Fucecchio

Fucecchio is a municipality with 23 161 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) in the Province of Florence in the Italian region of Tuscany.

Geography

Fucecchio is located about 40 km west of Florence in the lower Arno Valley, on the border with the provinces of Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia. With the exception of the district of San Pierino Fucecchio is on the right side of the Arno. In the north the municipality borders on the hills of Cerbaie ( Riserva Naturale Monte Falcone ) and the Fucecchio (largest swamp area in Italy ), which connects the Arno valley with the Valdinievole. Named after the community nature reserve Fucecchio, however, of which the largest part is in the area of Ponte Buggianese, is the largest internal wetland Italy.

To Fucecchio include the districts ( frazioni ) Le vista, Massarella, Pinete, Ponte a Cappiano, Querce, San Pierino and Torre.

The neighboring municipalities are Altopascio, Castelfranco di Sotto ( PI), Cerreto Guidi, Chiesina Uzzanese ( PT), Montecatini Terme ( PT), Ponte Buggianese (PT ), San Miniato ( PI) and Santa Croce sull'Arno (PI).

History

The in 1027 for the first time testified name of the village probably derives from the Latin ficetulum ( place with fig trees ).

The counts Cadolingi from Pistoia built at that time a castle, the Castello di Salamarzana (or Salamarthana ), and the settlement Borgo Nuovo on the Arno River, at the point where the Via Francigena crossed the river. After the extinction of Cadolingi ( 1113 ) Fucecchio was at the center of disputes between Florence, Pisa and other noble houses. End of the 12th century was the place free commune, and remained under the rule of Lucca to the connection to Florence in 1330. At this time created a new attachment, the remains of which are still visible on a hill to the old castle. The present building dates back to the village, partly from the 16 - 17th century.

During the Second World War the place, especially the castle was severely damaged. In neighboring wetland found on August 23, 1944, a massacre took ( eccidio del Fucecchio ), in which members of the German armed forces killed 175 civilians.

Economy

The economy was traditionally based on Fucecchio of agriculture, trade and some small scale enterprises (textiles, straw hats, dye works, brick kilns ). During the 19th century, many tanneries and leather processing companies settled in, the place is part of the Tuscan leather industry center comprensorio del cuoio.

Culture and sights

  • Villa Corsini - The building houses the municipal museum with natural history and archaeological collections, and works of art, some of which come from the Collegiate.
  • The Palazzo del Podestà in Piazza Vittorio Veneto dates back to the 14th century.

Churches

  • Collegiate di San Giovanni Battista - The single Collegiate in the city center is attested since the end of the 11th century. At the end of the 18th century it was rebuilt in neo-classical style, with the now existing, unfinished facade.
  • Abbazia di San Salvatore Abbey is next to the Collegiate of San Giovanni Battista. The origin lies in an abbey, which was founded by the family Cadolingi the late 10th century as a Benedictine monastery. In 1068 she came to Giovanni Gualberto, founder of Vallombrosanerordens, and was rebuilt in the early 12th century to its present location. Today the abbey is part of the Poor Clares.
  • Oratorio della Madonna della Ferruzza (15th century)
  • Chiesa di Santa Maria delle vista - Baroque church with a dome fresco by Francesco Salvetti.

Regular events

  • Palio di Fucecchio - The Horse racing is a competition between 12 districts ( contrada ) of Fucecchio. It will be held in May on the penultimate Sunday.
  • In Fucecchio place at Corpus Christi a infiorata place, the laying of flowers carpet pictures.
  • Marea Festival - Rock Festival ( June-July )

Sons and daughters of the town

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