|
Inhabitants in 1991 : 2,657
 The
Municipal territory of Castelfranco di Sopra extends for 37,64
square kilometres in the Valdarno Superiore, on the slopes of Pratomagno,
occupying for the most part terraces, and being deeply incised by the
Faella gorge and by a network of small valleys, which are made up of characteristic
erosions. In Etruscan times it was crossed by the road which linked
Fiesole and Arezzo
and then by the Ancient Via Cassia, a Podesta office since the beginning
of the 1300s it took on its present form in 1809, when it was detached
from the territory of Pian di Scò and constituted as an autonomous
community.
The foundation of Castelfranco di Sopra was established in 1299 by
the Fiorentina Republic (being one of the so called “terre nuove”
[new lands] among the first of the time) in the place where the Soffena
Castle had been constructed, with the intention of defending the surrounding
territories from the raids of the Ubertini, the Guidi and the Pazzi, powerful
feudal lords in that area. It had like this, the aspect of a fortified
village right from the start and became capital of the Lega Fiorentina ;
populated, thanks to the offer by the Fiorentino government of a ten year
tax exemption by all those who wanted to take up residence ;
in the XIV century Castelfranco was already the market place of some importance
on the road which joined Pratomagno to the centres of Valdarno Superiore
and a Podesta Seat of Office, having civil jurisdiction also on
the nearby municipality of Pian di Scò. Since the XI century there
had been an Abbey of Soffena near the castle, part of the order Vallombrosano,
noteworthy place of culture until modern times, then suppressed by Pietro
Leopoldo
Places to visit :
S . Tommaso, parish church erected in the centre of the
built up area in the XI century and amplified in 1700.
Oratorio di S. Filippo Neri, constructed in the XVIII century,
and internally preserves exquisite paintings.
Soffena Abbey, erected by the Vallombrosani monks in the XIV
century, dedicated to S. Salvatore, abolished in 1776 it was transformed
for use as a farm, subsequently, it became the property of the State
and was declared a National Monument. Its interior is Greek cross
and the walls are embellished with valuable frescos.
In the surrounds of the Abbey archaeological digs have brought to
light burial grounds from the Dark Ages and the Renaissance. |
Historical info reproduced upon authorization of Regione Toscana - Dipartimento della Presidenza E Affari Legislativi e Giuridici
Translated by Ann Mountford
|
www.terraditoscana.com
