San Miniato

San Miniato (until 1945 San Miniato al Tedesco ) is a town with 27 527 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) in the province of Pisa, in Tuscany. The city is a member of Cittaslow, a company incorporated in Italy in 1999 motion to decelerate and increase the quality of life in cities by environmental policy, infrastructure policy, urban quality, enhancement of indigenous products, hospitality, awareness and scenic quality.

Geography

San Miniato is located between the mouths of the two rivers Elsa and Egola into the Arno, one of the prerequisites for the early development of the city. In addition, here the crossroads of two important medieval roads. From the hills on the edge of the rich towns and settlements, Arno valley overlooking the city on the Via Francigena, the European road link to Rome, and on the road from Pisa to Florence. In regional terms, form the " hills of San Miniato " the cornerstone of the Florentine area of Montespertoli and San Casciano, Val d' Elsa and San Gimignano and the Pisan countryside to the Etruscan town of Volterra, whose monuments on clear days from the castle hill of San Miniato from are seen.

The place is located in the climatic classification of Italian communities in the zone D, GR 1513 / G.

The districts include Balconevisi, Corazzano Cusignano, Isola, La Serra, Ponte a Egola, Ponte a Elsa, Roffia, San Donato, San Romano, San Quintino and Stibbio.

The neighboring municipalities are Castel Fiorentino ( FI), Castelfranco di Sotto, Cerreto Guidi ( FI), Empoli ( FI), Fucecchio ( FI), Montaione ( FI), Montopoli in Val d' Arno, Palaia and Santa Croce sull'Arno.

History

San Miniato found as a settlement for the first time 936 mention, when the Bishop of Lucca the Adalberto dei Lombardi Corvaia of the local castle and church handed, which were documented in the year 783. The castle had been in the vicinity of San Genesio, which lay in the plane, built to monitor the important road junction of the Via Francigena and the Roman road from Florence to Pisa.

This strategic importance San Miniato was fortified by Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who in addition then made ​​the place a center for the imperial finances of the entire Tuscany. This circumstance and the city's history closely linked to the German and the great importance of the site for the German emperors led to the nickname " al inglese " ( " German "). Otto the Great built a fort here already 963. At the end of the 12th century, the city was then divided into two sections: the " Incastellatura ", the imperial palace, and the " castrum", the civil town at the foot of the castle with its merchants, craftsmen and farmers.

San Miniato importance in the 13th century reached its peak, when Emperor Friedrich II granted it numerous privileges, but the city was completely rebuilt also for military reasons and they eventually zuwies the imperial vicar of Tuscany as the official residence. The rise of San Miniato coincides with the descent San Genesios together, the first lost his job at the parish and was finally completely destroyed in 1248.

After the end of Hohenstaufen rule and years of the threat of war between Siena and Florence for supremacy in Tuscany to San Miniato in 1347 went under the dominion of Florence and was in 1370 the seat of the Florentine vicar of the lower Valdarno.

San Miniato is also known as the headquarters of a branch of the Bonaparte family, Emperor Napoleon I visited his family there several times.

In 1881, San Miniato had 3147 inhabitants.

Policy

Coat of arms

Blazon: " In red a crowned golden lion, in dexter forepaw a golden sword ( dagger) entertaining. "

Above the shield a round crenellated three towers and golden mural crown, shield surrounded by two connected with green ribbon laurel branches in natural colors, with silver banner under the slogan ( motto ) from Virgil's Aeneid: " Sic nos in sceptra reponis " - " So you bring us to back rule " ( P. Vergilius Maro, Aeneid I, 253)

Architecture and Art

The cityscape and the art treasures of today's San Miniato are the result of periods of economic and cultural prosperity. The architectural heritage has, with the exception of the castle, its origins in the first half of the 14th century. After a period of economic and social decline, an architectural renovation took place in the second half of the 16th century. Finally, there was the beginning of the 18th century, thanks to Bishop G. Francesco Poggi again a time of urban change.

  • A sight that already gives San Miniato by far a unique silhouette, is the " Tower of Frederick II " ( " Torre di Federico II "). It is the only major rest of the Imperial Castle of Emperor Frederick II in 1218, the otherwise up to the ground was demolished. too, the tower had German soldiers blown up in 1944, which was in 1958 reconstructed.
  • In the 13th century, the church of Santa Caterina is declining. She was until 1744 the domicile of a Congregation of the Augustinians. The single building houses wooden carvings of S. Nicola of Tolentino and from the workshop of Giovanni Pisano.
  • Between palaces from the 16th to the 18th century is the historic Piazza Bonaparte. In the middle is the by Pampaloni Monument of Grand Duke Leopold II. One of the most interesting buildings in San Miniato from the 16th century is the Bonaparte palace. The Corsican branch of the Bonaparte family comes from a noble family of San Miniato. As a child, Napoleon I. intended to have lived twice with his relatives in San Miniato and they have as emperor visited often.
  • The complex was founded in 1211 the monastery of San Francesco leaning against the slope of the highest hill. It was for many centuries a thriving Franciscan Center. In the 15th century it was under the direction of S. Borromeo and S. Bernard, who later taught at Oxford and the Sorbonne.
  • On the other side of the hill the sanctuary of the Most Holy Crucifix is from 1705, in which a well-respected as a miraculous wooden crucifix from the 12th century is worshiped. The design of the building in the form of a Greek cross comes from Anton Maria Ferri, who was able to include the Baroque building in the medieval city.
  • Compared to the sanctuary of the Palazzo del Comune (Town Hall ) are related to the original frescoed council chamber behind a facade of the 19th century. In addition to the Town Hall is the Loretino oratorio, with panels by Francesco Lanfranchi, brother of Andrea del Sarto, and with a wooden altar from 1527th
  • The Republic Square is bounded on its south side by the seminar Palace. The seminary was opened in 1713. Its characteristic appearance owes the building frescoes by Francesco Di Pietro Chimenti from Fucecchio.
  • A triple entry system leads to the cathedral square. Here are the built on three older buildings in the 14th century Bishop's Palace and the Palace of the bailiff. The cathedral, the ancient parish of Santa Maria from the 13th century with its Romanesque façade stands on the site of the old imperial castle. Built in the 12th century bell tower Torre di Matilde originally served as a guard and defense tower and was eventually incorporated into the cathedral complex.
  • Examples of Renaissance architecture in San Miniato are the Palazzo Formichini, seat of the Cassa di Risparmio collection ( with works by Guercino, Lorenzo di Bicci, Jacopo del Sellaio, Cigoli and Giovanbattista Naldini ), and especially in 1555 by Giuliano di Baccio d ' Agnolo built Palazzo Grifoni. Downhill you meet behind the octagonal church of the Santissima Annunziata, in which the relics of St. Dorothy, to the Monastery of Santa Chiara.

The city is a member of Cittaslow, a company incorporated in Italy in 1999 motion to decelerate and increase the quality of life in cities.

Sons and daughters of the town

  • Francesco Sforza, founder of the dynasty of the Sforza in Milan
  • Paolo Taviani, Film Director
  • Vittorio Taviani, Film Director
  • Massimiliano Mori, cyclist

Regular events

  • Show Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco di San Miniato - Since 1969, this truffle market is held on three weekends in November each year. There are white truffles (Tuber magnatum Pico ) from the area around San Miniato and offered other delicacies.

Twinning

San Miniato maintains with the following cities twinning:

  • Silly, Belgium
  • Villeneuve- lès -Avignon, France
  • Jena, Germany
  • Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories
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