilometer
long, elliptic circle of walls,
as well as two of three doors
still remain: the north-west
door of "Nostra Donna"
(Our Lady) and the so-called
"Porta del Mercato"(Market
Door) or "Porticciola"
(Little Door). The latter is
almost intact and faces the
hill of Montevettolini. At the
end of the walls a solid, pentagonal
tower is still standing. It
dates back to the beginning
of the 14th Century and it is
one of the most imposing towers
in the province. The church
of San Nicolao is the best preserved
building in the village. It
was built over-looking the ancient
platea communis in the 11th
Century. On the northern side
there is the ancient Church
of San Sebastiano. In front
of it the foundations of two
buildings and fragments of ceramic
from various ages were found
during recent excavation. On
the western side there are ruins
of a convent almost hidden by
the undergrowth surrounding
the heart of the castle, and
on the eastern side ruins of
the ancient Spedale di San Bartolomeo
(Hospital) appear next to the
tower. |
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MONTALBANO
The green area of Montalbano extends
for 16.000 hectares in the nearby
of Florence, Pistoia and Prato.
The landscape is dominated by hills
with grapevine cultivation occurring
in the plains or on terraced fields,
olive trees spreadingover the higher
areas,and at the summits chestnut
trees (a typical example of introduced
vegetation).
Between the 16th-17th centuries approximately
10,000 acres of Montalbano were tranformed
by the Medici into the. Barco Reale
Mediceo, a vast area used a reserve
for hunting in which short portions
of the perimeter wall surrounding
the area still exist today.
The area of Montalbano is particularly
suited for walks and exursions, thanks
to an extensive network of walking
and biking trails which lead through
the green hilly countryside, past
archeological sites, and into the
ancient woods like the oak-wood of
Pietramarina.
The built-up area is characterized
by country villas, elegant farms and
numerous farmhouses placed on various
holdings; considering the determinant
action of man on the environment,
the new definition of "country-garden"
has been given to this area, to underline
the great importance of farmer, who
has made this area more beautiful
and productive thanks to numerous
works, like terraced fields (the extensions
of vineyards and olive-groves disposed
on the hills).
Today Montalbano is an area of ecological
tourism, thanks to a different use
of houses and lands ; an agrituristic
management of the area has developed
with success thanks to agricultural
activities, whether traditional or
unusual (from the production of olive-oil
and wine to that of honey, cheese,
jam and officinal herbes) and to the
increase of touristic attractions
(trekking trails, equipped points
where to stop, guest-rooms...).
LAMPORECCHIO
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Lamporecchio
is a town situated in the province
of Pistoia which extends for
approximately 22 square kilometres
between hills and plain. It
founds in a good central position,
easily reachable from the main
towns of Tuscany and placed
between two natural jewels:
the marsh of Fucecchio and the
sweet hills of Montalbano. Lamporecchio,
known like the " land "
of the "brigidini"
, appears like a modern town
, characterized by simple buildings
flanking the main road,wich
leads from Saint Baronto to
Mastromarco towards Empoli.
However there are some small
localities of historical-artistical
and environmental interest placed
especially in the hill zone
of Montalbano: Spicchio, Orbignano,
San Baronto, Papiano, Porciano,
Lampaggio.
Lamporecchio hasn' t an historical
center ( in the traditional
sense of word), but has however,
distributed on its territory,
all a series of historical,
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artistical attractions, which are worthwhile
getting to known and appreciate. Last
but not least the beautiful landscape
of Montalbano surrounding the town with
its gentle hills covered of olive trees,
cypresses and rows of vines.
From Lamporecchio, after approximately
7 Km on the provincial road which goes
through Montalbano,we arrive at S.Baronto
, small but appreciated tourist locality
in which to spend, far from traffic,
smog and noise, a pleasant, peaceful
and relaxing holiday , in an attractive
natural environment rich in vegetation,
with woods surrounding the built-up
area. Situated at 349 mt. above sea
level San Baronto historically expanded
around the church, which was a convent
until the 18th century , and that therefore
has represented the heart, the attraction
centre of the community. Being placed
along the important pass of Montalbano,
San Baronto is really a terrace from
which it is possible to dominate a large
part of the surrounding plain. And in
summer, also from the small towns of
surrounding plains, people come frequently
here to enjoy the cool breeze, the pure
air, and the peace which seem to be
the essential characteristics of the
place, also known for the bicycle races
. An other characteristic of San Baronto
is constituted from the fact to be the
birthplace of many good and higly regarded
cooks.
Papiano About the origin
of the toponym have been made various
suppositios; according to the linguist
Silvio Pieri the name could derive from
a Latin gens, the Gens Porcia . The
name of this locality would derive from
a Roman condottiere , Porzio (Porcius),
become lord of these lands obtained
probably as a reward from an emperor,
or simply as purchase from his family.
According to the expert Guido Cerboni
the name would have been attributed
to this locality from the Counts Guidi,
rich and powerful lords coming from
Casentino who,it seems, extended ,between
the 10th century and the 11th century,
their dominion on this area of Montalbano
too. Perhaps struck by the likeness
between the landscape of these hills
and that of the heights surrounding
Stia and Pratovecchio, wanted to repeat
here the name of two feuds of Casentino,
Porciano and Papiano. Finally according
to an other theory Porciano in origin
would have been called Querciano or
Querceto and such name would have underlined
the wooded and wild appearance of the
zone. Historically Porciano is mentioned,
as hamlet of Lamporecchio, in the Liber
Focorum of 1226. We must say that some
informations about Porciano are not
proved by historical documents like,
for example, the conviction that Porciano
would belong to the possessions of the
Counts Guidi.
Orbignano is the original
name of this locality , in fact it is
already mentioned in the 8th century,
as proves the written document of the
donation of a olive grove to "Urbignanum"
in 779 by the Longobard Aufuns to the
convent of San Bartolomeo. Besides there
are documents attesting that between
957 and 981 the Cathedral Presbytery
of Pistoia let a house of its property
situated in " locus qui dicitur
Orbignano ". The " Villa de
Urbiniano " was recognized from
Bono, Bishop of Pistoia, with diploma
of Emperor Enrico VI dated October 1196,
but we know that in the following years
Orbignano, with other localities of
the zone (for example Lamporecchio),was
long contended between the Clergy and
the Commune of Pistoia. Around the half
of the 8th century Orbignano appeared
as rural commune subdued to Pistoia,
but for the nomination of the Podestà
was still necessary the authorization
of the Bishop of Pistoia. In 1351 Orbignano,
like also Lamporecchio, became property
of Florence.
LARCIANO
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Placed on the slopes of Montalbano,
the Commune of Larciano extends
for 21 square kilometres and
includes the hamlets of S. Rocco,
Larciano, Cecina, Castelmartini
and the centres of Baccane,
Colonna and Biccimurri. Larciano
Alto has maintained the medieval
urban structure and the enclosing
walls of the 13th century, with
three access gates to the borough.
On the hightest point rises
the" Rocca "(the fortress),
probably realized by the "Pistoiesi"
(people of Pistoia) after the
purchase, in 1226, of the Castle
of Larciano.
Larciano Castello
is one of the fewest famous
centres of the province of Pistoia,
owing to its position far from
the main streets; but just such
position has maintained intact
the
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fascination of the ancient atmosphere
which pervades this place. We can reach
it from Monsummano, following the State
Road 436 to Fucecchio, or from S. Baronto,
the most comfortable and also the most
interesting way, or from Pistoia. Larciano,
situated at 160 mt. of height, dominates
the whole Valdinievole;it was an important
fortified village during the Middle
Ages , being one of the bases of the
defensive system of Pistoia . About
the origin of the name there are various
hypotheses: the Roman derivation is
supported from the fact that in the
4th century BC existed here a settlement
called "Villa Larziana" ,
or, like others assert , the toponym
would derive from the name of a Roman
centurion , Laertia. Beginning from
122 BC he would have founded a village
on the south-western slopes of Montalbano,
called Laertiano, from which later Larciano.
Others simply think the toponym derives
from "larice"(larch), because
it seems that the zone, in past times,
was rich in larches woods. Archaeological
and toponymical documents make to think
to an overlapping between Etruscan and
Ligurian settlements. Larciano was mentioned
for the first time in a document of
936 as "Villa". From other
documents, we can deduce that around
the half of the 10th century, it belonged
to the Counts Guidi. The building of
the castle dates back probaly to this
period. In 1226 it was acquired by Pistoia.
With the castles of Lamporecchio and
Cecina, the " larcianese castrum
" was one of the strong points
of the territory towards the south,
on the western slopes of Montalbano.
Also economic reasons pushed Pistoia
to such acquisitions: the zone of Larciano
was fit for the cultivation of olive
trees and vines and above all, being
near the ancient " lacus focensis
" today " Padule di Fucecchio",
it had an important trade role: the
goods through the marsh reached the
Arno river, then the sea and back .
In 1302, during the war between Pistoia
and Lucca, Larciano passed to Lucca.
At the beginning of the 15th century
the Pistoiese " districtus "
passed under Florence rule and therefore
also Larciano. In 1818 Larciano and
Lamporecchio united. Only in 1897 Larciano
obtained administrative autonomy and
became commune. Its seat is at San Rocco,
where in the 17th century developed
a new settlement.
Castelmartini can be
reached from Monsummano by taking the
State Road 436, towards Fucecchio. The
first settlement, which gave the name
to the hamlet of the Commune of Larciano,
is situated to south of the present
"via Francesca". Its ancient
origins date back to the end of the
13th century; the locality in fact,
is mentioned for the first time in the
" Liber Censuum " exactly
in 1297, when Martinus Jacobi Admannati
get build a "domus" and a
"castrum" (from which the
name Castrum Martini = Castelmartini),
then an other fortified building near
a " hospitium " called S.
Donnino, not far away from the place
where Pistoia had a port which, through
the channels of the swamps and the Arno,
placed it in connection with Pisa. This
ancient hospital was connected moreover
to a road of particular interest which
went through Montalbano. The "
castrum " of Martino di Jacobo
Ammannati passed to the Commune in 1226
(Berti), year of purchase of the fief
of Larciano, to which belonged also
S. Donnino. Between 1315 and 1325, a
period of serious crisis for Pistoia,
the hospital of S. Donnino was destroyed.
About the castle, belonged to Martino
di Jacobo, from whom derives the name
of the locality where the castle rose,
we do not know exactly its history;
today, part of the ancient building
is probable included in the "Villa-fattoria"
of Poggio Banchieri, built in the 19th
century.
Cecina, placed on a
hill in a panoramic position, is an
interesting and pleasant village of
ancient origins which in the medieval
age played a considerable role as protecting
castle of the southern boundaries of
the territory of Pistoia. It can be
reached from Pistoia by taking the road
for San Baronto as far as Cantagrillo,from
there for Baco and then by crossing
over Montalbano. Coming from Monsummano
instead, take the State Road 436 towards
Montevettolini as far as Cecina. Cecina,
derived from Caecina, Kaiknas, is certainly
an Etruscan toponym; it would have been
founded by a Roman-Etruscan " gens
" ; depended, in the early Middle
Ages, from the parish church of S. Lorenzo
at Vaiano, it was then, as villa,a Counts
Guidi's estate. Redeemed in 1226 from
the Commune of Pistoia, with the castle
of Larciano, of which it constituted
one of the main settlements, Cecina
was furnished in the following years,
in a period of political and military
upheavals for Pistoia, of fortifications
and in 1335 Cecina is mentioned as castle.
In the following years the village followed
the events of Larciano; the castle was
attacked, but it does not know when
that happened. In 1369 political crisis,
economical difficulties, the Black Death
(1340, 1348) and the consequent famines
caused a series of peasant revolts.
From the end of the 14th century, when
Pistoia definitively was submitted to
Florence, Cecina gained some autonomy,
and maintened it until the 18th century.
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CAPRAIA
E LIMITE
The built-up area of Capraia
maintains the structural characteristics
of a fortified medieval village
with its strategic position
on a steep knoll, its narrow
lanes suitable to drive back
the enemy and its castle dominating
the whole village.Capraia has
doubtless ancient origins and
around 1250 it was theatre of
fights between Guelphs and Ghibellines.
Limite had its name probably
thanks to its boundary position
. The Diocese of Pistoia ended
just at Limite and in 1100 the
"Pieve di San Lorenzo"
was among the thirty-five ancient
parish churches of this Diocese.
Limite rised as river call for
the favourable characteristics
at that time of that stretch
of the Arno which goes through
the village.
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At first the primary activities were
connected to agriculture, sheep-farming
and timber, but afterwards other crafts
developed founding little groups of
craftsmen, straw workers, construction
workers, fishermen and especially of
punters, who transported salt, herrings,
timber, hides, etc. As the years went
by, Limite became more important than
Capraia and so on 23th September 1874
the Town Council of Capraia and Limite
was tranferred from the castle of Capraia
to Limite.
The medieval castle of Castra has an
important strategic position on the
Francigena road. The historical informations
about the castle are very few. At present
only the tower remains of the ancient
centre. The Church of San Pietro, rebuilt
on the seventeenth-century ruins, maintains
inside a polychromatic wooden statue
of San Pietro, datable between the 15th
and 16th centuries.
CARMIGNANO
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The
Commune of Carmignano, with
its 40 square Kilometres of
territory, to begin from the
confluence of the rivers Arno
and Ombrone Pistoiese, extends
on the hills of the north slop
of Montalbano and includes the
most part of the woods. It can
be reached from Florence by
taking the Florence-Pisa-Livorno
Superhighway, ( Montelupo F.no
exit ) and then on the right
until the cross-roads towards
Artimino where, through a narrow
underpass and a little bridge
on the Arno you arrive in the
Commune of Carmignano. If you
want to reach Carmignano by
coach you can take the motorway
A11 FI-mare ( Prato exit ).
Situated in central position
between the towns of Florence,
Prato and Pistoia it allows
to reach quickly other important
towns like Lucca, Pisa and Siena.
Today it's one of the most famous
zones in Tuscany where we find
the production of the D.O.C.G.
wine and of olive oil.
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Besides its territory allows to visit
works and monuments which document the
history from the Etruscans to the modern
art like the "Museo Acheologico
Comunale" ( the Municipal Archaeological
Museum), the Rocca and the medieval
village of Artimino, the "Visitazione
del Pontormo", and the "Museum-Park
Quinto Martini".
The name Artimino derives, according
to the Nineteenth-century historian
Emanuele Repetti, from the Latin "arctus
minor". Already inhabited centre
in Etruscan and Roman age, the first
document which mentioned it is a licence
of February 998 in which Ottone III
gave it, with other estates, to the
Bishop of Pistoia . In the first centuries
after the year one thousand it was an
important frontier castle,thanks to
the strategic position, of the commune
of Pistoia. In 1204 the Florentine Republic
removed Artimino from the Pistoiese
dominion . Pistoia reconquered it in
1219, but lost it again in 1225, when
the Florentines took from the Bishop
Ildebrando the" curtem Carmignanam".
In 1226 the Fabbroni family seized the
castle. Later Artimino followed the
events sof the neighbouring Carmignano
during the wars between Florence and
Pistoia. Fortified by Castruccio Castracani,
the castle was besieged again and conquered
by the Florentines in 1327. In the Renaissance
age became a Medicean property with
the estate and the annexed game preserve
. Agricultural village of remarkable
importance under the Medicean and Lorenese
dynasties, Artimino has maintained the
medieval urban system, testified by
the concentric planimetry, the enclosing-walls
still existing and especially the large
gate with barrel-vault,surmounted by
a massive crenelated quadrangular tower.
Bacchereto - Situated
on the eastern slope of Montalbano,
Bacchereto was in the Medieval age a
commune depended from the Potesterate
of Carmignano. The life of the rural
village, in ancient times furnished
of a small fortress, was connected to
that of Carmignano. It was centre of
bloody battles during the fights between
Florence and Pistoia, of which it was
an important castle. In 1329 passed
under the jurisdiction of Florence.
The Romanesque parish church was built
in the Medieval age on the ruins of
the ancient fortress, as testify the
planimetry and the massive bell tower.
From the end of the 14th century until
the half of the16th century Bacchereto
was an important centre for the production
of majolica. The development of this
activity in these places, far from waterways
and road communications (essential for
the pottery development, as proved by
Montelupo and Capraia), appears enough
exceptional, and is reasonable to suppose
that the monks of the nearby Abbey of
San Giusto would have started off the
local craftsmen on the ceramics. The
ceramics of Bacchereto belong mostly
to the 15th century. This centre produced
from the beginning beautiful and valuable
objects, and already in the early 14th
century it supplied the majolicas to
the "Ospedale di Santa Maria Nuova"
in Florence and later also to the "Ospedale
degli Innocenti". The decorative
patterns of the ceramics of Bacchereto
resemble those of Florence and Montelupo.
Unfortunately we know almost nothing
of the craftsmen who realized such elegant
works. Instead an ancient ceramic-kiln
has been located and restored conserving
the original aspect of the building.
VINCI
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At Vinci
all speaks about Leonardo: the
native house , the church where
he was baptised, the museum
and the library dedicated to
him, even the landscape, still
intact, which Leonardo himself
had contemplated. Vinci dates
back to the early Middle Ages
and has its centre in the castle
which belonged to the Counts
Guidi until 1254, year in which
was subdued by Florence and
transformed into a commune.
Famous to the popular tradition
as " castle of the ship
" for the extended form
of the small town, which reminds
the shape of a boat, the castle
of the Counts Guidi houses the
Leonardo da Vinci Museum, one
of the larger and more ingenious
collections of machines and
models of Leonardo the technologist
and engineer.
Anchiano is
famous for the native house
of Leonardo, born April 15,
1452. The house is situated
in open country and the surrounding
landscape is still almost the
same which Leonardo contemplated
since his childhood. It houses
a permanent didactic exhibition
which includes reproductions
of drawings representing some
views of the Tuscan countryside
and a map of Valdarno (the Arno
valley) mapped by Leonardo.
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It is possible to visit the house every
day. Opening hours: from November to
February, from 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
from March to October, from 9.30 a.m.
to 7.00 p.m.
After 7 km from Vinci ,on the road between
Anchiano and Vitolini, we reach
Faltognano.
The territory is crossed by the perimeter
wall of the " Barco Reale Mediceo
", dating back to 1624. The Chapel
of the " Barco" is of the
same period. Nearly all the buildings
are partly rebuilt as for example the
Church of "Santa Maria" ,founded
before the 13th century and rebuilt
in the 19th century in Neo-Renaissance
style with Latin cross, consisting of
a single nave and vaulted ceiling, characterized
by a low bell tower, a portico and an
imposing secular ilex in the garden.
Vitolini - in ancient
times this village was an indipendent
commune, developed in the Middle Ages
around the castle,of which very little
remains to be seen. Once existed an
ancient oratory consecrated to Santa
Lucia and a little hospital, but both
are been entirely transformed over the
ages. The church of San Pietro Apostolo
too has lost its original characteristics.
With Latin cross and single nave it
boasts a beautiful fresco representing
a seventeenth-century Visitation.
SERRAVALLE PISTOIESE
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On
the slopes of Montalbano, in
an area for a long time in the
past contested among the cities
of Pistoia, Lucca and Florence,
the territory of Serravalle
Pistoiese has changed its own
image of ancient garrison. At
present it is a peaceful and
active centre where, toghether
with the vine and olive tree
traditional cultivations on
the hills, are developed in
the plain hortinursery cultivations.
The flourishing manifacturing
field has combined the modernity
of new technologies with the
originality of ancient handicraft
workings producing articles
of absolute quality and exquisite
workmanship, like the embroideries,
making with the "Punto
Casale", showed in the
most beautiful shops of the
world.
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Recently has developed the tourist field
too thanks to the building of modern
hotels along the main roads and to the
diffusion of farmtourism in country
buildings wisely rebuilt and equipped
of every comfort.
Casalguidi - Ancient
village to approximately 13 kilometres
from Serravalle, whose toponym in origin
was simply "Casale", to which
was added, probably during the 16th
century, a suffix which clearly testifies
the domination of the Guidi over the
zone, however not documented. The village
was inhabited by a rural community which
around 1132 began to occupy the lordlands
controlled later by the Commune of Pistoia.
In 1301 the village was destroyed by
the troops of Corso Donati. In 1391
was razed to the ground . The 15th century
was a period of peace, characterized
by a remarkable impoverishment and a
consequent demographic decrease, disturbed
,at the end and then also at the beginning
of the successive century, by the bloody
rivalry between the two powerful Panciatichi
and Cancellieri Pistoiesi families.
With the Medicean government the fights
progressively attenuated, until the
pacification imposed by Cosimo I, who
instituted some Podesterates in the
zone making to depend Casalguidi from
Serravalle.
The village of
Castellina
is dominated from above by the Romanesque
little church of the SS. Filippo and
Giacomo, founded in 1159. The façade
faces the little square of the village
and it is characterized by the simple
architraved portal with lunette. In
the lower part there is still the ancient
building hanging. The upper part is
changed owing to the works of the first
half of the17th century. The bell tower,
of medieval construction, today has
a simple structure due to the seventeenth-century
restorations.
Vinacciano - Mentioned
in a diploma of Ottone III of 998 as
"Curtis Vinathiana ", property
of the see of Pistoia, was a rural village,
fortified thanks to the remarkable strategic
interest of its good position. From
the 10th century to the13th century
the currently toponym was attributed
to an other locality, seat of the episcopal
curtis and then of a parish church dedicated
to San Marcello. It rose in the small
valley of the Maggio river, approximately
a mile to the south of the hill called
today Vinacciano, probably along an
ancient itinerary which from Pistoia
went towards Cecina and the marsh of
Fucecchio. In 1221 documents speak explicitly
about " Castello de Vinacciano
", under the dominion of the Bishop.
Making part of the Commune of Pistoia,
Vinacciano followed the political and
military events suffering, at the beginning
of the 14th century, like other castles
of Valdinievole, before the siege of
Uguccione della Faggiola, then that
of Castruccio Castracani. Later it was
moreover theatre of violent fights between
the Pistoiesi families of the Cancellieri,
who had here a stronghold, and of the
Panciatichi, who set on fire the village
in 1501. The built-up area maintains
unchanged the urban typology of the
castle and that architectonic of the
main buildings, which have still look
and decorations largely original.
QUARRATA
The
territory of the Commune of
Quarrata extends for 46 square
kilometres from the north-eastern
slopes of Montalbano to the
plain washed by the Ombrone
river. Originally it belonged
to the grand-ducal jurisdiction
of the Podestà of Tizzana;
in 1888 Quarrata became chief
town of the Commune. At present
Quarrata is an important industrial
town especially in the field
of the manufacture of padded
and covered forniture. Recently
has developed the working of
rubber and of expanded resins
for paddings. Of great artistic
interest are the "Villa
La Magia", recently bought
by the Commune, the church of
S. Michele Archangelo at Vignole,
the medieval village of Tizzana,
the church of S. Michele Archangelo
of Buriano, the church of S.
Maria Assunta.
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La Ferruccia - In origin
it was a village , where in 1385 was
buried Monna Ferruccia of Pistoia, from
whom had the name. The parish church
of San Filippo and San Jacopo, from
then called "lo Santo di Monna
Ferruccia", was restructured in
the 17th century and then in the second
half of the 19th century. Behind the
high altar it founds a painting of the
17th century attributed to Antonio Dovadola
depicting the Assumption of the Vergine.
Vignole - The existence
of this district, centre of Longobard
settlements , is documented in 1016.
It had two churches, San Michele and
San Biagio, dating to the 13th century,
at present replaced in the services
from the parish church of the Sacro
Cuore at Casini, built in 1957.
Lucciano - Ancient
small fortress of the Counts Cadolingi
of Fucecchio, it already existed before
the year one thousand. At present it
is a rural village constituted by scattered
houses, among which "Villa Spalletti",
with the priory church of Santo Stefano,
built in 1519 and completely restructured
in 1718.
Buriano - Ancient castle
of the Counts Guidi. On the ruins of
the small fortress was raised the priory
church of San Michele Archangelo,antecedent
the 14th century but restructured in
1735, where is conserved a 18th-century
painting representing San Michele .
On the outside we find a "Via Crucis"
painted by Romano Stefanelli and by
other Italian and foreigner contemporary
artists.
Montorio - Before entering
the village, you can admire the seventeenth-century
Villa Baldi Papini. The church of San
Martino is at present a small oratory:
it maintains a large part of its Romanesque
structure and, between 1950 and 1960,
was frescoed by the painter Azelio Tuci.
Montemagno - It exists
from the 11th century and is composed
of several villages with the ancient
parish church of San Giovanni Evangelista.
The castle, which rose here, is testified
by the toponyms Castelvecchio and Cassero,
mentioned in ancient documents; here
existed also a little hospital dedicated
to San Jacopo . The parish church was
mentioned for the first time in 1132
and was rebuilt in the second half of
the 17th century, but maintains still
in part the ancient Romanesque structures.
Tizzana - On the summit
of the hill there are ruins of this
castle. The first historical informations
about it date back to 1034. It had three
castle-walls and a tower, which at present
is the bell tower of the church. The
quadrangular public square has taken
the place of the ancient castle-walls;
on a side rises the parish church of
San Bartolomeo, antecedent 1138, restructured
in 1576 and adorned by a beautiful neoclassical
front. Next to the church is the Chapel
of the " Compagnia del Corpus Domini",
dating back to 1536. Opposite there
is the ancient palace of the Podestà,
with armorial bearings of stone and
marble, and an arch which was the barrel-vault
of the gate of the first castle-walls
. On the main road we find Villa Martelli
and the oratory called "Pieve vecchia".
Valenzatico - Its church
of Santa Maria and San Clemente was
mentioned in a document of 1132; at
the beginning of the nineteenth century
it was widened and enriched of a porch
on the facade, while in 1955 two nails
head of flank were added to the high
altar. The bell tower is instead remained
almost the same.
Santonuovo - Worthy
of been visited are the church of San
Michele Arcangelo, the church of San
Germano and the church of Santo Stefano.
At Santonuovo there is the glidingfield
'Pinguino', point of reference for sportsmen
and lovers of hang-glidingon.
Casini - Worthy of
been visited is the church of the Sacro
Cuore di Gesù, a recent construction
situated along the Via Statale Fiorentina,
founded in 1957. The church was planned
by the Florentine architect Alfonso
Stochetti.
