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Castiglion Fiorentino

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Castiglion Fiorentino
Official seal of Castiglion Fiorentino
Seal
Coordinates: 43°21′0″N, 11°55′0″E
Country Italy
Region Tuscany
Province Arezzo
Settled 4th century B.C.
Area
 - City 43.6 sq mi (113 km²)
Elevation 1,122 ft (342 m)
Population (2001)
 - City 12,032
 - Density 274.5/sq mi (106/km²)
Postal Code 52043
Area code(s) 0575
Website: Website

Castiglion Fiorentino is a small, walled city in eastern Tuscany, in the province of Arezzo, between the cities of Arezzo and Cortona. It is well known for its annual festivals and Etruscan archeological site. Situated on a hilltop, 345 meters above sea level, the town overlooks the Val di Chio and the Preappenines. Currently, just over 12000 people live in the city.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Castiglion Fiorentino lies at the centre of a triangle formed by important cities such as Florence, Siena and Perugia. Due to the overall infrastructure, town walls, and building architecture, for many years scholars considered the town to have been established in the late medieval time frame. More recent excavations, however, have found the remains of an Etruscan city wall (ca. 4th century B.C.) underneath the current Piazzale del Cassero, and have discovered the remains of an Etruscan temple under one of the town's churches, la chiesa di Sant'Angelo, which was built in the twelfth century.[2][3]

Documents from the tenth century have referenced a town named "Castiglione" in the feudal property of the Marquis of the Saint Mary Mountain. During the eleventh century, the town became a part of the Diocesse of Arezzo.[4] From the twelfth century until about 1290, the town was known as Castiglion Aretino, and was closely associated with the nearby city of Arezzo.[5] About 1290, the city of Arezza was defeated by Florence, and Castiglion Aretino became part of the Florentine Republic. Arezzo and Siena joined forces against the Florentines in later years and reconquered Castiglion, which was then fortified under the direction of Bishop Guido Tarlati, Lord of Arezzo. Following Tarlati's death in 1336, Florence again gained control of Castiglion, until 1344,[4], when the city of Perugia gained control of the town, which was renamed Castiglione Perugino.[5] In 1369 the townspeople revolted against the Perugians,[4] and by 1384 the Florentines seized the town and bestowed its current name, Castiglione Fiorentino.[5]

During the fifteenth century, Castiglion Fiorentino suffered from repeated outbreaks of the plague, blamed at the time on the marshy areas surrounding the city. At the dawn of the sixteenth century, Siena, led by Pietro Strozzi, gained control of the area, holding Castiglion Fiorentino unil 1654, when the Medicis of Florence again regained power over the region. For the next two hundred years, the Medici Grand Dukes ruled the city, until in 1765 the Lorena Dukes gained power. The Lorena family encourage the reclaimation of marshlands, leading to a period of economic and population growth for Castiglion Fiorentinot.[4]

From 1800 to 1814, the town was garrisoned by Napoleon's troops. Several years after that, the town joined the Tuscan Grand Dukedom, where they remained until 1861, when they were annexed to the Reign of Italy by King Vittorio Emanuele II of Savoia.[4] Military activity during World War II damaged part of the town center as well as much of the surrounding countryside.[2]

[edit] Attractions

|thumb|right|Views from Castiglion]] The first of the existing city walls, including the Florentine Gate, the main entrance to the town's historical center, was erected in the 13th century, then enlarged in the fourteenth century under the Perugians to connect the castle to the outside walls. An anti-gate containing the Medici coat of arms is located on the outside of the walls, while the inside of the gate is constructed of three arches under a statue of the town's patron saint, S. Michele. The town's fortress, the Cassaretto, was completed in 1367. In the fifteenth century, the nuns of S. Girolamo used the fortress for their convent, and by the 19th century much of the fortress had been destroyed, with the remaining structure used as a prison.[6]

The Pinacoteca, or Municipal Art Gallery, occupies the former Church of Saint'Angelo. Built on the site of an Etruscan temple, the church of Saint'Angelo was built in the Romanesque style between 1229 and 1239. The church has served as a hospital, wine cellar, and workshop before being renovated and used as an official museum and art gallery.[6]

The Loggia by Vasari at the Piazza del Municipio Castiglion Fiorentino
The Loggia by Vasari at the Piazza del Municipio Castiglion Fiorentino

In 1513 Vasari constructed a nine arch loggia (the Vasari Loggia) at the main piazza, overlooking the valley. The Loggia was restored once between 1560 and 1570 and then again in the early part of the twentieth century.[6]

Nearby, but outside the walls, is the Castello di Montecchio, which at one time was given to the British mercenary Giovanni Acuto (John Hawkwood).[7]

[edit] Culture

Castiglion also has many festivals throughout the year including the famous "Palio dei Rioni" on the third Sunday of June. Similar to the festival in Siena, the Palio dei Rioni is a horse race around the town, includind a colourful and energetic display of the ancient custom of flag-waving, which dates back to the 13th century. During the week leading up to Easter Sunday, the townspeople parade along the city's streets, re-enacting a scene from the Passion as they have done annually for the past four hundred years.[1]

In addition to the spring poppies, summer sunflowers and the famous Tuscan Cypress and Olive trees the beautiful green hillsides and country lanes are a must for any traveller any time of the year.

[edit] Economy

Much of the town's economy is based on agricultural and cattle ranching. Other residents are employed at pasta factories, sausage factories and sugarhouses. Some artisans create ceramics, and an additional 27% of the town's workers are employed by the service industry.[4]

[edit] Education

Young children are educated at a school within the town. Older children attend secondary school in Arezzo.

In June, 1989, Texas A&M University opened the Santa Chiara Study Center in Castiglion Fioreninto. Over forty students from Texas A&M and other American universities study at Santa Chiara each semester, studying art, architecture, literature, and international business. The students live in a building on the southeast edge of the town which was most recently used as girl's academy.[2]

[edit] Notable People from Castiglion Fiorentino

[edit] Twin cities

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Events. Commune di Castiglion Fiorentino. Retrieved on March 7, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Santa Chiara Study Center. Texas A&M University. Retrieved on March 7, 2007.
  3. ^ Castiglion Fiorentino - Arezzo - Tuscany Italy. ABCTuscany.com. Retrieved on March 7, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Castiglion Fiorentino. Toscana.Indettaglio.it. Retrieved on March 7, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c Castiglion Fiorentino Online. Tuscan Treasures. Retrieved on March 7, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c Castiglion Fiorentino. Tuscany Charming. Retrieved on March 7, 2007.
  7. ^ Montecchio Vesponi Castle. CastelliToscani.com. Retrieved on March 7, 2007.

[edit] External links




Coordinates: 43°20′N, 11°55′E

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