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Fucecchio
A castle on the Via Francigena
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The history of Fucecchio is closely related to the Via Francigena, a pilgrim route heading down to Rome that crossed the Arno at this point. Around the 10th century, the Cadolinghi, who originated from Pistoia, shifted their interests so as to be close to this important route, and built the Castello di Salamarzana. After the end of their dominion, Fucecchio became a free comune and began to develop from the 16th century onwards. Local agriculture picked up, and some of the extensive farm estates of the Medici family were established here. The evocative complex of Palazzo Corsini lies in the original historic heart of the town. It was the site, from the 10th century onwards, of the Castello di Salamarzana, which was taken over, and strengthened, by the Florentines in the 14th century. |
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After it lost all military significance, the castle was acquired by Giovanni di Cosimo dei Medici, the father of Lorenzo the Magnificent, who turned it into a farm estate.
In 1643 the entire complex was taken over by the Corsini. More than three centuries later, in 1981, the local council made it the premises for Fucecchio Museum, the Historic Archives, the Library and other cultural services.
Since the 11th century, the heart of religious life in Fucecchio has been the Poggio Salamartano. The Church of San Salvatore, founded by the Cadolingi in the 12th century, houses a fine Crucifix from the early 14th century, a splendid 17th-century organ and canvas paintings by Empoli and Caccini. On the same hill there is the Chiesa Collegiata di San Giovanni Battista, built in its actual form in 1780. Inside there is a beautiful panel painting of the Madonna Enthroned and Child with Saints (c.1526) by Bartolomeo Ghetti.
| The historic Palazzo Montanelli Della Volta is home to the Fondazione Montanelli Bassi, established by the journalist Indro Montanelli in 1987 with a view to preserving and enhancing the cultural and historic legacy of his home town. It contains a wealth of original documents relating to Montanelli’s work, plus his two studies, which were brought intact from Rome and Milan and reassembled here. |
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Besides an extensive library, the Foundation, which is open to the public, has abody of works by the artist Arturo Checchi (Fucecchio 1886–Perugia 1971), which are on display in Fucecchio Museum.
North-west of Fucecchio, on the River Usciana, is the Ponte Mediceo di Cappiano. The construction was originally a fortified medieval bridge built to control movement along the Via Francigena. A short paved section of the route can still be seen today in the Fucecchio area at Galleno. In 1550, Cosimo I de’ Medici turned the structure into the administration centre for one of the large grand-ducal farm estates, and it is now occupied by a hostel. Stretching over a considerable portion of the municipal territory are the Fucecchio Marshes, a conservation area lying abreast of the provinces of Pistoia and Florence. The marshes are the largest non-coastal wetland area in Italy.
Comune di Fucecchio
Via Lamarmora, 34 - 50054 Fucecchio (FI)
tel. 0571 2681 - fax 0571 268246
e-mail: urp@comune.fucecchio.fi.it
Population: 22,297
Size of area: 65 km2
Altitude: 55 m above sea level
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