Bibbiena
Bibbiena is an Italian town with 12,292 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012) in the province of Arezzo, in Tuscany, Italy.
Geography
It is the largest and most important city of the Casentino Valley. Bibbiena located about 50 km east of Florence, 30 km north of Arezzo and 75 km from Siena. It is 15 km from the pilgrimage town of La Verna. The historic center of Bibbiena is characterized by a large number of shops, churches and noble palaces that recall the significant and historical role of the city.
The districts include Banzena, Bibbiena Stazione, Campi, Camprena, Farneta, Gello, Giona, Gressa, Lonnano, Marciano, Molino di Gressa, Moscaio, Partina, Pianacci, Pian del Ponte, Poggiolo, Pollino, Querceto, Santa Maria del Sasso, Serravalle, Soci, Terrossola and Tramoggiano.
The neighboring municipalities are Bagno di Romagna ( FC ), Castel Focognano, Chiusi della Verna, Ortignano Raggiolo and Poppi.
History
Bibbiena is mentioned in the works of Dante and Ariosto and offers a wealth of artistic and cultural attractions that are little known. From the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, from the 8th century to the present day, Bibbiena has a series of historic buildings, of which only mentioned a few here: The churches of San Lorenzo and Sant'Ippolito, Oratory of San Francesco, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Sasso, the small church of San Matteo in Terrossola, historic palaces, whose most famous of the Palace of Dovizi family, the recently renovated Dovizi Theatre, and much more.
The Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Sasso, a unique example of Renaissance art, is just a kilometer from the residential area Bibbienas. In the central part of the upper church of the " Madonna del Sasso " Bicci di Lorenzo can be seen, which was built on a small rock, the top of a huge boulder: the " Sasso ", of which the monastery has got its name. The ancient cult of Mary around the boulders persuaded the architect to integrate the base of the rock in a small, deeper church, in which the " Madonna del Buio " ( Our Lady of Light) is a wooden sculpture from the school of Donatello. In the third church a valuable painting Lappolis can be seen. In the upper church can be found on the other hand works by Fra Paolino del Signoraccio, Ligozzi and Ludovico Buti. In the choir finally the large painting of the Assumption by Fra Paolino and Fra Bartolomeo can be visited.
Attractions
- Chiesa di San Lorenzo church in the town center, was built in 1474 and contains works from the Della Robbia.
- Chiesa di Sant'Ippolito, Church in the center of the 12th century, contains works by Jacopo Ligozzi (Madonna col Bambino ei SS Michele and Anthony Abbot ), Bicci di Lorenzo ( Madonna with Child an SS Ippolito, Giovanni Battista, Donato e Cristoforo, 1435 ) and Giovanni di Balduccio.
- Chiesa di San Giorgio a Contra, already mentioned 1008 Church in the district Contra.
- Pieve di Santa Maria Assunta, 1005 in Pieve mentioned in the district Partina.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Bernardo da Bibbiena Dovizi (1470-1520), Cardinal, writer and secretary of Pope Leo X..
- Ferdinando Galli da Bibbiena, (1656-1743), architect
- Pasquale Poccianti (1774-1858), architect
Sister City
- Boulazac, Dordogne, France, since 1969